The obituary:" Mwlimu" Lapwony Eremiya Opio

Eremiya Opiyo, D.E.O. Acholi, Bugishu, and Bukedi Districts is dead.

Born in Feb. 1918 in Koch Amar, Amuru district, Northern Uganda. Started Primary education in 1930, known as E.V. School (Elementary Vernacular School). In 1934 entered Gulu High School and stayed up to 1936. He joined Buwalasi Teachers College in 1937 and qualified as a Primary School Teacher in 1939. He was the first to qualify as a primary teacher in the Acholi district. He was posted to Gulu Primary School in 1940 where he stayed till 1951. In 1952 he was posted to Bobi Primary School as Head Master. In 1956 he went to Kyambogo Teachers College for upgrading and came out with Junior Secondary Teacher’s Certificate. He was posted to Gulu High School in 1957. After one year in 1958 he was transferred to Anaka to open a junior secondary school. In the same year he was appointed Assistant Education Officer, Acholi District. He was promoted to post of Education Officer Acholi District in 1962. In 1969 he was transferred to Mbale Municipality and Tororo Town Council as Education Officer Mbale/Tororo. He retired in 1974.

Hobbies included music. Was Choirmaster to Gulu High School for a long time.
Was appointed by Ministry of Education as Chairman Board Of Governors, BOG, Unyama Teachers College in 1974. He was a member of Education committees and a member of BOG to Gulu High School, Pope Paul II Anaka, Gulu Senior Secondary School, Koch Goma, National Teachers College, Unyama. He loved education and worked tirelessly to promote it. During his stay in Bunyoro, he opened the Kinyara Primary School and taught for 3 years without pay. He is succeeded by 5 daughters and a son.

A son to Lajany and Latigi Abeja, Brother to Adong Min Acan, Bodo Adoti, Aber Min Awor, Alwoch, Mariano Okullo, Martin Okot.

Husband to Gertrude Anek and Anna Adong.

Father to Lucy Lawino, Elizabeth (Betty ) Opiyo, Evelyn Agweng Jageno, Sophie Akot, Pauline Piloya, Denis Onen.

Grandfather to: George Kinyera, Peter Okwera, Michael Opiyo, Yvette Lapura, Henry Jageno, Benita, Phoebe Jageno and Abigail.

Teacher to many among which are: Dr. Apollo Milton Obote RIP – Ist President of Uganda, Otaema Alimadi, Okot Bitek, Okuto George, Archibishop Yona Okoth, Mrs. Rebecca Okwong, Mrs. Rebecca Odongkara, Mrs. Tabitha Lutara.

Colleague and friend to: Lapwony Anderea Ocitti (Madit), Lapwony Ocitti (Matidi) Abiringang, Lapwony Alipayo Oloya, Ladit Adimola, Tom Mugoya, Omusolo, Oguli, Paul Etyang, Banaya Angelo, Julio Okello, J. P. Abe, George Obwoya, Abuneri Owor, Atiko.

Clansman and Relative to: Ladit Rev Ojok, Anna Amailuk, Dorothy Ongom, Filda Lanyero, Rev Isaka Okumu, Ben Twodo, Yakkobo Obbo, Ambassador Julius Onen, Mrs A. Bwoch, Obadiya Lalobo, Barikiya Opobbo, Julius Odur, Okello Tony Lajany, Julius Okot-Taa, Rwot Francis Oryang-Lagony, Sister Mary Okee, Jeremiya Lukeka, Bala Amagoro, Charles Abola, Balson Odong.

Special Friend to: Rwot Lacito Okech, Samwiri Opira, Ongom Yoweri, Ladit Buyu, Aboo, Luyimbazzi Zzake former Minister of Education, Erica Labeja, Vitalbhai Patel, Modgil.

Educationist, Disciplinarian, Principled, Loved people, Gave and shared freely, Strict on hygiene and cleanliness and particular about what he ate, Loved cars and speed, Football, Music, Manager, Organizer, Planner.

