After leaving war- torn Sudan, thousands of displaced young men arrive at Kakuma refugee camp, hoping to piece back together their stolen lives.
by Sarah Gaier
It’s an unusually hot day in Kakuma, a refugee camp located in northern Kenya that was established in 1992 by the UN and houses over 80,000 war ravaged people, many of whom are Sudanese.[1,2,3,4,5,10] The sky is clear and blue. Not a single cloud lays above the camp. A young Sudanese man, who looks about 20 years old, sits cross-legged on the hard ground right at the border of the camp, still as a statue. He looks unblinkingly out towards the hazy horizon, his dark eyes flitting around, sometimes pausing to stare. Brown, gritty dust rises in minuscule clouds as a warm breeze rustles up. As the air wafts over to the young man, it flows smoothly over his dark skin, and his eyes grow misty and acquire a faraway look.
This man goes by the name of Abraham Kur Achiek [1]. The breeze causes a sudden change in his thoughts, bringing back scarring memories of the Sudanese Civil War, and a terribly long journey through treacherous African terrain. It’s the year 1983, and a devastating Sudanese civil war that is to last up until this present day begins between the Arab Muslim north and the Christian Blacks in the South.[2,5,6,7,10] When he was 10 to 12 years old, Abraham left his hometown of Bor, in what is now known as South Sudan, at such an early age that it has been just fragments of memory. He abandoned Bor on foot, barely escaping with his life through the chaos of a bombing campaign. [1]
As he averts his dark brown gaze once more, a series of images form on the bare landscape. A woman wearing a flowing, faded red dress appears before him, the folds of her garment rippling in the wind in slow motion. She holds the hand of a tall man. They are both smiling, a flickering light appears in their black eyes which hold a reflection of the bright sun. Still smiling, they reach out to the young man, sitting cross- legged on the hard, dry ground. Abraham blinks as dust gets caught in his eyes, and the figures disappear. His parents are the one thing he remembers, unlike many of the boys he walked with, because they left at a too young age.
11 to 12 - year olds were considered the oldest among a slow- moving column of over 21,000 young boys, named after the children’s story Peter Pan as the ‘lost boys’.[1,2,4,5] These 'lost boys' of the Sudan trekked enormous distances over a vast, fierce wilderness, seeking refuge from the fighting.[2] Hungry, frightened and weakened by sleeplessness and disease, they crossed from Sudan into Ethiopia and back, with many dying along the way.
Abraham can remember the long journey to Kakuma. He squints as he looks upward towards the sun, and the tiny seed of memory that had planted itself in Abraham’s head begins to blossom, and what he pictures is a pink rose, with a stalk littered with red thorns. As he recalls the horror that he now names ‘the end of childhood’ [2], the rose is littered with splatters of blood, and turns crimson. Snaps of events and accompanying sound whirl in Abraham’s mind as the rose begins to unfold its red petals.
Abraham’s body stiffens, the sharp horizon suddenly blurs over, and he closes his eyes. Underneath his eyelids you can see the faint movement of his eyeballs- sometimes quick, oftentimes slow, as if he is reading the images that are forming in his mind. The booms of gunshot and bombs and the heartbreaking sound of dying, desperate screams ring in his ears, the shadowy ghosts of his past. Abraham furrows his brow, as if scrunching the skin on his forehead will squeeze the traumatizing memories out of his mind- how he was recruited as a member in the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. [1,5] “It was the worst thing that could happen in any life,” he thinks.[2] Now, flashes of the 1,000 mile walk he trekked along with the other boys start to flicker in his mind.[3,8]
The deserted, dry savannah jerks vertically up and down in his vision, the tall blades of grass that reached up to his shoulders pricking his dark skin until it bleeds. Beside him he sees a boy of whom he does not recall the name. The boy’s black skin is lining his frame - you can see his ribs protruding out from his chest, and as he breathes out, his beating heart is visible- a faint pulsing motion underneath his skin. The inward curve of his cheekbones and hips are unmistakable. As he walks, his moving kneecaps are visible, seeming largely disproportionate with his twig- like limbs.
