Dinka Twic Cultural Day and General Election in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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“To restore our culture, it is very important for us not to forget them by making their use in practices as what we are doing today for the sake of our upcoming young generations, … We have to impose our culture through protecting them against … as our natural identity, … As a new nation, the country cannot be based on tribalism, we have to remain South Sudanese with different cultures we have.” By Gov. Rizik Zackaria

Event schedule:

Event Name: Twï Dinka Cultural Day & general election

Venue: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Event Dates:  July 4 (US July 4^th) 5, 6 & 7, 2013

Event Theme: Time to Preserve Twï Dinka-Da, Mawäkääi!!!

Thursday: July 4^th, 2013, Welcoming Day for Event Attendees

Friday: July 5^th, 2013, from 11:00 am to 12:00 am

Saturday: July 6^th, 2013, from 11:00 am to 12:00 am

Sunday: 4:00 pm to whatever time traditional would be able end.

• – Day One of gathering: Which would be Friday of July 5^th, 2013, is going to be a day for Dinka Twï citizens only, start @11:00 – – am to 12:00 midnight. Election of new president would be conducted this day.
• – Day Two of gathering: Which would be Saturday of July 6^th, 2013; this day would be a general gathering day with other invited communities, plus other activities like traditional games, etc.
• – Day Three of gathering: Twic Dinka traditional dance would be done on Sunday of July 7^th, 2013, @ 3:30pm to whatever time – it might be ending. Traditional dance and Aya-e Aya-e.

Short and brief about Dinka Twi people

DinkaTwic or Mɔnyjäŋ/Jiëŋ Twï east is one of the Dinka communities located in Jonglei State (formerly known as the Upper Nile region before Sudan separated into two nations on July 9, 2011) of the Republic of South Sudan. Twic East County is bordering Bor County at south, Pibor County at east, Uror County at north-east, Duk County at north, and Toc (White Nile/River Nile) at west. Twic East County headquarters are located at Panyagoor Town.

This sub-tribe of Dinka is consists of 16 Clans (Wuɔ̈r), divided into three sections:

• – Lith: which is consists of six Clans: Abek, Adhiok, Kongor, Ayual, Dacuek and Awulian;
• – Ajuong: which is consists of five Clans: Abiong, Adiang, Ayolien, Kuach, Nyopiny;
• – Pakeer: which is consists of five Clans: Bereh, Akonycok, Anok, Cir and Hol;

Currently, there are five Payams (Districts), being:

• – Lith Payam-the Abek and Adhiok clans, with headquarter at Wernyol;
• – Kongor Payam-Kongor clan, headquarter at Pawel;
• – Nyuak Payam-the Ayual, Dacuek and Awulian clans, at Wangulei;
• – Ajuong Payam-the Abiong, Adiang, Ayolien, Kuach and Nyapiny clans, at Paliau;
• – Pakeer/Maar Payam-the Akonycok, Anok, Bereh, Cir and Hol clans, based at Maar.

We the Dinka Twï East people are known for our undeniable leadership style that is always fair and balanced to everyone through any extent of leadership it might be appropriate.

• – We are known for our humility, calmness, hospitality, transparency, non-violence behavior, care and kindness to everyone and our desire for mutual respect. We always believe in integrity and dignity of respecting others, and vice versa we demand that from our neighbors as well.
• – Historically, based on whole Dinka tribal history, we the Dinka Twic East people are known for our unselfishness and non-covetous behavior as historical records have shown. We have always acted this way with our neighboring tribes in the Jonglei State.  This is what we represent as a people. Also we know that any others who have interacted with us can vouch for this behavior.
• – Our community is known for its law abiding attitudes.
• – We strive to resolve any dispute by diplomatic means; however we recognize that this sometimes is not enough.
• – We will be diligent and deliberate in our pursuit of justice and the uncovering of the truth in order to bring to justice those who caused harm.
• – We are a respectful and dignified people who want peace with all our neighbors and wants harmony in the country.
• – No matter how our opponents might seem to test our will, yet we always prevail through any necessary way we can if it is our right.
• – Dinka Twi East people do not believe in cold-blooded or the spilling of precious blood of human beings in vain.
• – Our people love fighting that bear truth, if it is a truth based mission than we don’t stay away from spilling the blood for true cost.
• – We believe that this nation was founded by blood of the sons and daughters of South Sudan, who gave their life in order to bring back freedom of speech, worship, and establish our identity without fear or threats.
• – According to Dinka history base in regards to its many sub-tribes, we are known for not always being the first aggressor except any necessary revenge after being provoked first. And that why in Dinka tribe old saying, “don’t ever provoke Dinka Twi person first whenever he/she is bearing the ultimate right”.
• -We are known for our integrity and dignity of mutual respecting other people belongings of any kinds and through many ways of humanity appropriate conditions demand it.

