Tonj

Last updated
Tonj
Kalkuel
Tonj Catholic Church.JPG
A Catholic church in Tonj
Nickname: 
Gen-ngeu
South Sudan adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tonj
Location in South Sudan
Coordinates: 07°16′48″N28°40′48″E / 7.28000°N 28.68000°E / 7.28000; 28.68000
CountryFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
State Warrap State
County Tonj South County
Government
  Type Local Government
Elevation
1,404 ft (427 m)
Population
 (2010 Estimate)
  Total17,340
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)

Tonj is a town located in Warrap State, Bahr el Ghazal in South Sudan. It is known by various names, including Kalkuel, Genanyuon, Jurkatac, Madiera, BaburWasaka, Genngeu, and Tonjdit. The town is bordered by Rumbek, Cueibet, Yambio, Bentiu, and Gogrial. As of 2010, its population is 17,340. [ citation needed ]

Contents

History and Economy

Tonj has played an important role in the history of South Sudan, particularly during the colonial period. During the Second World War, Tonj served as an essential economic strength for the British Empire in Africa. The British government built the first colonial school in South Sudan, called Princes School, in Tonj in 1944 as a gift to the Jur River chiefs who contributed smoked meat for ally forces during the war in North Africa. This school was headed by Eric Daniel, also known as Makerdit. Additionally, Tonj District was reported to have provided significant support to the British Empire through food logistics. Thousands of bulls and cows were collected from the area to be sent to the war front.

In 1912, Tonj and Gogrial were under the jurisdiction of the Jur River during the colonial period of British rule. The capital was in Gogrial, but prior to that, Tonj had a more favorable climate for human life than Gogrial. In 1922, the British government shifted the capital to Kalkuel, which became the capital of the Jur River. Tonj is one of the largest towns in Warrap and the oldest town in South Sudan, home to various tribes such as Dinka, Bongo, and JurChol. The town is divided into three counties—Tonj North, Tonj South, and Tonj East - and has undergone further subdivisions.

Tonj has produced many leaders during the colonial period and after the independence of Sudan and South Sudan, such as William Deng Nhial, Dr. John Garang De Mabior, and Omer Hassien Bashir, who have studied in some of the schools in the town. The town is also ranked as one of the oldest and most historical cities in South Sudan.

An influential politician from Tonj District, Veteran William Deng Nhial, was among the first ideological South Sudanese intellectuals to have argued for South Sudan's right to freedom. In 1996, when the Arab-based government wanted to create a state for the Gogrial and Tonj Communities, they called it Warrap State. Warrap is another small urban center within Tonj Region, and the capital was to be located in Warrap.

Tonj Region has a rich history, including being a very large constituency out of which Gogrial emerged, and Abyei Region before 1905 was part of its administration. In the early and late 1990s, the SPLM/A movement fighting the Khartoum regime was in the Tonj Region, around the areas of Thiet, Yinhkuel, Ngabagook, and Mayom Abun. Tonj and Rumbek were used during the war as logistics centers in the fight against the Arabs.

Dinka (Muonyjang) communities across South Sudan are well-versed in Wanhalel Dinka Customary Laws (Ganuun Wanhalel); all those laws that are now used to govern Dinka Communities were first drafted and formulated in Wanhalel, Tonj South.

Economically, Kalkuel is a very rich region. It has plenty of oil underground waiting to be exploited for the benefit of the general South Sudanese, and most of the swampy areas fall within this region between them and Unity State. Toich areas extend from the Konggor area, Lou Ariik, Apuk Padoc, Lou Paher, Thony Amoun Marol, and Luanyjang swampy areas. Tuony also keeps a lot of cattle.

Political Participation

When war broke out in 2013, the people of Tonj participated in bringing peace back to South Sudan and defended the constitution and the sovereignty.

1. Mayiik Ayii Deng [ clarification needed ]

2. Awut Deng Acuil [ clarification needed ]

3. Nhial Deng Nhial [ clarification needed ]

4. Akol Koor Kuc[ clarification needed ]

5. Gen. Alieu Ayieny Alieu[ clarification needed ]

6. Gen. Bol Akot Bol[ clarification needed ]

7. Magok Magok[ clarification needed ]

Notable People that have affiliated with Tonj

John Lee Tae-seok

South Korean Fr. John Lee Tae-seok worked as a Catholic missionary, priest, doctor, teacher, and mentor to the people of Tonj. He worked at the leper colony. Lee Tae-seok was responsible for the introduction of a school, the Don Bosco Hospital, as well as forming the nation's first brass band which brought fame to the town. In memory of Lee Tae-seok, who died of cancer in 2010, the Korean TV network KBS and the South Sudanese government are working on a joint project called "Smile, Tonj" to rebuild Tonj. [1] [2] [3]