Baba Eremiya the Hunter: Made first kill of a Topi in 1929 with a spear. Later with short guns and rifles hunted for sport in the company of J.P. Abe and Nua Kilara. As a young man Baba had accompanied his father Lajany and the clan for a hunt. There was a herd of Topi and one of the uncle’s Obura isolated two of the Topi’s and chased them towards the river where he lay in waiting. Meanwhile Baba was following close by and when there was no other option for the Topi’s but to plunge into the river, the uncle who was waiting by the river speared the animal as it plunged into the swollen river. It is customary that there should always be a follow up stab to ensure that the speared animal does not walk away. Baba was urged by the uncle to spear the animal and they made a kill. On this note the uncle blew his horn and shouted praises to the clan. After several attempts to announce the kill, Lajany answered in his characteristic horn and headed for the kill followed by a group of young men.

On arrival at the scene, the found the animal was being skinned and portioned according to tradition. The person to spear the animal first is given the head and one hind leg. The second person to spear the animal gets the neck, one fore leg and the ribs. At the age of 10/11 it was impossible for Baba to carry all the portions he had earned. The boys that accompanied Lajany helped carry the kill home.

When the group neared the homestead, the horn was sounded and women came rushing and responded with ululations and relieved the men of the meat. The meat was taken home and piled in one heap. Lajany then systematically divided the meat according to who deserved what parts and who earned what apart from those given to helpers.

Olara Otunnu receives Harvard Law School Association Award

Olara Otunnu receives Harvard Law School Association Award
June 14, 2007.

Mr Otunnu was born in Mucwini (Chua) in northern Uganda in September 1950, Olara Otunnu received his early education at Gulu High School and King's College Budo. He then attended Makerere University in Kampala (where he was president of the students' union), Oxford University (where he was Overseas Scholar) and Harvard Law School (where he was a Fullbright Scholar). A lawyer by profession, he practised law as an Associate with the law firm of Chadbourne and Parke in New York, prior to becoming Assistant Professor of Law at Albany Law School.

In the 1970s, as a student leader and later as Secretary-General of Uganda Freedom Union, Mr Otunnu played a leading role in the resistance against the regime of Idi Amin. At the Moshi Unity Conference on Uganda (1979), Mr Otunnu was elected to serve as a member of the Uganda National Consultative Council, the interim administration in the post-Amin period (1979-1980).

Harvard Law School graduate Olara A. Otunnu LL.M. '78 is the newest recipient of the prestigious Harvard Law School Association Award. The award will be presented by Dean Elena Kagan '86 and Harvard Law School Association President Jay H. Hebert '86 on June 15 at the
Worldwide Alumni Congress, held this year in Washington DC.

"Olara Otunnu is one of our most inspiring alumni," said Kagan. "His career in public service, his extensive leadership in the fields of international security and human rights, and his groundbreaking work at the UN set an example for all of us. He is a tireless advocate for children around the world, and I am honored to be able to present him with the HLSA Award."

The former United Nations under-secretary general and special representative for children and armed conflict, Otunnu founded and currently heads the LBL Foundation for Children. The New York-based non-profit is committed to promoting education and healing for children around the world, especially those whose lives have been dislocated by war. By drawing international attention to neglected conflict situations and pressing for full compliance with international protection laws, the LBL Foundation supports communities to recover and rebuild themselves.

During his time at the UN, Otunnu spearheaded the campaign to develop and mobilize international action on behalf of children exposed to war. He was the architect of the groundbreaking compliance mechanism designed to protect war-affected children, which was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council in Resolution 1612 (2005).

Otunnu is also the recipient of the 2005 Sydney Peace Prize, the 2002 German Africa Prize, and the Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights. In 2006, the International Jury for the World's Children's Prize, on behalf of 12 million children in Global Friend schools, elected him the first World's Children's Ombudsman.

He has also served as president of the International Peace Academy; president of the UN Security Council; chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights; and Uganda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative to the UN. Otunnu serves on the boards of the Aspen Institute; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Carnegie Corporation of New York; and the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

The HLSA designates up to three award recipients each year. The award honors HLS alumni, faculty members and friends who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the legal profession, to society, or to HLS. Recipients are nominated by the HLS community and chosen by the HLSA Awards Committee. The first HLSA Award was presented to Erwin Nathaniel Griswold '28 S.J.D. '29 in 1992. Since then, recipients have included Mary Robinson LL.M. '68, the former president of Ireland; former Attorney General Janet Reno '63; and Senator Barack Obama '91.

