Deng Majok: Sudanese girls' True value lies in their naturalness

I've been to so many pre-marriage dowry negotiations and have seen it all.  Our girls are so valued that one could comfortably say, they are the only girls in the world (at home or in diaspora), whose true value is quantified in dowry terms.

Light or true black, skin color has never had a significant bearing on the value put on the girl. Her true value lies in her naturalness and pleasant character of the heart. In fact, some of the highly valued Sudanese girls have always been the true black ones.

Why are many of our girls not seeing this fact, and instead, invest heavily on skin alteration creme and eye color altering contact lenses, not to mention the "wigs!", with the only aim of looking more European? It seems as though someone, or entities have brainwashed our girls into the belief that "black is ugly!" Someone is to blame here. Whether it's the parents, the advertisers', or something else, someone has failed to highlight the true value of our girls, which is right on their noses.

There is an illusion that black men prefer the white, or light skin girls, and therefore altering one's true skin and eye color would boost market prospects. Though there is some truth to this, but majority of us, Sudanese men, have always ended up marrying inside our cultures, besides having great distaste for creme!

So sisters the next time you think of spending your hard earned cash on creme to  make a mess of your skin, and be looking like "Jackos", please remember that we, your men, are quite happy with who you're. Your true value lies in your naturalness and pleasant character of the heart. Our culture values you so much that even the disable females have always been married off!

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of CNA

Sam Ruot: The Next Battle In Sudan will be fought by Youth!

In words of James” Youth is the joy, the little bird that has broken out of the eggs and is eagerly waiting to spread out its wings in the open sky of freedom and hope.”

To echo James, my fellow young southerners’ voices after the birth of the newest nation will be like the spring of Life. We will be the age of discovery and dreams.  I read India is of largest youth population in the world today, and the entire world is eyeing India as a source of technical manpower. Well, South Sudan will be the strongest nation because I sense that many youth are tired of the on going violence. I predict in many years to come, people around the world will learn how bright and energetic our young people will be. I learned there is every young southern living outside the country with much potential and when they go home, great things will happen.  Republic of South Sudan will look at youth as a source of talents and great agents of change.  If we the southerners’ youth make up our mind and work in close unity with working class people, we will hold the political power in our hands.  Republic of South Sudan youth has the power to make our country from developing nation to a developed nation. Is it a dream?  Personally, no because youth dreams take them to stars and galaxies to the far corners of the unknown. I would say, I have never being inspired before in my young life watching young people across the Middle East. I hope for a world free of poverty, unemployment, inequality and exploitation of man by man. A world free of discrimination on the grounds of tribes, genders and language is the world I know God created. A world full of creative challenges and opportunities to conquer them is a world you and I longed for, so my friends let us convert these hopes in reality by working together hand in hand.

What I think the role of the youth should be in South sudan.

First, we know that the role of youth is of most importance in today’s time. It has underplayed itself
in field of politics, and it playing itself in many corners in our world.  It should become aspiring entrepreneur rather than mere workers, or told my politicians that “You are too young to say that”  youth can play a vital role in elimination of terrorism for the lack of better word I would say. Young participation should be the important because youth are the country’s power in my opinion.  We youth we recognize problems and we can solve them. Youth are turning to strong forces in social movements nowadays.  Unfortunately, many of our young generations in Sudan are not bothered to dream any vision.  King said “I have a dream” and I could say that the dream came largely true. If he had not thought of that dream he would have accomplished nothing in his life. Another set back I see with my fellow southern Sudan youth is the indifferent attitude towards things, situation and politics.  Many of them have the new cool formula of “Let the things be” this is providing fatal to Republic South Sudan‘s development. Lack of unity and spirit is the major setback. Well, it is time the youth have to realize their power, their roles, their duties and their responsibilities and stand up for their rights and be the voice for voiceless. Now instead of what I call “brain drain” we should act like magnets and attract world to Republic of South Sudan. Republic of South Sudan will be a developed nation only if everyone contributes the best of his or her capacity and ability. We young people are wholly experimental and with the full utilization of the talents, Republic of south Sudan will become a complete nation. Let us hope for the same. I end with wise poem I learned in high school.
 
 “Youth is like a fire
   It crept forward.
  A Spark at first
  Growing into a flame
 The brightening into a Blaze”

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of CNA