LKC singing “Jikim Jikiu” by Late Paul Antoy Kabua

My late brother composed this poignant song as a tribute to the Kwajalein people, who were forcibly relocated from their home island within the Kwajalein Atoll to the small and crowded island of Ebeye in the 1960s. This transition, orchestrated by the United States government, allowed for the establishment of missile testing facilities in the Mid Atoll of Kwajalein, a practice that continues to this day under the banner of national security. The sacrifices made by the Kwajalein community have been significant; their ancestral lands, rich with culture and history, were traded for a role in the defense efforts of the United States. Thus, the people of Kwajalein hold a vital and often overlooked position in the security narrative of the American people, enduring substantial loss for a cause that extends beyond their own borders. Ebeye, a small yet densely populated island, is home to over 10,000 residents packed into an area that stretches just a mile in length and spans only a few meters in width. This remarkable overpopulation can be largely attributed to the availability of better-paying jobs on the nearby military base on Kwajalein, which has attracted many migrants from various parts of the Marshall Islands seeking improved economic opportunities. As a result, Ebeye has become a vibrant and bustling hub, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of its diverse community.