Gen Nyankot Kuot: Life as Kuol Manyang Juuk’s Wife During the War

What was life like for Gen Nyankot Kuot when her husband, Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk, joined the revolution and went to war? In this exclusive interview, Gen Nyankot shares the story of her marriage, the uncertainty of separation and the challenges of raising a family during South Sudan’s war. She met Kuol Manyang when he was working as an engineer. At the time, she could not have known how profoundly their lives would change. When war began in the 1980s, he joined the revolution, while Nyankot remained in the village. Months passed before she joined her husband and family in Ethiopia. Recorded in Bor on 16 September 2024, this interview offers a personal account of the man she married and the choices she made to support their family during long periods when she did not know where he was. Gen Nyankot also performs a song by her mother-in-law, Keth Kuereng Garang, the mother of Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk. Through her voice, she shares a piece of family history carried in song. A forthcoming ten-minute video will feature Nyankot’s performance and the family history connected to it. Further parts of her longer interview, including her memories of raising her children during the war, will be shared separately. If you recognise Keth Kuereng Garang’s song or know the story behind it, please share what you remember in the comments. Subscribe to Ajak Deng Chiengkou for more interviews, oral histories and firsthand accounts from South Sudan’s living history:    / @ajakdengchiengkou   📍 Interview location: Bor, Jonglei State, South Sudan 📅 Recorded: 16 September 2024 🎙️ Interview by: Ajak Deng Chiengkou #GenNyankotKuot #KuolManyangJuuk #SouthSudanHistory #OralHistory #DinkaCulture #AjakDengChiengkou Links Youtube:    / @ajakdengchiengkou   Facebook: facebook.com/AjakDenChiengkou Instagram: instagram.com/ajakdengchiengkou TikTok: tiktok.com/@ajakdengchiengkou Twitter: twitter.com/ajakgdchiengkou