Dudbul July 28, 1972 - 32A Peno

Recording #32A

Place of Recording: Peno

Date of Recording: July 28, 1972

Performance:

Informant: Agwa Alemo

Date of Transcript: March 17, 1973

1 000 Dancing Song.

Information: (When our people go to war, if they defeat, they will produce many songs against those who were defeated. In our area, Anyanyas were victorious at that time, so because they sang many songs against those villages that they defeated). When they burned Anyanyas fought with Adongo people their villages, Ojulu was a leader a captain.

Text: We shot starting from 7 in the morning until 10 in the morning and the blood was flowing like river water. Those who are competing with Anyanyas will get the consequences when we shot the leader of Adongo. He ran away with his wives. Now can you compete with us. While you are afraid of us, you better go to Adongo and join with those people. Go to Adongo and tell what happened in Adongol.

1 027 Dancing Song.

Information: The village name is Aleeo from Adongo villages. (Adongo is a very big area containing many villages).

Text: Those who boast in Adongo when tethered that Anyanya are on the way to come to attack us, they stopped their boasting and wanted to go and influence Arabs for the war. When Anyanyas attacked Adongo they burned all houses and the cattle. Repeats. We burned down the cattle shed. They will never build up that village again.

3 041 Love song.

Text: Saying first about Ningyoni those who are fit to lead a group of people are government they are born like that. That’s what they say about Adongo people. We call you to come on our side and not to join with Arabs. Add gourd and bottle accompaniment. Second part mentions when the civil war broke out between south and north. Many tribes from south were wanting to marry Anuak girls and the men were in doubt. Two of them were having one girl. He sang this for the girl. Not to be married by that tribe. Mentions about Arabs. Even Arabs are stronger. They are not going to be in the south for long.

4 076 Solo voice with gourd and bottle accompaniment. Dudbul.

Text: There is a girl, married by one of the freedom fighters and the girl came to Gambela to buy clothes when she came, she fell in love with one boy in Gambela. A man called Paul sent a message from the headquarters to Gambela to let the girl go back He said how can you fall in love with a boy in Gambela. Those who are roaming in a town with no place to sleep and nothing to be eaten. There was a rich man who produced a song against the poor. This man: (Ningyoni the singer) replies the song to him. Answering the song sung against the poor. (Gilo river is the center of Anuaks. And something which is said in another part of Anuak area can be heard immediately in Gilo. Repeating by saying you refuse that boy. Don’t marry him. Repeats. We beat the drum that can be heard in Kudbudi (Gilo river area) There was a boy who was wanting to marry a girl, when they agreed to marry each other, before it was heard by the people, he went to the Gold mine. (Torit: the place of the gold mine) Those who are living in Tiernam used to marry a girl who is married already. And they married the boy’s wife while he was in the gold mine. The boy who was in Torit asked a question about the girl. He said, how were you married by that man. The girl answered because you stayed for a long time in the gold mine. When the boy came back from the gold mine the girl was in need of him again. She admired him. Said he looked like one of the captains of the Anyanyas. A rich man (Olieng) a man. A rich man) is a person and there is no possible way to get money by working at the gold mine. Repeats the last part. Says our wife came back from Gambela we will still want her and take her again. A rich man says, a person who eats alone, who wants to do nothing.

5 207 Love song.

Text: (Ningyoni the singer, loved his wife very much. He said if my wife is taken away from me because of finances or money, I don’t want anybody or a rich man to accept my wife along Gilo river. The people of Depa and Pingbago must ask which wife it is. Is she the wife of Ningyoni or not? (why he said this: the father of this wife was wanting to take the girl to Pingbago or Depa, he had a plan for giving her to a rich man there.) I’m not a person who his wife can be taken by a rich man. He said, when a rich man walks to his compound he looks like a wild pig. Another way to identify a rich man is by looking at the back of his head. There is no hair. He is dried up. The money of his friend is not fit to be accepted by your father. (The money of a rich man) Because he has torn shirt and trousers, the rich man has torn shirt and trousers) Love song.

6 249 Love song.

Information: A short song which repeated many times

Text: He said his wife is surrounded by many girls. (This man Ningyoni used to sing a love song for his wife mostly). Mentions that he shot a man in Gilo River. When he shot that man, his wife waited for him. She did not run away until they ran together. He said, I knew that you love me very much because of that day. Anyanya were in need of him to put him in prison at that time. He suggests, Anyanya would take him to Juba, the headquarters, but they did not catch him. Repeats the last part.

7 283 Dudbul.

Text: Starts by mentioning the names of the people after their animals. Mentions when there was big dancing between Peno and Poketti, they sang the song for that. I produced this song not because of the dancing but I’m begging the chief indirectly. Very short with accompaniment.

8 311

Information: A repeat of the song just before. 7 283

9 351 A dancing song.

Information: If the girl is not accepted by the parents, people will say many things against the boy. Will say how can he marry that girl who is not working actively or is not beautiful.