Immediate things need to be done at Event Venue:

• – It is going to be the registration time for our citizens of Twi Dinka. This registration is going to be an important thing, because it would allow us to know our really sons and daughters who had been living outside their motherland since the second civil war time began in 1983. Also, it would allow us too, to identify who is still maintained our ancestors’ identity, and who have adopted new identity of his/her own apart from his/her original relatives’ identity in which absolutely being known as Dinka Twi sub-tribe of Dinka.
• – In our culture as Dinka Twi; people, we traditionally have a custom known as “Riɔ̈ŋ”. “Riɔ̈ŋ” in Dinka Twï is an event whereby most of time young men kill cow as symbol of their adulthood pride. At event voluntarily, we need people who are going to represent our traditions in term of “money type of Riɔ̈ŋ.” Please check out some information below:
• – How this activity is going to be carried out at Event:

The rules and uses of “Riɔ̈ɔ̈ŋ”:

(a)    The minimum value our organizers would consider as “Riɔ̈ŋ” at event would be $200.00 in which we considered as “Lean-Riɔ̈ŋ or Small Riɔ̈ŋ”. But the “Riɔ̈ŋ” that would value more than $300.00, we will consider it as “Fattest-Riɔ̈ŋ or Big Riɔ̈ŋ”. They have to be paid ASAP or at event.

(b)   After our organizers have received more “Riɔ̈ŋ” from our citizens, the draw would be made among the “Top-Fattest-Riɔ̈ɔ̈ŋ”. That means, the “Riɔ̈ɔ̈ŋ” that are going to value $300.00 or more are going to qualify for draw. And after the draw has been done, the winner “Riɔŋ kït” color is going to be the name of our Twic Dinka’s generation living in exile. Meanwhile, the others “Riɔ̈ɔ̈ŋ kïït or colorɛ” are going be used as nicknames for new “Rïc” of Dinka Twï community living in exile, plus others “Riɔ̈ɔ̈ŋ colors or Kïït” might be used to these three traditional naming of “Rïc” as categorized below and others:

• – Ke-ë (Keth)
• – Ayɔ̈r
• – Maguar
• – Cië de Runnë (Yearɛ’ naming)
• – Löö(r) (Our traditional drum)
• – Etc.

How are we going sub-due these few issues below facing our people back home through both the short and the long term?

• – How are we going to protect our people, in term of security?
• – How are we going to motivate our people to go back home to their motherland of Twï Dinka?
• – What should be done about seasonal flooding in our land?

Event activities

• – Speeches from our elders and many other citizens. They are going to talk about Dinka Twi people history, culture, custom, lifestyle, the uniqueness of our people Dialect among other Dinka sub-tribes’ Dialects. Why the Dinka Twi people been having more leaders, starting from Anya Nya I to SPLM/A time? One example would be our own son, Dr. John Garang de Mabior Atem Aruai, etc.
• – Changing of current leadership body under President Thuc Wal of Twic East Community of South Sudan-USA. The election will take place at Event time.
• – Art shows and other activities are expected at event venue.
• – Dr. John Garang Servant of Freedom Awards will be given out to outstanding citizens of Dinka Twi who have done a fantastic works to our people.
• – This Event too, would be the Day the Dinka Twic people are going to honor their sons and daughters who have deceased during the two civil wars of the republic of the Sudan, and other sons and daughters from South Sudanese and Sudanese also. We will be giving out an appreciation to them through Prayer and Thanksgiving with joyous hearts for what they had done to our people when it comes to freedom and independent of our nation of South Sudan today.
• – There will be different kind of competitions in our traditional singing styles of Dinka Twi Culture like: Tuaa(r), Waa(r) da Arekiic, etc.
• – The Event also will feature the contemporary music performance.
• – At Event, there would be different things like Dinka Twï book, T-shirt; etc would be available at Event as well.
• Many presentations would be shown by different people.
• – Four Counties of Dinkas in Jonglei State are going to form their unifying organization under inclusive name like these few examples: Jonglei Dinka Association, Jieng de Jonglei, Dinka de Jonglei and/or any other names these sub-tribes of Dinka would be able to agree on as their unifying name.
• And many more.

Award Type: Dr. John Garang Servant of Freedom Award

• – Award trophies to Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s schools where he had achieved his education goals from:

              (a) Iowa State University, Iowa, USA.

              (b) Grinnell College, Iowa, USA.

              (c) The Fort Benning, Georgia, USA.

              (d) The University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.

              (e) The Thomas J. Watson Fellow at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania.

              (f) His earlier schools in Wau and Rumbek, South Sudan, e.g. Tonj Primary School, etc.

• – Varieties of awards are going to be given out to our Twï Dinka citizens who have done outstanding services to our people of Dinka Twï at Event.
• – And others recognized individuals.