Abraham begins to absent-mindedly rock sideways, gently, still in his cross-legged position. His eyelids twitch. He opens up his eyes again- the whites startlingly bright, contrasted against his skin. No tears blur them. No aching in the pit of his stomach forms. Abraham Kur Achiek stares blankly out into the desert, the clouded memory of the dying boy still in front of him, like an after-image. But the lost boy knows he should not grieve the boy’s death, and knows he has no reason to, for most of the boys he walked next to he did not recognise- better not to know the dead than to mourn.
Abraham’s eyes widen, and suddenly they reflect not the sun, but the flames of desolation, loss, and war. His body goes rigid once more, and he stops swaying with the breeze. The scraps of his louse- ridden shorts flutter in the wind, like the lacerated remains of a flag. More memories of the trek fly to the front of the lost boy’s mind, and he tries to push them away, back into a hidden drawer in his mentality.
This killing happened as the lost boys were attempting to cross a river, driven out of Ethiopia by the locals. They were shot mostly by the Murahaleen, the armed forces of Northern Sudan.[9] This was known as the Gilo Massacre. Thousands of lost boys met death when savaged to pieces by Crocodiles or as gunfire called duty. [1,8]
Abraham flinches from the burden he must unwillingly carry. Then he sees one of them. A fierce, gaping maw, black lipped and lined with countless, ivory-white teeth. Frothy saliva runs through the fangs, dripping onto the dry grass. A dark eye, peering out from blades of grass in the savannah, mirroring the fires from hell. [5,7]
The physical form of terror strikes. No boy wants to be the one to be picked on- but it will happen. The stars are blotted out by fear. The navy night-sky turns black. A huge figure comes flying, muscles rippling like water through the fur, lining out the body. A squeal- sharply cut off- followed by the sound of breaking bone and a wet ripping sound. The grass rustles for a bit more, then all is silent. [5,3]
Abraham still does not move. His eyes are deeply sunken into his sockets, and what little flesh that occupies his arms hangs off the bones. The scene of the savannah turns to nothing. Abraham takes in the earthy smell of the dusty ground. He can almost feel it, as the earth turns into ochre mud, with red water licking it away.
Abraham goes under. All around him are the muffled sounds of screams and gunfire. Splashes. Dark shapes swirl in the current, scaly or human. He resurfaces, only to catch his breath and dive back down into the murky depths of the Gilo river. Empty shells drop into the water, along with more bleeding bodies. The scaly bulk rises and drags a body under, breaking the young man’s spine, white bone poking out daringly. [5]
Abraham gazes at the endless azure sky. He stops for a moment, and concentrates on the color. The vivid blue is a happy, bright color, and just by looking at it, the rose in his mind withdraws, taking with it Abraham’s traumatizing, rifle-ridden memories. A yellow tulip buds, its petals fringed with red.
The tulip stays closed, unlike the rose. It reminds Abraham of the two figures. One wearing a red dress- the other a yellow shirt. They materialize in front of him again, laughing like before. The sadness in their eyes is gone. They walk, hand in hand, not going forward. Another, stronger gust of wind comes along, and the figures disintegrate, forever.
Abraham’s heart pounds, almost in his mouth. A pattering sound, very much like that of empty shells falling onto the African drylands makes him start.
But then he smiles, and hangs his head back, mouth wide open, enjoying the coolness and wetness of it against his skin. All around him the many inhabitants of Kakuma swarm around him, collecting the rainwater in buckets, laughing and praying their thanks. Abraham pays them no attention. The water washes away his scarring memories. That, to him, is all he needs to continue. Hope.
Footnotes:
1. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
Corbett, Sara. "The Lost Boys of Sudan; The Long, Long, Long Road to Fargo." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/magazine/the-lost-boys-of-sudan-the-long-long-long-road-to-fargo.html
God Grew Tired of Us: The Lost Boys in Kakuma. Perf. National Geographic. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JrOXwGWzM.
Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
Lost Boys of the Sudan. Dir. KTEHTV. Perf. Simon Deng and Peter Nyok. YouTube. KTEHTV, 04 June 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQSg0z6vEA
2. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
3. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
4. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
God Grew Tired of Us: The Lost Boys in Kakuma. Perf. National Geographic. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JrOXwGWzM.
Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
5. Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
6. Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
7. Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
Gettleman, Jeffrey. "A New Wave Of 'Lost Boys' In Sudan War." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 July 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/world/africa/from-sudan-a-new-wave-of-lost-boys.html?pagewanted=all
Deng, Alephonsion, and Judy Bernstein. "'Lost Boys of Sudan' Finally Find a Home."NPR Books. They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, 13 June 2005, 12 am. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4698532
Lost Boys of the Sudan. Dir. KTEHTV. Perf. Simon Deng and Peter Nyok. YouTube. KTEHTV, 04 June 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQSg0z6vEA
8. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
9. Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
10. Corbett, Sara. "The Lost Boys of Sudan; The Long, Long, Long Road to Fargo." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/magazine/the-lost-boys-of-sudan-the-long-long-long-road-to-fargo.html
Rose, Barbara. "Lost Boys of the Sudan." Lost Boys of the Sudan. BCD Enterprises, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.lostboyschicago.com/LostBoys.htm.
11. Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
Deng, Alephonsion, and Judy Bernstein. "'Lost Boys of Sudan' Finally Find a Home."NPR Books. They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, 13 June 2005, 12 am. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4698532
12. Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
Corbett, Sara. "The Lost Boys of Sudan; The Long, Long, Long Road to Fargo." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/magazine/the-lost-boys-of-sudan-the-long-long-long-road-to-fargo.html
13. Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print.
14. Disco, James, Susan Clark, Angelo Akol, Santino Athian, Matthew Mabek, Michael Ngor, Regina Eddleman. Willingham, and Niki Singleton. Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Dallas, TX: Brown Group, 2011. Print.
Read an Excerpt here: http://creativetimereports.org/2013/01/18/the-lost-boys-of-sudan/
15. Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
Rose, Barbara. "Lost Boys of the Sudan." Lost Boys of the Sudan. BCD Enterprises, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.lostboyschicago.com/LostBoys.htm.
Bibliography:
WEBSITES:
Howden, Dan. "The Lost Boys of Sudan's Civil War." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, Monday 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-lost-boys-of-sudans-civil-war-8434258.html
Unicef. "The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
Corbett, Sara. "The Lost Boys of Sudan; The Long, Long, Long Road to Fargo." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/magazine/the-lost-boys-of-sudan-the-long-long-long-road-to-fargo.html
God Grew Tired of Us: The Lost Boys in Kakuma. Perf. National Geographic. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JrOXwGWzM
Gettleman, Jeffrey. "A New Wave Of 'Lost Boys' In Sudan War." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 July 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/world/africa/from-sudan-a-new-wave-of-lost-boys.html?pagewanted=all
Rose, Barbara. "Lost Boys of the Sudan." Lost Boys of the Sudan. BCD Enterprises, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. http://www.lostboyschicago.com/LostBoys.htm
Lost Boys of the Sudan. Dir. KTEHTV. Perf. Simon Deng and Peter Nyok. YouTube. KTEHTV, 04 June 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQSg0z6vEA
BOOKS:
Sections:
Deng, Alephonsion, and Judy Bernstein. "'Lost Boys of Sudan' Finally Find a Home."NPR Books. They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, 13 June 2005, 12 am. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4698532
Disco, James, Susan Clark, Angelo Akol, Santino Athian, Matthew Mabek, Michael Ngor, Regina Eddleman. Willingham, and Niki Singleton. Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Dallas, TX: Brown Group, 2011. Print.
Read an Excerpt here: http://creativetimereports.org/2013/01/18/the-lost-boys-of-sudan
Full books:
Eggers, Dave. What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng : A Novel. New York: Vintage, October 2007. Print. IMAGES:
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