Oberos Jan 12, 1973 - 44B Tierlul

Recording Series B 5B

Place of Recording:

Date of Recording:

Performance:

Informant: Agwa Alemo

Date of Transcript: April 30, 1973

1 000 The singer speaks: He’s not buying or selling. He would like some tobacco or those who don’t have tobacco can give me anything they have.

2 010 Obero.

Information: Much clearer on this side. Continued repetition of song being taught in Bura by the singer.

Recording Series B 7A

Place of Recording: Tierlul

Date of Recording: January 15, 1973

Performance: Leader in Bura

Informant: Agwa Alemo

3 078 Obero.

Information: Men begin to join with the singer.

4 138 Obero.

Information: Singing is getting stronger.

5 202 Obero.

Information: A nice song.

6 272 Obero.

Information: Singing getting better though there is an undertone of talking and inattention. (A man is coughing.) The man who is coughing does not like his voice because it is not clear. Showing he doesn’t like it.

Text: We praise people after their animals. Who is going to praise you after your coughing? Let him cough because of my voice.

7 346 Obero.

Information: Continues to sing. People in the background are saying, “Oh, they are tired of his singing." Repeating over and over. Also are those who are very interested to hear it.

8 414 Obero.

Information: Inattention setting in.

9 490 Obero.

Information: Usually when they see the people giving no attention, they will sit down and let another singer sing the old songs with the drum to refresh the people.

JANUARY 12, 1973 – TIERLUL

10 663

Information: Man named after hippo. Hippo. This song is from PINYUDO when they fought Amhara during the Mussolini war) (the old people who are now dead.)

Text: “I’m very poor and begging a man named after a palm tree. Who is also my father? Agwaga. Male singer with other men. Akway is the one who is our leader. Our precious leader. Odiel, king, Odiel became a God and we will form dancing for him so that he can dance in the middle of the people. Praising a man called OTHERI refused to run away from the enemy. In the plan of OBANG death is always there (Means: Trap of Obang. Death is always there.) Who is the owner of the land? We were crying for Amhara and OCEC was crying to get or to kill some Amhara tribe. (During the first war he didn’t kill anybody, so he is hoping to in the second fight) Praising the people after their animals by saying we have killed Amhara tribe. Still praising the people

11 743 Agwaga.

Text: All people why don’t you ask the people of Adongo because they are known or famous. Ajwara agreed to fight Ajwara agreed to fight the Nuers. We refused to fight against the Nuers because we were not guilty. Praising a man who is named OGIRA.

12 775 Agwaga.

Text: All people, Anuaks say that Ajwara has become the war village and the people of Adongo were crying together with their children (during the war) There was a man who said that the war was going lately, they were not hurrying to capture those who were defeated. We are not guilty of just insulting or abusing any villagers but we have been insulted by the villages when we attacked.)

13 802 Agwaga.

Information: Solo male singer with men.

Text: The generation of NYOBUR when will the war which had been said come. Tedo people will never come because the trap of Obung will never miss anything. Advise those who are radical that had not been taught by their uncles. Praising the people after their animals.

14 847 Agwaga.

Information: When Ajwara and Adongo fought Kul was the commander of the Adongo people.) The son of Ogira killed the people in 2 ways. He let the people being suffered by the hunger and mosquitos and he let them run in the forest and get lost.

Text: Informing a man who is named after a lion saying that the house which is built in the mountain or in the rock has been destroyed when a man who is named KUL a name for wild pig. (He’s not named after wild pig. That is his real name. Kul remained sitting. Means they killed him.) Where did you put your strength that you boasted about? It was the death which made Adongo people being drowned and fed the hyenas, when the generation of vultures boasted the people of Adongo will be swimming throughout. Some people have been eaten by the crock. And a man who is being by the kings a hump of a cow will die because of the meat that is given to him. Our generation will fight up to the tribe of Ajiba. Means they will chase Adongo people to the place where Ajiba tribe lives) A man called AJWEK JOBI all guns are equal with the men together. Means those who ae acting like radicals they are equal with those who are quiet. Everybody is equal with a gun. Our leader, king fought because of the revenge and after this war, those liars who had been boasting will never boast again.