Future planning Events for this year or other years after this year Dinka Twï Cultural Day Festival and election:

• – If possible though, the Christmas time of 2013, the Twic Dinka citizens are planning to send statue gift for our own son and hero of South Sudanese and Sudanese to our ancestors’ land of Twï Dinka. The place where the trophy is going to be planted is also going to be the future base of Twic City. 
• At the same time, other gift trophies of Dr. John Garang de Mabior are going to be sent by Twi Dinka citizens to many schools or Institutes where Dr. John Garang de Mabior has achieved his education goals during his life-time. Schools like Iowa State University, Grinnell College, Iowa, USA, The Thomas J. Watson Fellow at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania, etc. All these schools or education Institutes, each and every one of them have played a significant role in our son life during the movement. So all these trophies are going to represents our people honor and appreciations, recognitions to those schools, also in many ways we consider these schools as they are inspirational to our son whom he had applied his knowledge to what being known today as South Sudan independent nation in July 9, 2011 and many other North Sudanese had been inspired by his missions in regard to commitment to freedom for all. 

• – During the event gathering, the Twi Dinka people are going to bless Twic City as their future planning City. It sign board is going to be planted during the Christmas time of 2013 as well. Twic City is already having two suggested bases as they are:

              (a)    Mirakɔrɔn (b) Pachuïn (c) And so forth, these two places plus other places our citizens would be suggesting at Event should be discussed and voted.

• – Also if possible with matter of time might allow, the Christmas of 2013 at our homeland of Twic East County could be the period the Twï Dinka people might be able give thanks to South Sudanese and Sudanese on behalf of their own son, Dr. John Garang de Mabior Atem whom they have stand firm behind during the second civil war struggle for our freedom.
•  – We will give thanks to our heroes plus other communities’ heroes, South Sudanese heroes, Sudanese heroes of any social status (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and friends), living and dead for their unselfish pride they have shown during the two civil wars of the Sudan.

Things need to be blessed at Event:

• – Praying for our people future, and at the same time it would be the time our people of Dinka Twic will give highly appreciation to their Nhialic (God) upon everything He had done to our people.
• – Twic East County nickname: “Home of the Freedom Father, Dr. John Garang de Mabior”
• – Translation project of the Bible from Dinka Rek and the Dinka Padang Dialects Bible to our Dinka Twi people Dialect Bible.
• – Future “Twic City” planting in our ancestors’ land.
• – Future of Dr. John Garang Museum in Twic City of Dinka Twic area.
•  – Blessing of new naming generation of Twi Dinka.
• – Blessing of “Twic Dinka Cultural Day” as it becomes something need to be done annually.
• – Blessing of Great Twic Wrestling Team.
• – Blessing of Dinka Day. This day was inspired by this short message. “The first military offensive after the formation of the SPLM/A was at Malual Gaoth[2], Upper Nile, on November 17, 1983.”
• – The blessing of Jonglei State nickname as being recognized also as, “The 83rd Era State or The Eighty-Third Era State”. This idea was inspired by May 16, 1983, which was the second starting point of South Sudanese or Sudanese Freedom Movement struggle.
• – Our future community centers and others in US and other areas around the globe wherever Twi Dinka persona residing.
• – Writing of our people Dialect, translation of Dinka Christian songs into our Dialect, writing of our people History, etc.
• And many others.

We are inviting these communities to join us:

• – Twic Mayardit community you could be the most needed community on this occasion to join us in blessing of future “Twic City.” Thus, who knows in future we might have twin Twic Cities upon both lands of Twï Dinka East and Twï Dinka West. Or we will just own this one Twic City for our ancestors’ identity preservation. So it is very important for Twic Dinka West citizens to join us as being an essential part of this event. Also, we need Twic Mayardit to comes and reconnect our ancestors’ roots back to the earlier days of Jiëŋ or Mɔnyjäŋ’s cradle.
• – Bor Community
• – Nyarweng community
• – Hol community
• – Padang community with its all branches of Dinka sub-tribes
• – Malual Giernyany community
• – Ruweng community
• – Abyei commuity
• – Aliab community
• – Rek community
• – Agar community
• – Gok community
• – Kiec/Ciec community
• – Atuot community
• – Nuer tribe
• – Shilluk tribe
• – Murle
• – Anyuak
• – Equatoria communities
• – And many others are highly welcome to join us in our Dinka Twi Cultural Day Event.

“Anything that is not said is what divide us” by Dr. John Garang de Mabior

“Anything that divides us, we need to remove.” By Gov. Kuol Manyang Juuk

“453. Never compromise your integrity.”

Signed by: Twic East Community of South Sudan-USA.

Website: http://www.twiceastcommunity.org

Contact E-mail: dinkatwi@yahoo.com