OLARA A. OTUNNU
BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
For over three decades, Mr. Otunnu has held several diverse leadership positions, for which he has received wide acclaim for demonstrating outstanding political and diplomatic leadership, vision, innovation, and courage. The breadth and depth of that experience is exceptional. This profile provides a sketch of that itinerary.

I. Leadership Positions
The leadership positions Mr. Otunnu has held include:
· United Nations Under-Secretary General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, 1998 – 2005.
· President, International Peace Academy (now IPI), 1990 - 1998.
· President of the United Nations Security Council, 1981.
· Uganda’s Representative to the UN Security Council, 1981 – 1982.
· Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights, 1983 - 1984.
· Minister of Foreign Affairs (Uganda), 1985 - 1986.
· Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative and to the UN, 1980-1985.
· Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, 1982 - 1983.
· Chairman of the UN General Assembly Credentials Committee, 1983-1984.
· Chairman of the Contact Group on Global Negotiations, 1982-1983.
· Chairman, Group of 77 for Law of the Sea Negotiations, 1980 – 1981.
· Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Ministerial Meeting of Non-Aligned Movement, 1983.
· Secretary General, Uganda Freedom Union, 1976 – 1980.
· Delegate, Moshi Unity Conference on Uganda, 1978.
· Member, Uganda National Consultative Council (Uganda’s interim government, following the removal of the Idi Amin regime), 1979 – 1980.
· President, Makerere University Students Guild (students’ union), 1972 – 1973.
· Member, Makerere University Council (university governing body), 1972-1973.
He currently holds the following positions:
· President, LBL Foundation for Children.
· World’s Children’s Ombudsman (selected by a worldwide network of over 12 million children).

II. Major Prizes and Awards
Mr. Otunnu has been widely acclaimed for his many outstanding and diverse contributions and achievements. He is the recipient of several major international prizes and awards, including:
· Harvard Law School Alumni Association Award, 2007.
· Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights (India), 2006.
· Sydney Peace Prize, 2005.
· German Africa Prize, 2002.
· Distinguished Service Award, awarded by the United Nations Association of USA.
· Overseas Scholar, Oxford University.
· Fulbright Scholar, Harvard University.
· The United States of America has recognized Mr. Otunnu as a person of “extraordinary ability and talent”, for which he has been granted the special O1 immigrant status, which is reserved for “few individuals who have risen to the very top of their field of endeavor”.

III. Membership of Major Boards

Mr. Otunnu has been very active in many civic activities and organisations, serving on the Boards of several major international institutions. Currently he serves on the following Boards:
· Aspen Institute.
· International Peace Institute (formerly IPA)
· Member, Club of Rome.
· Jury for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
· Jury for the John P. McNulty Prize.
· Patron for the World’s Children’s Prize.
· Aspen France.
Previously, he has served on the Boards of:
· Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· International Selection Commission of the Philadelphia Liberty Medal.
· Carnegie Corporation of New York.
· International Crisis Group.
· Council of African Advisers of the World Bank.
· Hampshire College.
· International Patrons of the Refugee Studies Programme at Oxford University.
· Advisory Committee of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
· Aspen Italia.
· Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
· Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva
· Regional Security Steering Committee of International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), London

IV. Membership of Major International Commissions
Mr. Otunnu has been a member of several important independent international commissions, most of which have focused particularly on issues of Peace and Security, Human Rights, Conflict Management, Reform of the UN, and North/South Relations. These commissions include:
· Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, 1994 - 1997.
· Commission on Global Governance, 1992-1995.
· Group on Rethinking International Governance, 1986 - 1990.
· International Panel on Management and Decision-Making in the United Nations (1986-1987).
· United Nations Group of Experts on New Concepts of International Security, 1984 - 1985.
· Commonwealth Group of Experts Study Group on the Security of Small States, 1984-1985.
· International Task Force on Security Council Peace Enforcement.


