The Story about the Birds' Election

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 Storytelling Session Details

 Storyteller: John Jal Mayen (“2j”)
 Language: Nuer
 Story Researcher: Ruot George
 Place: UNMISS Poc site, Juba
 Date: 2015
 

Storyteller John Jal Mayen “2j”

Once upon a time there was a birds’ election. Four of the birds said they would lead the rest. They were Crow, Kite, Owl, and Great Blue Heron.

All the birds had a meeting and suggested that the criteria for becoming a leader is that only the small ones should be nominated for leadership. But Great Blue Heron also wanted to be the birds’ leader. This is how Crow became a leader amongst all the birds.

There was a meeting to discuss who should be chosen to be the leader. The four birds above were compared: Great Blue Heron, Crow, Owl, and Kite. Each of them wanted to lead. Great Blue Heron was given a task to divide fish amongst the birds. He decided to do so according to the body size; if you were a small bird you should take small fish. And if you were a big bird, you were given a big fish. Kite protested and said with a loud voice, ”Do you see what Great Blue Heron is doing? He is keeping the big fish for himself!” Kite then grabbed the fish. Both of them were disqualified for unfair distribution and not being patient respectively.

The two remaining birds were Owl and Crow. The birds said, “Owl is moving only at night, how can someone who does not move during the day lead us?”

Owl is moving only at night; how can someone who does not move during the day lead us?

So Crow was unanimously nominated to become the leader of the birds. They accepted Crow for its compassion, and it is a patient and peaceful bird. If any animal or human being dies in the bush the crow must first remove the eye as a sign of authorization for the other birds to eat.

This is why no one is allowed to kill the crow among the Nuer people.


Reflections
1) Why do you think Crow won this election? Do you agree with the decision?
2) If the fish represent the wealth of the land, what would be the fair way to divide it amongst  the  people?
3) Does the crow symbolise the same thing in your community as it does here?

Folktales Collected in Renk

Folktales Collected in Pibor

Folktales Collected in Bentiu

Folktales Collected in UNMISS PoC site, Juba

The Story about the Birds' Election

by Na'eesh Mabadh Team | Na'eesh Mabadh Radio Programme

Enjoyed Story about the Birds’ Election? Listen to the Na’eesh Mabadh adaptation of this folktale for radio.

Na’eesh Mabadh is a peacebuilding project inspired by South Sudanese folktales.
Learn more about this project on the Na’eesh Mabadh page.


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