Radio Miraya
2657: Arts and Culture among Murle Women in Greater Pibor
Now as we continue, of course you've been following us, you might have noticed that of course the whole of this month we are discussing and looking at international women's day. It's the International Women's Month and we're discussing a lot about women who are actually making changes and impact in the society. Now this is the fourth episode of our series of women who are producing knowledge about communities through research. Now the knowledge they generate is important for understanding our diverse lives as South Sudanese so that social economic policies can respond effectively to our needs. Now Elizabeth Hong Kong, research is at in Greater Peabor and she went to find more about artistic journey of women in Greater Peabor since part of the South Sudan Women's Researchers Network, a program by Rift Valley Institute supported by the European Union delegation. Elizabeth, thank you so much for coming to the Miraya Bridge for so good morning. Just briefly tell us about what you do, Elizabeth you've just done your field work in Greater Peabor, tell us about your experience in gathering information for your work in the area. It was very adventurous, it was very exciting. While gathering my information I was received and the women were very happy that someone is interested in the way they communicate in the culture so I was received very well. Great, now why did you choose to focus on ads among the more the women? I chose it because I realized there's very little information about the more the women especially regarding their culture and the way women choose to communicate. I realized that the more the women have efficiently used ads to communicate and express themselves and it's wildly understood by everyone in the community. Great, tell us briefly about what your findings are when you say they have used ads to communicate, what exactly do you explain more on that? So the ads that I'm talking about are songs are long or detour, long or detour means the scarification. Long or detour? Long or detour, what does it mean? Scurification, they have also used beads a lot. Like the one you're putting on your neck, what does that communicate? The one I'm putting on is communicating beauty and it's also communicating that I care for myself. Okay, it's communicating that this one specifically is for my father's generation. Okay, for your father's generation not your generation. So you're putting on that previous generation. How different is that when it's the current generation? I wish I could see the current generation. Yes, you can explain to us. So a current generation is the latest generation, they're called coronin, but I don't put them because I'm not married to them. Okay. I'm not yet married, so I put on for my father. Okay, so if you marry the current generation and then you put also for, okay, sounds so great. Now, talking about ads and many people of course don't understand the messages that they send. On a general terms, what ad forms did you find out as very popular among the men? You did mention, of course, about the beads, about the sounds. Any other ads of communication? Hairstyle. Hairstyle. Yes, but women use hairstyle a lot, yes. What the different hairstyle and what do they actually mean? So when you see a woman, you can tell that this woman is married because of the hairstyle she's plating. You can tell she's moaning. She's a widow. Or you can also tell that she's very happy in her life. Or you can tell that she's dating somebody. Ah, okay. So, this really sounds good and a very interesting conversation here. Now, could you go through what those are? Like, if someone is moaning, in other cultures, you save the hair, like completely off, so like people have bald hair. How about with the Murle community? The Murle community, especially when the man has just passed away, they don't plate their hair, they don't comb it, they just leave it until they discuss who to inherit, because they inherit women. So before they inherit her, she will have her hair open. So before they inherit her, that's when she will cut off the hair. But before she cuts it off, she has to leave it open. Okay, just like in the morning state, it has to be there, like, not worked on, basically. If single, for example, what hairstyle do you want half? Don't tell me your hairstyle. No. Well, when a woman is still single and may be searching, she will play hairstyles that can show the men that she's searching for somebody. And what are those hairstyles? Just in case some people want to go to the Murle land, so they can know. Okay, so they'll plate very tiny hairstyles, very tiny, and are very attractive. You can see from her father, I'm looking for somebody. Oh, that's great. Now, let's look at the importance of this kind of understanding arts and the way of communicating. How does that, you know, like empower women on the ground, basically? Yes, so of very recent, before women, Murle women were not invited in meetings. They cannot talk in meetings. But in 2017, something came and changed the history of Murle women. It's called the Khabarze. Khabarze, actually, it means a virgin. But it was mothers who came and said, you know, that time, the two youngest age sets, they were fighting. And these women were like, every person walking in here came out of a woman. They'll listen to us. If they don't listen to the authorities, they don't listen to the organizations, they'll listen to us. And indeed, the women went out there, they danced, they danced naked. And the women, the boys were very scared of this and they laid down their guns. They didn't fight up to date and be brought down because of the women. So the organizations saw this, the authorities saw this and they're like, let's give these women power. Let's give them a chance. And for the first time in history, Murle women are invited in decision-making, not from the government, not from organizations, but as women. And now they have their own center. Oh, great. That sounds really, really interesting, of course. And as you visit there, you've been doing your research in that area. You've been talking to a lot of women, I do believe. Now, in your interaction with the women in greater people, what was interesting or unexpected for you in the way Murle women expressed themselves through that? The way they expressed themselves, first of all, I used to think all along with the tool, the beads and all these things were because of headsets. But to us, so shocking that the women do it also for themselves. They do it because they love themselves, they're also doing it like they're independent women in as much as women are supposed to depend on their men, but they don't fully depend on their men. And they do it through the way they sing, through the way they even the dress code. That's great. Now, this is a theme for international women's days. Strongly mention of the importance of investing in women. How can Murle women be supported in their art? Is this something that you spoke with them? What are some of how can they be actually supported? And what do you think are the missing links really there to make the community and especially the women in poverty in that area? Yeah. Women can be empowered because these women, most of them, they make beads, these necklaces, and they sell them. No one really, it's not established. But I think if it was established, it would have been a very good thing to support these women. And then these women also have songs. They have songs, but they don't record them. I recorded some of the songs they sung during the times of the struggle. I wish these songs don't die with them. I wish they stay with us. Definitely needed to be documented and recorded in a better studio and all that. Now, as we conclude this conversation, just briefly about your research journey. Tell us more about the support that you got from the South Sudan Women's Researchers Network. Oh, I received a lot of support. I got trainings that I got knowledge that I didn't know before. And I met very strong women that made me believe that I can be what I want to be. It's possible. And I got attended workshops, attended conferences. And I believe there is more to come like this opportunity. It's from these women. Absolutely. Now, Elizabeth, just before you go, of course, what are your inspiration in this research work in the new future? And as well, what's your message for the International Women's Month? Okay. I wish to do more research, not only about women, but of course, mostly about women. And my outcomes would be poems and writings, which I like doing for women. And to the women out there, I wish women don't fear to take up spaces. I wish women would know their worth everywhere. And I want them to not be afraid to be bigger than they are today. Absolutely. Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for coming to me right to this. And we wish you all the best. Thank you.