Ngok Lual Yak is an African sub-tribe, within the Jiëŋ (Dinka) group. They are mainly found in Malakal and Baliet County, South Sudan and inhabit the land along the Sobat . It is believed that the sub-tribe numbers about 95,000. They are devoted ethnics and believe in Deŋdit as their provider. Until today some people in other communities are descendants of Ngok which can be traced back to now!
Part 1 – History
In the 16th century, it was believed that the People of Ngokland (Ngok Lual Yak) came to the shore of River Nile from the other side of the Lower Nile. Moving out from Sudd Swam (Piou) to the East, they came to control the region of the Upper Nile River, pushing out the Funj and Jur, the Achol Eliot (Acholi?). In the 18th century, with the arrival of the Nuer, Lual Yak together with his age-group and Ngok at large was forced to evacuate some areas, like Gaak-yuom in Bor, Jokou in Gajaak, Pakoop in Ayuaal, Pabiech in Kongoor and Piny-Wuut.
They were pushed by the Nuer along the Sobat into the mouth of the Nile in Malakal. The Ngok Lual Yak became the owners of the land that runs from Malakal to Dome (Dömë), Dini and Abwong (Abɔ̈ŋ) Cheng Nyankiir along the River Sobat into the Nile at Malakal. The main borders with Nuer are Nyinrool as the border with Lou Nuer, Cuei on the side of Kurmiyom with Jikeny and Aboorbioong on the Lang-nom (Ulang) side and Nyinwak with Nuer Yom (Gajaak).
The Ngokland people lived in two groups, namely Yom and Weny. Each group was further divided into sections and again into subsections. Ngok Lual Yak people owned NgokLand. They developed a skillful traditional culture and a close spiritual bond with the land. Early settlers were experts in hunting, fishing, farming, grazing and were skillful in spear and stick fighting. NgokLand ownership was by and for the people of Ngok Lual Yak.
People, land and early migration
Ngok Lual Yak as a group is an original Jieng Group. The Jieng began with the single family of Deng with his wife Abuk. One myth tells that Deng after his mythical death turned out to be an unreasonable phenomenon, thus deriving the Jieng to worship Deng as commonly known today as Dengdit.
Another myth explains that Deng is regarded as the main source that generate water. This caused the crops to grow. Facts about the Dengdit are yet to be known but is akin to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. Deng and Abuk are the twin marital progenitors of the Jieng Origin. Deng and Abuk are where Ngok People came from.
Ngok Lual Yak as a tribe branched out of Jieng group and staked out its own historical line. Ngok Lual Yak converged into the following groups.
Ngok Lual Yak groups Yom group Tol Akwei Awier Baliet Yom Duut Balak Dhiaak
Weny group Paan Man Gok Ajuba Adong
Paan Man Weny Abiei Ngaar Achaak Diing
Other Ngok groups
Ngok is part of the biggest chain of the other groups of Ngok like Ngok de Jook. Historically Ngok is an umbrella name for the different groups, including the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak. Following are the other groups of Ngok.
The following Ngok groups are either historically related or partly blood-related groups. Out of these groups, some are commonly known as the Pan Ayuel Jeel Family.
Earlier Ngok group, according to migration history
Ngok de Jok Group Ngok de Jok ngok mathiang
Ruweeng Paanaruu Aloor Paweny
Dongjol Nyiel Angaach Ageer Abilang Padang Hol Nyarweng
Marbek Hol Duaar Angaach Rut & Thoi
Ruweng are counted as independent Groups due to their population expansion but emerged from within Ngok.
Luach Akook De Yieu is not part of Ngok Lual Yak since the emerging of Ngok from where the came from and it doesn't fall under Marbek. The above-mentioned subsection of Padang are intending needs to be assimilated in by Ngok while they are not Ngok in reality.
People and land
Ngokland is an area on the Sobat River extending from Dome to Baliet and its border Akoka to the north and northeast. More lived along the Sobat than along the Nile in Baliet. The civil wars of 1955 and 1983 affected their distribution. NgokLand includes Baliet, Dakjur (Adong), Tubuu, Gel Dhiaak, Abwong (Abɔ̈ŋ), Gel Achol and to Dome (Dömë) up to Abwong Cheng Nyankiir. The land features many broad tree lines and a pastoral grassland within the central area. Many tributaries divide the land. Most live on the western bank of the river. Traditionally, most of the western bank was the domain of influential NgokLand settlers. It is also the most olden prestigious heritage of the group.
Populations and resettlement
The exact Population number of Ngokland people of Ngok Lual Yak is not known, but was approximated at 80–95,000 in the 1950s.
Climate
Ngokland seasons are different to the southern hemispheres'. February, March late April are the hottest months and is called the summer season. The rainy season is from mid-May to the full month of October. And from August to earlier October is Autumn (not confirmed). Spring is from May to July (not confirmed). Winter is in early November, December to late January.
Jieng Domination of Upper Nile from Sudd Swamp to earlier migrations expansion to Bhar El ghazel
Jieng Post Migration Expansion
From Sudan Swamp to the confluence of eastern bank of River Nile and Sobat River, Jieng have been an indigenous sole landowner of upper Nile Region by earlier settlement until their migration expansion from Sudd Swamp (Piou as locally known) to Bhar El ghazel Region in 13th and 14th centuries.
The expansion of Jieng migration out from Sudd marshes into the rest of the areas within South Sudan and far beyond Sudan was noticed to be at the beginning of earlier 12th century, 13th century and 14th century. Historical domination of Jieng within Upper Nile around Sudd Swamp (Piou as known by Jieng) have been a long noticeable traced of kinship descendants from time to time.