Text: They boy said I spent my money in the way I didn’t know. If you (to his wife) if you don’t like me, I care little about you because you are not counted in my family. Without accompaniment, solo voice. He mentions his friend, if he wears cowboy trousers, he will be just like those who are in the cinema. (If a person who has trousers which are ironed, they say that if I walk where there is grass. The grass can be cut by the ironed trousers.)

10 383 Marching Song.

Information: When they swore to kill an elephant. Sung first in the marching song, then changed into a dancing song when they added the gourd.

Text: They said if we miss to kill an elephant, we will kill a young Nuer fellow. If I’m really angry or upset, I will go to attack a certain village of Nuers. Those who were in Poketi killed an elephant once, shot him to death with only one bullet. If we capture a small elephant, we will adopt it to help it grow. Drums and bottles added to accompaniment. Repeating one part, mentioning an elephant they killed. The ivory can be cut and divided among this our generation. Repeats 2 or 3 times.

11 483 Dancing song but it is a Dudbul.

Information: Without accompaniment. (Freedom fighters or Anyanyas were the people who were married already. Some left their wives and children the others wives got married by other persons by those who did not go to war. This man Ningyoni is advising a certain lady who is married by one of the freedom fighters not to be married by any person) Sung this song in the form of Dancing but it is a Dudbul.

Text: Mentioning that I left my village because I married a girl whose father was very cruel. Advises one of his friends, saying you work very hard because the girl is still waiting for you. If I want to marry a girl and see that I don’t have money to pay for her, I can go to a far village to farm so to get money by farming. The wives which were married by a friend got married by many different rich men along AKOBO river. Mentions the names of the people whom he loves. They talk to a girl by saying that don’t be married by this poor boy. He doesn’t have money to pay. The love between me and my friend cannot be compared with the love of brothers. (we took our friend better than our brother) because you cannot tell secrets to your brother. Cannot talk in love with your brother. Admiring the work of the girl. Admiring the girl and a boy. They are created alike. They are in the same line. They are alike in quality. He was called back by the father of the girl. He answered, how did I leave the village. Was it not because I was poor? He is mentioning the names of the people. He mentions about his poorness. I’m very poor. I’m a poor boy who needs something from the chief. I found that rich people were in need of a gift from the chief also. Why don’t you let me get something from the chief? (because he is poor and doesn’t want the rich to get more from the chief) Mentions one part about the rich. When you get together with a rich person begging a chief when poor and a rich beg together, a rich man can be given easily and as soon as possible. The freedom fighter leader is fit to be Ningyoni only.

12 795 Love song.

Information: Accompanied.

Text: Mentioning his friends who is poor also like him. They left their villages in the same year. He said God who creates the girl, very nicely, straight and well built. Mentions about the leader, said when the leader was invited to another village, I went with him together. When we reached where we were invited, I saw many friends and the girl whom I was in need of. People were saying you’re welcome to join our group (And you say thank you very much to the invitation of you are welcome to join our group) The girl whom he was wanting to marry talked with him what do you think now. The girl answered, I want my father to die so that we can skip away. The girl also answers, we better go to the gold mines so that we can work together to get the money of the rich person easily.

ANUAK Project: FIELD NOTES – July 28, 1972

Retyped: June 14, 2019

9:40 We leave Pokwo, heading downstream to Openo (Peno). It is cloudy with a hint of rain. A cool traveling day.

10:20 We stop at the police post in Etung and check in with the Amhara lieutenant to inform him of our destination.

10:40 We arrive at Peno. We land at a clear flat area and sit with the men, the Burra. Paul first holds conversation with the fellow we have come to see, Nyingoni Ajwiar from Owelo. Being friends, they discuss the injuring of the chief by one of the Anyanya while being drunk several days before.

11:15 Taping session begins with Ningyoni seated in front of us. The chief seated on a raised section under a tree, the men of the Burra watching in a circle, the younger boys at a distance under the shelter of a house roof, close enough to do whatever the Burra requests. (If they fail to, they will be fined a goat or more or whipped) The women and children are seated at a distance by the houses. Ningyoni is a song composer of great repute and also a person who has traveled around to a great extent within the tribe. So, his songs have been composed in a variety of places at a variety of times.

REEL TAPE 31b

235 A WAR SONG WRITTEN IN 1966. N. Composer. About Anyanya fighting Arab supporters in Otello. N. was present and made this song. Made on behalf of the Anyanya movement.

(N. wants to find a drum or a tin for rhythm, but has difficulty. Soon a man with a gourd and a man with two bottles: a beer bottle and a whiskey bottle arrive and form the accompaniment. The gourd is played as a drum and the bottles are played alternately pounding them on the ground causing two different pitches to sound. The placing of a finger over and then off the top of the larger bottle also causes a pitch change.)

273 Love song. N. composer in 1966. From Tedo village. Anyanya headquarters from 1966-70.

310 Love Song. N. Composer from Tedo.

335 Love Song. N. composer. A new song made in Peno.

360 Love Song. N. composer in Peno early this year.

420 War Song. For the Anyanya. Composed in April, 1966. Can hear one two three four referring to company numbers. These companies took part in the actions at that time fighting the Arabs. “la la la – ladies were in a circle. Singing don’t shoot again, surrender so you are not killed.