Emmanuel Jal

Musician, actor and activist Emanuel Jal was born in Tonj. [4]

James Thuch Madhier

Humanitarian James Thuch Madhier [5] was born in Tonj. [6]

Thomas Taban Akot

Medical Doctor, Thomas Taban Akot. [7] [8]

Education

Tonj has continued to send its children to school but still faces limited access to education, especially in rural areas. Notable Tonj schools include Don Bosco Primary and Secondary Schools, Bakhita Primary and Secondary Schools, and Makerdit Primary School, among others. Some of the few Tonj students that shocked South Sudan and East Africa, include:

Tito Yak Kuol shocked Kenya in both Kenyan Primary and Secondary Leaving Examinations. Tito Yak attended Harvard College, making him the first south Sudanese to have gone to Harvard College

Emmanuel Malou Deng shocked South Sudanese with his unparalleled performance in the South Sudan Secondary National Examinations by being the fifth best student countrywide. Emmanuel has gone on to attend Columbia College (New York).

Mary Nyanbul Gum shocked both Sudanese, South Sudanese, and Tuony by being the first female South Sudanese to occupy the second position in the entire Sudan in the 2013 Sudan School Certificate of Secondary Education. Nyanbul went on to attend Brown University and graduated College in 2020.

Albino Akol Atem also made a record in the Sudan School Certificate of Secondary Education by being the tenth best in the entire Sudan. He has gone to study at the University of Juba, a premier University in South Sudan.

Transport

Three main roads lead out of Tonj:

Subsections of Tonj

Tonj is inhabited by two tribes, the Bongo and the Dinka. Dinka is divided into the following communities:

Tonj East County

Tonj South County

Tonj North County

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinka people</span> Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rumbek</span> Town in Lakes State, South Sudan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonj State</span> State of South Sudan from 2015 to 2020

Tonj State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Wau to the west, Gbudwe to the southwest, Gogrial to the northwest, Northern Liech to the northeast, Gok and Southern Liech to the east, and Western Lakes to the south and east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gogrial State</span> State of South Sudan from 2015 to 2020

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wunlit Peace Conference</span>

The Dinka–Nuer West Bank Peace & Reconciliation Conference of 1999 was held in what was then the Southern part of Sudan. It is commonly called the "Wunlit Peace Conference" after Wunlit, the village where it was held in eastern Tonj County in Bahr El Ghazal. The conference brought together Nuer from Western Upper Nile and Dinka from Tonj, Rumbek, and Yirol. It is the most prominent and comprehensively documented case of a people-to-people peace process in what is now the Republic of South Sudan.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonj North County</span> County in Warrap State, South Sudan

Tonj North County is an administrative area in Warrap State, South Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonj East County</span> County in Warrap State, South Sudan

Tonj East County is an administrative area in Warrap State, South Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonj South County</span> County in Warrap State, South Sudan

Tonj South County is an administrative area in Warrap State, South Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aweil South County</span> County in Northern Barh el Ghazal, South Sudan

Aweil South County, sometimes called Paliet, is an administrative area in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan bordering Warrap State to the south. It is located in the south eastern part of NBGs. It is also known by the name Paliet, and one of the counties consisting of three major Dinka tribal groups of Ajak, Boncuai and Kongdeer. It was founded in 2000, headquartered in Boncuai in a place called Mangar-Gier. In 2004, the headquarters were shifted to Malek Alel in Ajak. It is boardered to the north by Aweil East and to the west by Aweil Centre, to the south east by Gogrial State, and to the southwest by Western Barh el Ghazal state respectively.

References

  1. "Eximbank sponsors teenage brass band from South Sudan". 17 October 2012.
  2. AsiaNews.it. "Sudan, the story of a Korean missionary ends up in school books". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  3. Kim, Hyo-jin (2017-02-22). "South Sudanese textbooks to narrate revered Korean priest". koreatimes. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  4. Clifford, Catherine (2018-10-22). "How this ex Sudanese child soldier was inspired by P. Diddy to become a successful hip-hop artist". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. Isai, Vjosa (24 Sep 2017). "From refugee to university degree: How a Canadian program is giving refugee students a way out". Toronto Star.
  6. "James Madhier — The Rainmaker Enterprise". The Rainmaker Enterprise. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  7. "Sudanese medical student, disciple of revered Korean priest, becomes doctor in Korea". koreatimes. 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  8. "[Interview] South Sudanese medical student honors S. Korean priest who inspired him". english.hani.co.kr. Retrieved 2021-11-05.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/69360-kenyan-refugee-camp-harvard-university-story-tito-kuol https://www.eyeradio.org/secondary-school-2018-2019-results-top-10-states-students/ https://www.bridge2rwanda.org/news/all-24-group-10-b2r-scholars-receive-international-scholarships-to-study-abroad/ ==External links==