THE MACHO COMMUNITY [Madi and Acholi Community]
4/26/2016
By T.T Shaka
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is a number of articles that I have written as an attempt to make you realize who you are. If you didn’t go through any of the earlier ones, perhaps this will give you a hint of what I talked of in the past.
In this message, I would like you to remove the letters that are common in the words that make Madi and Acholi. What are you left with in both? MD and CHOL respectively. Do they make sense to you? Is this what you are? Of course; NOT. You are incomplete without the missing letters and that means each other. If I were you, creation of Magwi or Pa-Geri County shouldn’t be seen or should be interpreted by some people to divide you even though I see it meaningless for the size of our land. However, Scotland exists as North and South Scotland but is still the same people and so are you.
Our properties explain that Madi and Acholi are inseparable. They form a genetic bond or composition no one can break. God spiced them well that if you separate the liquid from the mixture, the aroma will still be there. Can you separate salt and sugar from their solution? Can anybody deceive you he/she can phenotypically identify a Madi from an Acholi? No one can by names because there are very many Madi with Acholi names. Almost all the people of Kitgum are the decadence of Nyikwara who fled Pa-Nyikwara and those from Mugali during the Turks war on Madi between 1880 and 1883.Nyikwara was a Madi and in his name Pa-Nyikwara came. Other Madi of course then fled to West Nile, along Sudan and Uganda border then to Gulu. Madi acquired Acholi names then as a protection but today they choose to use them because they are the right thing to do.
Dear Parents, it doesn’t matter how many children you have and once they are grown. They will leave you for their independent homes. This is how Madi and Acholi are and that should be. Living separately in homes but are the same family. An Historian from the Western World once wrote, “Acholi is a product of Luo and Madi”, but the earlier Acholi think their ancestors were thrown by God from above. Whichever it is, that isn’t my point. I have known enough of the history of the land from North-South and East-West that enclose Madi and Acholi. This enclosure belongs to these communities whose identity is fused.
History can be a thing of the past to remember but shouldn’t be used to destroy our sister communities. Many individuals have tried in the past and still they are there to create hate and division among us. We shouldn’t allow them to succeed with their selfish aims. I am certain if Madi and the Acholi can fight together the external aggressions, and use their human and natural resources effectively for social and agricultural development, it will be a matter of time their children will have hope in their land.
In the nearest future, I will send you common and individual projects for the two communities. These projects will be the basic approach to start a meaningful development. I will talk to all of you in person once peace prevails in our country. I am sure you will agree with me that it is very shameful to beg for food from the international bodies like [WFP] unless there is a natural disaster like drought, insect infestation and more. I remember sometimes ago a white South African reporter wrote “If you buried one bicycle in South Sudan, the next morning, you will find two bicycles” The same thing was said earlier by a Sudanese, “If you sleep outside in South Sudan, they will find leaves growing on you” Why can’t we take advantage of our rich land where we don’t have to worry about fertilizer? However, as long as I live and there is peace, I will see that the two communities under Macho have a bright future for themselves and their children.
Having been a teacher for over 18 years, I want our children to be one of the best if not the best in the country. I am confident we can make it happen. In the mean time I am preparing out of classroom activities to improve learning in all levels in our Macho schools. Therefore, when I come seeking for your contribution, be ready to support Macho. It is often said, “Blood is thicker than water” Indeed, Macho blood is what should enable us to fight anyone who comes to separate us. Think of your children. Where and how would you want to leave them when you are dead? Surely, we don’t want them to live or pass through the misery we have experienced.
I know some people who claimed to be the sons or daughters of this land and yet they have sold and continue to sell our land. Those people have no regards for you or to their children. Don’t forget that land is inelastic. You can’t make the little you have if your population grows. What you have will remain as it is from generation to generation and giving any portion out or mismanaging , will be gone as spit milk. Do you stand by when you see your own people destroying your children by taking away your land?
Together, brothers and sisters, you can fight any forces of evil no matter how many or powerful the weapons they have are. Indira Gandhi did that without weapons. You are not a subject or answerable to anyone as far as you and your land is concerned. Take your pride and dignity. Remember, character is what you are or made of but reputation is what people think about you. We should not in the meantime be concern of what other people think of Macho.
Dear Macho, know that no one will come from anywhere to put off the fire which they themselves set burning. You must take the responsibility. Your enemies will always want you to be consumed in the fire. Do you choose to have that?
Please understand that my writing this article is to play fuss. I don’t want to convince you or anybody but to bring a concern for you to think about. Conflicts, wars, misunderstandings, fights in a family, community or in the country impede development of any kind. It sets back the clock. Imagine if chameleons are to move without making a step back each time they move what distance they would cover in a given time? Can you imagine how far we could have gone?
In conclusion, I would like you to imagine you are one of those taking positive steps to see our land develop but not to stir unrest. We are born with love and that is what Macho family should experience in their land. Gone should be the day you call yourselves Madi or Acholi.
God bless you and your land.
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