MOVIE FILM: Of man singing at Peno and man with bottles and drummer. Closeup on hands.

PHOTO: No 20 5.6-4F 50’ shot of general recording area at Peno.

REEL TAPE 32a

1. 000 War song. Against certain village that supported the Arabs called Adonygol. N. Composer.

2. 013 Love Song. N. Composer.

3. 022 Love song. When Anyanya were in Tedo Sung there at Christmastime.

4. 038 Love song. Written this year at Peno. N. composer.

5. 062 Love Song. Made in Gambela 66-67. N. Composer.

6. 084 Love song. Tedo in 66 N. Composer.

7. 095 Love song Tedo in 66. N. composer.

8. 107 Love song Tedo 66 N. Composer.

9. 129 Love Song 71 Written in N. way to this place (Peno)

10. 147 General Dancing. Written by N. in 72 at Peno. Sung by Okelo Okoth.

PHOTO 21 4-2.8f 13’ SHORT OF YOUNGER SINGER. 125X

22,23,24 10’ 4-2.8f SHOTS OF DRUMMER, OLDER SINGER AND BOTTLE BANGER RESPECTIVELY.

25 4f 10’ Shot of older singer t another angle.

11 183 Love song. Written by N. at Tedo sung by Okelo, a young fellow of about 18.

12 199 Nirnam about an elephant from Peno by N. Sung by Okelo.

13 222 Nirnam about an elephant from Pokedi. Ny. N. sung by Okelo.

14 228 Love song from Pokedi. By N. sung by Okelo.

15 251 General dancing. For the chief of Okedi written and sung by N.

16 414 Love Song. Composed while in Gambela 65-66 by N. and sung by N.

REEL TAPE 32b

1 000 Love song written by N in 68 at the time that Anyanya got into trouble with the Ethiopians. This was made against that accident but made like a love song. Sung by N.

2 044 Love song against accident with Ethiopian police. Mentions machine gun captured from Ethiopians at that time. Made like a love song but with the words of the action. Sang by N.

3 071 Love song. Made in Owelo in 71. (N. village Sung by N.

4 089 Nirnam made in Okadi in 1966. Sung by N.

5 101 Love song. N. includes his wife in this. Made in Gila.

6 135 Love song. Concerning himself at Oboa in 1970.

We now move to a hut to get away from the wind and the rain.

1:15 Numbering interrupted by move and will have to be listened to again.

Agwaga. Against the village of Paul may years ago. Sung by Ogato Onywac from Pino. He is a man of this village and he also composed this.

Agwaga. Aginas the village of Paul sung by Ogato and composed by him.

1:45 Stop for dinner.

2:05 resume.

Love song for Owelo made by N. sung by N.

Love song made while in Gambela in 1965 by N. sung by N.

REEL TAPE 33a 2:30

1 000 For general dancing for Peno. N. made this song when he was young. Sung and composed by Ogato.

2 047 General Dancing. Ogato made this when he was young. An older man in his late 50s or 60s.

3 121 General Dancing. Sung and composed by Ogato.

4 138 Repeat of Agwaga about fighting between Peno and Paul sung and written by Ogato.

5 247 Agwaga. Fighting between Peno and Paul. Refer to above. Written and sung by Ogato.

6 270 General dancing by N. for Peno. 1 or 2 years old.

7 New song with voice only with drum. Love song by N.

8 350 Love song by N.

9 386 Love song by N.

10 414 love song by N.

REEL TAPE 33b 3:15

1 000 Love song written in66 in Lur Waro (the forest-shoes) written and sung by Ni

2 031 War song written in Owelo March 1970 against Otallo village. Owelo was attacked by Otallo in 1970. Written and sung by N.

3 096 War song written in Okadi in 1965.

4 102 Nirnam written in Okadi about an elephant (Naech) in 63 by N.

5 124 Nirnam written in Oedo about Elephant in 63 by N.

6 140 Love song written in Okadi by N. (Notice the form of this song: fast-slow-fast) Against the old men.

7 210 Gourd, flute and voice and 2 bottles. Love song. By N.

8 235 Gourd, flute, bottles and voice; love song. By N.

9 262 Very short love song. Gourd, flute, bottles and voice.

10 272 Love song. Same above sung by N.

11 299 Dancing. Flute solo.

12 322 Dancing. Flute, bottles and gourd.

13 420 Bottles played by themselves.

REEL TAPE 34A

1 000 Thom song.

2 Thom pitch demonstration.

4:30 Finish session. A highly rewarding day with a great deal of material gained in a relatively short time. The individuals involved worked extremely hard singing and playing their best and doing their best to please. Mark handled all photography including the measurement of the flute.

We pay Ningyoni $6.00 for his service.

6:30 Finally return to Pokwo.