Sudd Swamp era, or Piou as locally known by Jieng
Sudd Swamp or Piou as commonly known in Jieng language was one of the locations that came under Jieng domination as their original homeland after their earlier migration up from Northern Sudan (Deeng) from Contemporary Egypt (Kook). The presence of Jieng settlement in Sudd Swamp marshland is believed to be dating back to 3000 BCE as archaeological evidence cited by archaeologist Roland Oliver shows that a transhumant cultural base of rearing cattle has been seen around Sudd Swamp for years.
Archaeologist Roland Oliver notes that the period of an Iron Age indicate presence of Jieng Nilotic around Sudd Swamp. And some of the examples of archaeological physical evidence are things like dome-shaped houses, Luaks and tukuls built by Jieng Nilotic for their livelihood around Sudd Swamp.
From 1300 to 1400, the current Jieng groups who are now mainly found in Bhar El ghazel Region began to move out from Sudd Swamp marshland into their current respective dominant locations, expanding far southwards towards common places like Shambe, Rumbek, Wau, Awiel and Kuacjok.
Yet the other Jieng dominant group currently known as Ngok Lual Yak remained in Sudd Swamp marshland until 1600. The first expansion genesis of Jieng groups who are currently found in Bhar El ghazel was one of mass exodus to look for green pasture land as well as to find a good livable dry land, because Sudd Swamp was mainly an island with no sufficient green pasture and had little dry land to sustain the population of Jieng due to the increasing number of people around Sudd Swamp marshland.
61 AD Roman Empire soldiers visit Sudd Swamp in Upper Nile
In 61 AD, the Roman Emperor, Nero, ordered a group of Roman soldiers to go deep down southwards through White Nile for the Expeditions of Central African Coast.
The group passed through White Nile but were unable to go far beyond Sudd Swamp, because vegetation and marshland prevented the group of Roman soldiers from penetrating the swamp in search for the source of the White Nile. So, the expeditions search for the sources of the Nile became particularly difficult, and eventually the group of Roman soldiers turned to an overland travel expedition from Central African Coast to avoid travelling through Sudd Swamp (Piou).
In 61 AD, the group of Roman soldiers, who were sent by Emperor Neo, arrived in Sudd Swamp and encountered Nilotic speaking tribes. And as indicated by archaeologist Roland Oliver, Nilotic archaeological evidence around Sudd Swamp has been there since 3000 BCE and included Nilotic historical migrations to Upper Nile Region.
Shilluks came to Upper Nile in 1450 as they migrated from Bhar El ghazel, where Nyikang, Gilo and Dimo break up over some dispute matter. Nyikang are current descendants of Collo in Fashodo, Gilo are contemporary family of Ayyuak found now in Pashalla while Dimo are the roots descendants of Jurcol currently found in Wau and Awiel.
Nuer migrated to Upper Nile in the 1800s, where they also expanded out to eastern bank of Upper Nile while led by predominant spiritual leader popularly known as Latjor in Naath/Nuer history. Naath/Nuer were the last Nilotic group settled by Jieng group of Ngok Lual Yak within their present areas in Upper Nile Region.
Jieng/Dimka moreover, have been living around Sudd Swamp for years which dated back to 12th century as Iron Age period and 13th century or more as noted by archaeologist Roland Oliver that Nilotic have been present in Sudd Swamp marshes since 3000 BCE.
Jieng Conquest of Eastern bank of Upper Nile from Funj Kingdom 1630 to 1790
The eastern bank of Upper Nile has long been under the Funj Kingdom rule under King Badi II since the interception of the Funj Kingdom in 1504. The ruler king of Funj was in control of vast territories of land across Sudan before Jieng invaded and captured the eastern bank of Upper Nile.
In 1630, Jieng dominant group currently known as Ngok Lual Yak, lived in Sudd Swamp marshes after current Jieng groups in Bhar El ghazel left between 1300 – 1400. By 1630, the Jieng group of Ngok Lual Yak started to expand eastward toward the eastern bank confluence of River Nile and Sobat River which was under Funj Kingdom rule by a Funj Sultanate known as King Badi II.
While expanding out of Sudd Swamp marshes, Jieng clashed with Funj Kingdom under King Badi II from 1630 until around 1780, when the war subsidized. By 1790, most of the eastern bank of White Nile was under control of Jieng after they had driven out the Funj and totally conquered the confluence end of eastern bank of River Nile and Sobat River.
Jieng fully invaded the southern border of the Sultanate of Sennar. The progressive conquering of many lands by Jieng continued through the 17th and 18th centuries, towards the Gezira region. This led to the change of strategic balance between Funj and Shilluk, who tried to unite against Jieng militarily to make coordinated attacks to stop Jieng from conquest expansions, but they both failed to defeat Jieng.
After Jieng militarily defeated both Funj and Shilluks coordinated attacks, Jieng then cut through while pushing out the Funj Kingdom under King Badi II on the eastern bank and became the sole landowner of the eastern bank of the Nile which was earlier owned by Funj, while Shilluk still owned the western bank of the Nile where they first came and settled after they arrived from Bhar El ghazel to Upper Nile in 1450.
From 1630 until 1800, Jieng became the dominant military conquerors of the eastern bank of Upper Nile Region and ran social and economic ties with other groups who they had pushed out from the eastern bank far up to the northern part of Sudan.
Some examples of the social and economic ties that Jieng were bound with across the eastern bank of Upper Nile were things like cultural goods, e.g., milk, honey, fruits, animal skins and grains in return for metals, salt and clothing with their counterpart groups that they have defeated earlier like remnants traders of Funj Kingdom, Arabs and European merchants.