V. Examples of Major Initiatives by Mr. Otunnu
Below are some examples of major concrete initiatives undertaken by Mr. Otunnu, in his diverse leadership roles. These initiatives testify to his exceptional capacity and experience in providing Leadership, Political and Diplomatic Skills, Vision, and Innovation.
· He was responsible for breaking the deadlock and crisis over the election of UN Secretary General in 1981.
· As president of the UN Security Council in 1981, he invented the innovative system of straw balloting (commonly known as the Otunnu Formula), which has been used ever since in the election of the Secretary General.
· As chairman of the Credentials Committee of the UN General Assembly, he proposed and negotiated the formula that successfully resolved a major diplomatic showdown (concerning representation of Grenada) at the UN, during the Grenada crisis of 1983-84.
· He played the key role in the Uganda Peace Talks (1985 – 1986), which culminated in the Nairobi Peace Agreement of December 1985.
· As president of International Peace Academy, he transformed the role, programmes, funding and profile of the organisation; he assembled a highly talented and diverse staff, attracted major new funding, and built an endowment.
· He successfully incorporated the protection of war-affected children into the agenda of the UN Security Council and made it a major peace-and-security issue.
· He spearheaded the building of a comprehensive body of international rules and standards (e.g., Several UN Security Council Resolutions, culminating in Resolution 1612; relevant provisions of the ICC Statute; the Optional Protocol; relevant provisions of ILO Convention 182; relevant provisions of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; etc.) for the protection of war-affected children.
· He successfully led the campaign to incorporate several child-specific war crimes into the International Criminal Court Statute; these provisions are currently being applied in the first cases brought before the ICC.
· He was responsible for designing and establishing the role and deployment of Child Protection Advisers in UN and regional peacekeeping missions.
· He initiated and established the on-going public listing (Naming and Shaming) of parties responsible for committing crimes against children in situations of armed conflict.
· He proposed, designed and successfully lobbied for the adoption of the groundbreaking compliance regime for the protection of war-affected children, contained in UN Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005). The compliance regime formally establishes a comprehensive, international monitoring and reporting mechanism to document grave violations against children, identify and publicly list offending parties, holding them accountable, in order to ensure compliance ‘on the ground’ with international legal standards.
· He initiated and established “Voice of Children” radio programmes, for children and by children.
· As UN Special Representative, he established a systematic practice of obtaining specific commitments from parties to conflict, which then serve as benchmarks for monitoring their conduct.
· He proposed the idea of “Era of Application” campaign, and successfully applied this to the children-and- armed conflict agenda.

VI. Experience of Leading and Managing Organisations
Mr. Otunnu has led and managed diverse and important organisations; during his tenure, he has transformed and led them to new levels of achievements. Here are some examples:

· As UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, he developed and led a particularly ambitious international campaign; he put in place a comprehensive body of standards; and he instituted a groundbreaking compliance mechanism (SC Resolution 1612). Remarkably, all this was accomplished in spite of very limited resources in terms of budget and staff.

· As president of International Peace Academy, he transformed the organisation – its role, programmes, budget and fund-raising, staff, and physical premises. He left behind a reinvented institution with new highly-acclaimed programmes, greatly increased resources (including much-expanded budget and a new endowment), top calibre and diverse staff, and a great reputation and profile.

· As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he carried out a major reorganisation of the ministry, to reward performance and professionalism, and established transparent criteria for promotions and postings.

· When he took over as Uganda’s ambassador to the UN, following the fall of Idi Amin, he quickly reorganized and repositioned Uganda Mission to the UN, making it one of the most engaged and respected at the UN.