15 930 Agwaga.

Information: The generation of OCAR burned down grain storage and all the things that the Adongo people used to pound the corn. Had been burned down by Ajwara people. Because they fight the war which has no end. Their grains had been finished by the birds. (When they ran away the birds came and finished their grain which was planted in the field.) A very interesting song.

Text: Informing a man named OBELO saying we have a lot of guns which we kill a man who had no teeth at all. I remain for I don’t have a leg to walk on and DODO group were planning for the war. Let’s go and take their goats and we were remaining were in our place. Said that lets go and take their sheep but involve themselves into the problems Insulting. We are going to capture their wives so we can make them our wives to have children with them.

16 1047 Dudbul.

Text: When they think their king as a precious thing. Our precious king who is proud, who looks proud and good. He was left by his father to Ajwara people to rule the Ajwara people. All Anuaks are made they didn’t know that our king can know the rumors and bad sayings of every corner of the villages. He’s like a flood or a tall tree which can be seen from Adongo up to a place near Gambela. (Many kilometers – He can hear and see anything going on in the village) He joins all the generations and feeds all the Ajiba tribe and Nuers because helps like his father. Praising a man with his wife. Those who thought that Ajwara has no brave people they have seen the consequences. When GREE beat the drum, we find it very lovely. Praising one of his friends who was away for many years looking for money to marry with. Those who give second special beads to demoui, will never be neglected by the singer. (tape concludes before song finishes)

ANUAK Project: FIELD NOTES – Jan 12, 1973

Retyped: July 5, 2019

Tierlul, 3:00 P.M.

Kwot Onyinyi sings with 5 other men. Middle aged, same age group of ages 30-45. Kaga Lero composer of all songs indicated.

1. Agwaga from Odongo.

2. Agwaga from Odongo.

3. Agwaga from Ajwara by Otat, 1966.

4. Agwaga from Ajwara by Olong, 1964.

5. Agwaga from Ajwra by Omot, 56.

6. General Dancing from Ajwara by Kwot 52.

Tape 6, 3:30

1. General Dancing from Ajwara by Ogut, 52 sung by himself alone.

2. Nirnam from Ajwara by Otok, 56.

3. Nirnam from Ajwara by Odungo, 56.

4. General Dancing from Ajwara by Orieo, 56.

5. Obero from Ajwara by Kwot for a dead chief who died in 49 or King from Cham.

6. Agwaga from Peno by Ojung 64 (On Akobo river on the Border). Puts in actions of fighting in singing. Humorous comments of people running.

7. Agwaga from Peno by Lipo, 65.

8. Agwaga from Peno by Lipo, 63.

9. Agwaga from Ajwara by Chief Oruth, 64.

10. Agwaga from Ajwara by Odongo. Ajwara and Odongo were the same village. King at this time was Akway. When he died, divided the village. Ajwara given to Cham and the other to Odongo.

11. Agwaga from Odongo.

12. Agwaga from Ajwara by Kwot very old, incomplete.

Tape 6, Side B 4:35

1. Agwaga from Ajwara by Kwot (Repeat from the other side. Very old.)

2. Agwaga from Ajwara by Lipo. Made for king of Akwara. Notice shouts of men in background.

3. Agwaga from Ajwara by Lipo.

4. General Dancing from Ajwara by Dedung.

5. General Dancing from Ajwara by Opolo.

6. General Dancing from Ajwara by Kwot.

7. Nirnam from Ajwara by girl, Ariet.

8. Nirnam from Ajwara by girl, Ariet.

9. General dancing from Odong by Omon.

10. General dancing from Obodi by Nyibola.

11. Obero from obodi for the king (Ocudho Odol.)

Conclude at 5:30. Pay $3.00.