13/04/2026
A response to the article of brother Khamis Peter
Thanks for your views, let me chip in as a daughter who’s mother is Bari and I grow up in Juba and I have moved around in almost 90% of lands of Bari, and majorities of areas I know them by heart.
For the first time I have to agree with an order from the Central Equatoria state government.
Until now Juba is still a temporary capital, the capital is Ramcial.
First of all, regardless of all the names it’s still Bari lands” Kak Na Bari” or Kak na Jubek. Juba is consist of villages of many clans of Bari.
Juba was not established by Arab to begin with, the first foreigners who came to Juba were Greek, they were business people and some were missionaries, they were in good terms with the indigenous Bari people, they were able to build many businesses and houses, even the old Juba market was built by Greek, the old Juba hotel was built by Greek, Cinema Juba which now it’s turned to Church called Emmanuel Jieng, it was build by Greek businessman his name Anton, this cinema was built in 1940s,) that’s before Juba became the capital of Equatoria region, the Juba was declared a capital between 1926-1927. Then the first survey studied started in 1936 and finished in 1938. Because the capital was in Rajaf before it was moved to Juba.
1- Jabel Iraq( original name is Geri Mountain, the name of Iraq came when one of Iraqi pilot was captured alive. there when his plane was shot down during the war. That did not change the original name.
2- Suk Darfur, it’s of recent because majority of shops there are from Darfur. But this name also is not on lands record.
3- Suk Libya in Munuki( the entire place is called Munuki and the meaning of Munuki is a giant snake, because this village used to have big snakes), those are all new name it was not there before it’s all of recent after 2005
4- Libas Mafi its a small market, it’s original name is Bour lo Tömé means elephant stomach. Its used to have a local market where local alcohol are sells and local restaurants, the reason was named Libas Mafi because the business lady who used to owned those local alcohol shops “ انداية used to be a rich business lady name is “Nyoka” with big butt, and the other ladies use to feel jealous her, and she was beautiful, when she walk that her butt is shaking, and some ladies use to think she is maybe not wearing libas. And they started gossiping about her that” Fi libas this woman is wearing? And they will answer themselves that with laughter that” Libas Mafi” the keep on calling Nyoka with that nickname” Libas Mafi” this name in 1950, the family of Nyoka are still alive, she is from Pujulu.
5- Rujal Mafi- it’s also a small market, during Anya-Nya one those women whom their husbands and relatives went to bush, they used to sell their goods there, Juba use to be very small town, so it’s the same place where those women Will bring ready pack food for Anya-nya one soldiers, then Sudanese army started to feel like those women are feeding Anya- Nya one Soldiers, they now starting use interrogatives attitude with those women in the market that where are your husbands? They will all answer Rujal Mafi, everyday they will ask them the same questions but they couldn’t have any evidence to arrest them, later they got tired, this is how the name Rujal Mafi came up.
6- Atalabara the name came from the survey workers, when they demarcated Juba again through opening big roads and demolish some buildings and houses, markets which falls on ways, then people whom their houses and businesses were demolished starting complaining that where will they do and go? So the survey workers will tell them in Arabic” ها تطلع بره" You will be taken out, and this is when the demarcation of Atalabara A or أ was first demarcated from 1951 until late 1952. Then Atalabara B ب its demarcation started from late 1952 until 1954. But from 1955 until 1961 there was no demarcation due to the insecurity of the war of Anya-Nya one. Then Atalabara G ج was demarcated from 1963. So the Atalabara name was from survey workers, it’s got nothing with Jalaba if this is what you have in mind.
7-Hai Kuwait, is part of Munuki area, if you see the buildings there were actually gift from Kuwaits government as donations after the Addis Ababa agreement was signed in 1972 many countries donated money and others came and build structures in South Sudan, Kuwait was amongst of those , they even built this El Sabaha hospital for children and the built Hai Kuwait, Yugoslavian government built the miniseries,parliament, and Romania renovated the J1, J2, J3…. Etc, and Juba bridge, Juba university was built in 1974, and the Asura tuna “ أسرتنا ".
So all the above name have their reason and events.
The question to you. Do you know that there is Hai Jalaba in Wau? Do you know that there is Hai دنقر شوفو in Malakal? Do you know that there is hai Jalaba in Renk,..etc?🤔
We should respect culture of each other, I can’t just go to your own towns and villages to change the names of places just like I wish, that’s wrong.
Jabel Kujur is original name is “Karek”
Thiogpiny is original is Juba na Bari even in documents.
Jebel Dinka its original name is Mere Lo Tor( Mount Red) or red mountain))
Thanks 🙏🏽
Tereza Jube.