VII. Engagement and Experience concerning Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues
Mr. Otunnu has been actively engaged in the fight for and the promotion of human rights, in various capacities, for most of his adult life.
· As students’ union president at Makerere University and as Secretary General of Uganda Freedom Union, Mr. Otunnu was a key leader in opposition to the Idi Amin regime.
· As university professor, he has taught courses on Human Rights, at Albany Law School and at American University in Paris.
· As Ambassador to the UN in the 1980s, Mr. Otunnu was an early supporter and sponsor of the proposal for the establishment of the position of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; this was at a time when this idea was very controversial and appeared utopian. He participated in negotiations on the establishment of this position in both the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights.
· Mr. Otunnu has served as Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights. He also served for several years as Representative to the Commission; he is very familiar with the workings of the entire UN human rights machinery.
· Mr. Otunnu was an early and strong supporter of the proposal to establish the International Criminal Court, and participated actively in the negotiations which culminated in the Rome Statute.
· He is greatly solicited as a speaker and commentator on human rights issues. As UN Special Representative, he developed the rights and protection of children exposed to war into a major and visible concern within the overall human rights agenda.
· Mr. Otunnu has served as a member of several high-level international commissions; in each of these commissions, one of the key areas under review was the promotion of Human Rights.
· As UN Special Representative, he designed, developed and carried out one of the most ambitious and successful international human rights enterprises (i.e. ensuring the protection and rights of children exposed to armed conflict) - - raising awareness, placing the protection and rights of war-affected children on the agenda of the UN Security Council, developing a comprehensive body of legal standards, mainstreaming this issue within and outside the UN, and successfully instituting a ground-breaking compliance mechanism.
· He has undertaken extensive visits to many countries in the midst or aftermath of conflict; he has encountered firsthand on the ground many episodes and victims of grave violation of human rights, and he has borne witness to their suffering.

VII. Engagement with Regional Organisations
Over the years, in various capacities, Mr. Otunnu has reached out and systematically engaged regional organisations, particularly on issues of Peacekeeping, Human Rights, Conflict Management, and Development. He is very familiar and has worked closely with the following organisations:
· European Union (EU);
· African Union (AU), previously known as Organization of African Unity (OAU);
· Organization of American States (OAS);
· Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
· League of Arab Sates (LAS);
· European Parliament;
· EU/ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly;
· Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC);
· Group of 77;
· Non-Aligned Movement (NAM);
· Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Below are some examples of concrete outcomes which have emerged as a result of Mr. Otunnu’s engagement with regional organisations:
· OAU Mechanism for Conflict Management (while head of IPA, Mr. Otunnu proposed this project to Secretary General of OAU and worked with him to develop the mechanism).

· European Union Guidelines for Children and Armed Conflict (this was a direct result of Mr. Otunnu’s advocacy and collaboration with EU institutions) .

· Designation of war-affected children as a distinct category of beneficiaries under the Cotonou Agreement on EU/ACP Partnership (Mr. Otunnu proposed and successfully lobbied for the inclusion of this provision).

· ECOWAS Peer Review Mechanism for Protection of Children (Mr. Otunnu proposed this and successfully lobbied ECOWAS heads of state for its adoption).


IX. Outreach to and Engagement with Civil Society and NGO

DID YOU KNOW THAT........

Dr. Abe's Music produced for the children of Northern Uganda is being sold by:

Stern's Music, 74-75 WARREN STREET, LONDON entitled "Acholi Renaissance" released in 2006. Some part of the proceeds from the sale of this Albums will go to support and educate the children of Northern Uganda. Check out the following links:

http://www.sternsmusic.com/ and http://purple-lion.co.uk/dr_abe.html

Click the following link for the Album

DR. ABE (1 release)

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This artifact is : Acholi Sandal, Africa, c.1900

Information: Traditional footwear from the Acholi region of Northern Uganda is formed using an oval shaped piece of wet rawhide which is incised and pigmented red and black.
Owner: The Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P92.96) Photo Credit:(c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman

Source: http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/media/chronicles_of_riches.html

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Did you know about the following books published in Acholi language?

1. Acam toona ¦ J.P. Ocitti. Nairobi etc.> East African Literature Bureau, 1970. 84 p. Adangme 2

2. Acoli ki ker megi ¦ ma coyo buk man aye Reuben S. Anywar. Nairobi etc.> The Eagle Press, 1954. 223 p. (SOAS 1)

3. The bank and how it will help Africans Benge ki kit ma bikonyo kwede Africans. Kampala> Prepared by the Department of Commerce, Uganda and published by The Eagle Press, 1955. 16 p. English and Lwoo (Acoli) Benge ki kit ma bikonyo kwede Africans. See> The bank and how it will help Africans.

4. Bora afya Yot kom maber. London> The Sheldon Press, 1934. 31 p. Swahili and Acholi. (SOAS 5107) (NUSwahili)

5. Lacan ma kwo pe kinyero ¦ ngat mucoyo J.P. Ocitti. Kampala> East African Literature Bureau, The Eagle Press, 1960. 91 p. English title> Every dog has his day. (SOAS 20)

6. Lak tar ¦ Okot p&Bitek. Nairobi etc.> East African Literature Bureau, 2nd ed. 1969. 131 p.

7. Pit ki gwoko lotino ¦ Mrs. H.F. Davies aye oyubo, Erica Lakor aye okobo. Kampala> The Eagle Press, 1953. 20 p. Entlish title> Infant welfare. (SOAS 31)

8. Pwonye me lebwa ¦ lupwony ki lukwan me Canon Lawrence College, Lira, aye muyubo. Kampala> The Eagle Press, East African Literature Bureau, 1957. 65 p. English title> Learning our language. (SOAS 32)

9. Tekwaro ki ker lobo Acholi ¦ Lacito Okech. Kampala> The Eagle Press, 1953. 90 p. English title> History and chieftainship records of the land of the Acholi people of Uganda. (SOAS 38)

10. Welo okelo yengo ¦ J.B. Otuko. Kampala etc.> East African Literature Bureau, 1976. 233 p

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Other publication about Acholi in English:

Apoko, Anna (1967). "At Home in the Village: Growing Up in Acholi." In East African Childhood: Three Versions, edited by L. K. Fox, 43-75. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.

Atkinson, Ronald R. (1989). "The Evolution of Ethnicity among the Acholi of Uganda: The Pre-colonial Phase." Ethnohistory 36(1): 19-43.

Atkinson, Ronald R. (1994). The Roots of Ethnicity: The Origins of the Acholi of Uganda before 1800.Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Behrend, Heike (1991). "Is Alice Lakwena a Witch? The Holy Spirit Movement and Its Fight against Evil in the North." In Changing Uganda: The Dilemmas of Structural Adjustment and Revolutionary Change, edited by Holger B. Hansen and Michael Twaddle, 162-177. London: James Currey.

Crazzolara, J. P. (1938). A Study of the Acooli Language: Grammar and Vocabulary. London: Oxford University Press.

Crazzolara, J. P. (1950-1954). The Lwoo. 3 vols. Verona: Editrice Nigrizia.

Dwyer, John O. (1972). The Acholi of Uganda: Adjustment to Imperialism. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International.

Girling, F. K. (1960). The Acholi of Uganda. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Hansen, Holger B., and Michael Twaddle, eds. (1988). Uganda Now: Between Decay and Development.London: James Currey.

Hansen, Holger B., and Michael Twaddle, eds. (1991). Changing Uganda: The Dilemmas of Structural Adjustment and Revolutionary Change. London: James Currey.

Kasozi, A. B. K. (1994). The Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Langlands, B. W. (1971). The Population Geography of Acholi District. Occasional Paper no. 30. Makerere University (Kampala), Department of Geography.

Malandra, Alfred (1939). "The Ancestral Shrine of the Acholi." Uganda Journal 7(1): 27-43.

Ocheng, D. O. (1955). "Land Tenure in Acholi." Uganda Journal 19(1): 57-61.

Odongo, J. M. Onyango-ku-, and J. B. Webster, eds. (1976). The Central Lwo during the Aconya.Nairobi: East African Literature Bureau.

Okeny, Kenneth (1982). "State Formation in Acholi: The Emergence of Obbo, Pajok, and Panyikwara States c. 1679-1914." M.A. thesis, University of Nairobi.

Okot p'Bitek (1963). "The Concept of Jok among the Acholi and Lango." Uganda journal 27(1): 15-30.

Okot p'Bitek (1971). Religion of the Central Luo. Nairobi: East African Literature Bureau.

Uma, F. K. (1971). "Acholi-Arab Nubian Relations in the Nineteenth Century." B.A. Graduating Essay, Department of History, Makerere University (Kampala).

Wright, A. C. A. (1936). "Some Notes on Acholi Religious Ceremonies." Uganda Journal 3(3): 175-202.

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READ STORY OF ANYAYO

Follow the link below:

For Jennifer Anyayo story: By Carolyn Davis

Philadelphia Inquirer Reports on "Jennifer's Journey" Back to Northern Uganda

Return to Uganda

Episcopal Church of St. Simon the Cyrenian - Music Extravaganza

Episcopal Church of St. Simon the Cyrenian on Sunday June 10, 2007 at 4:00-8:00 pm at 135 Remmington Avenue Rochelle, NY 10801, will be having a Musical Extravaganza featuring One of Jamaica’s Raising stars, Marlon Anderson, gifted recording Artist, and selected best male vocalist at the annual Caribbean Gospel Award in New York 2002, From New Rochelle Lawrence Watkins/Ecstaistic, well known artist since 1964, from Brooklyn, NY Denzil Botus Steepan Ensemble.

From Uganda Pastor George Okudi Best African Male Artist. Pastor George Okudi was born on 7th April, 1968, in Wera Village, Soroti District in Eastern Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. A world known Gospel Musician who has won many music awards both on Gospel and secular charts including, PAM Awards, Africa's Kora(like American GRAMMY) awards where he won both the Best male artist East Africa and BEST MALE ARTIST OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, he was also nominated for Life time achievement award for the continent of Africa, The parliament of Uganda observed a moment of silence in honor of this achievement pastor Okudi is an anointed Pastor with a celebrity status in Africa. He uses this to win crowds to Jesus Christ.

Though born into a musical family, he grew up in a nomadic lifestyle as a cattle herd’s boy. Okudi attributes his appreciation and collaboration of music to inspiration from birds and nature, which he spent a lot of time listening to as he tended the animals in the jungle fields.

He lost his father very early in his childhood. As an orphan, his mother found a lot of difficulty seeing him through school and had to hire him out to sing at social functions to raise a livelihood for even his siblings.

Through all that kind of hardship, Okudi managed to go to high school. During his school life, he met the Lord as his personal savior in 1984.

Hearing about the hype in Kampala, in 1991 he decided to try out the city. Without transport he had to get a lift in a boot of a car.

With his music talent, Okudi was able to fast integrate himself into the city life, making many friends. One Christian friend taught him to play the Guitar, which he used when he sang in many Christian gatherings, establishing himself in the Gospel Circles.

He later established a church in the suburbs of Kampala after knowing that was the directions the Lord was leading him.

As he sang in the Christian gatherings, a good Samaritan spotted his talent and sponsored him on a one year Music Production course in London, UK. He demonstrated his love for Africa when he refused an offer to stay in the UK after his course. He returned to his roots in 1997 with his own home studio which he has efficiently used to make recordings that have swept the whole of Africa and probably the whole world.

In 2001, Okudi proved his prowess when he won the first Christian Awards in Uganda organized by Impact FM, a Christian radio.

In 2003, Uganda organized his first national awards, The Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards where he won the Best Gospel Artist title and also his mega hit "Wipolo" was the best Gospel single.The same year, he was crowned the Best East African Male Artist and The Best African Male Artist by the KORA Awards, the prestigious African Grammies.

Okudi music is now celebrated the world over. His music has crossed from Gospel and now sells as mainstream because of the irresistible beat that uses the advantage of modern technology to bring out the originality of traditional African sounds.
Through the talent God has given to him he is reaching everywhere and God is expanding his territories not only to Uganda, East Africa or Africa but to the whole world.

What makes the difference is that it is not just entertainment, though many are entertained by it. It is spreading the gospel through music and talent. He has to his credit many album titles, including Things are Already Better, I have Found a Miracle, Go to the Nations, Halleluya Africa, Good Plans, Praise Express 1 and Praise Express 2. Come and see Okudi in person, at Episcopal Church of St. Simon the Cyrenian on Sunday June 10, 2007, donation early bird -(advance) US $35 and at the gate US$ 40, refresment included.