Abouk Ayom Area Approximate size of the area Abouk Ayom, is one of the area with two payam under Manloor County of Tonj State of South Sudan. The area is located in former warrap state in Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Wau state to the West, Pagol County of Tonj State to the South, Kerik County of Tonj State to the East, Warrap County of Tonj State to North East and Pankot payam of Manloor County to the North. Abouk had an estimated area of 817 km². Its location lies approximately 555 kiometers (345 miles), by road, northwest of Juba City. The area is an ancestral home to the Dinka people of Rek

1. By Abraham Ayom, 2016 edition
Abuok Ayom Area
Concept Paper 2016
Approximate size of the area
Abouk Ayom, is one of the area with two payam under Manloor County of Tonj State of South
Sudan. The area is located in former warrap state in Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Wau
state to the West, Pagol County of Tonj State to the South, Kerik County of Tonj State to the
East, Warrap County of Tonj State to North East and Pankot payam of Manloor County to the
North. Abouk had an estimated area of 817 km². Its location lies approximately 555 kiometers
(345 miles), by road, northwest of Juba City. The area is an ancestral home to the Dinka people
of Rek
Relief & Climate
Relief
Abouk Ayom’s plains and plateaus are drained by the Pagol River. This river system
occasionally runs from South to North across the entire length of the eastern part in the swampy
area known as Toch during the rainy season between May to December every year. There are
two contrasting area of elevation point; Toch & Rup, swampy area, lowest elevation point and
Alel area, highest elevation point, measurement are not available.
Climate
Abouk Ayom has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons.
Wet season is rainy season with the total length of which varies according to latitude and is
generally no more than eight to nine months a year, beginning as early as April and continuing
as late as December. The area character is by wet season lasting May to October, often
causing widespread floods and interruption of transport infrastructure. Temperatures are high
throughout the year. Abouk Ayom’s lowest annual temperatures are in the high 60s to high 70s
F (low to mid-20s C), while the lowest annual temperatures in the outlying areas are slightly
cooler, about high 50s to high 60s F (mid-10s to low 20s C). The highest annual temperatures
generally range from the mid-80s to the mid-90s F (low to mid-30s C), the highest temperatures
normally occur just before the rainy season.
Natural Vegetation
Abouk Ayom area is mostly covered in tropical forest, swamps and grassland. Pagol River
passes through the area of Toch. Toch or swamps area provide a significant resources for wild
animals as well as livestock. The main vegetation belts run in succession from East to West,
and west to East more or less in coincidence with rainfall patterns. The area has low-
rainfall savanna (grassland), high-rainfall savanna, both with inland floodplains, and mountain
vegetation regions to west, bordering to wau State.
Population and Distribution Patterns
The population of Abouk Ayom areas as of 1 January 2016 estimated to be 10,406 people. This
number may increase. The number of births rate is exceeding the number of death rate. The
sex ratio of the total population is 115 Males per 100 females in the area. Current male
population is about 50.4% and current female population is about 49.6%. Abouk Ayom’s

2. By Abraham Ayom, 2016 edition
population density is 12.74 people per square kilometer as of 1 January 2016. Density of
population is calculated as permanently settled population of Abouk Ayom people divided by
total area of Abouk Ayom, which is 817 km². According to the estimate, Abouk Ayom had the
following population age distribution: 45.9% is the percentage of population under 15,
percentage of population between 15 and 64 years old is 51.5% and percentage of population
for 65 years old and above is 2.6%
Abouk Ayom has the total age dependency rate of 94.3%. Dependency ratio of population is a
ratio of people who are generally not in the labor force (the dependents) to workforce of the
given area (the productive part of the population).
Life expectancy at birth for both sexes in Abouk Ayom area is 55.1 years. This is below the
average life expectancy at birth of the population which is about 71 years. Male life expectancy
at birth is 54.1 years and Female life expectancy at birth is 56 years.
Literacy of Abouk Ayom population. According to the estimates, about 2,500 persons of adult
population age 15 years and above in Abouk Ayom are able to read and write and they rest of
entire population are illiterate.
Social and cultural activities
Abouk Ayom people are predominantly Africans, Dinka ethnic people mostly Christian and some
follow traditional African religions. They people have many unique system of social structure,
livelihoods cultural traditions and sense of identity. They are mostly cattle herders with Dinka
language widely spoken. Jurchol and Arabic language are spoken by few individual people.
The economy of inhabitants depend on farming or animal husbandry for their livelihoods.
Traditional rain-fed farming of small plots predominates in Abouk Ayom, with main crop is
sorghum, other crops include maize, millet, cassava, groundnuts, okra. There is a considerable
amount of livestock raised in the area, including goats, sheep and cattle. The forest of Abouk
Ayom yield hardwood timber such as mahogany and softwoods. Pagol River which passes
through Toch is the main source of fish, especially Nile perch. Most of the catch is consumed
locally. The most common form of marriage in the area is polygyny, the practice in which a man
can have more than one wife at the same time. Marriage involves exchange of cows as dowry,
a bridge price is often paid in the form of huge number of cows by the family of the groom to the
family of the bridge.
Due to civil war many numbers of Abouk people have migrated from the area to Khartoum,
Kenya, Uganda, Europe,United States of America and neighboring area such as Abiem,
Pagadit, Nyang, Noi, Apuok, Wau etc.
Folklore, Ayom Arou or Ayomdit was a public figures as the common ancestor of all Abouk
people. He was well known as a brave man with severe punishment for serious offence by
hanging people on big tree.
Religion, The people religion is monotheistic, believing in one deity (Nhialic) Creator is thought
to be the source of all life and death. Lesser manifestations of the creator’s power are honored
by the people through ritual sacrifices. Rituals are performed at births, deaths to cure disease
and in time of crisis.

3. By Abraham Ayom, 2016 edition
Major holidays, celebrations take place in the autumn (Rut) when the whole area govern by
Chiefdom is together to Celebrate Yai and to honor their traditional spiritual and political leaders,
the gathering enacted day-long ceremonies marked by large public gatherings and the sacrifice
of many cattle.
Rites of passage, Birth, marriage, and death are all marked by standardized customs involving
public ceremonies. These are typically accompanied by animal sacrifice. In the passage to adult
status, young men, rather more than young women, are publicly recognized. Adult males
decorate initiates' heads with a series of deep gashes that form permanent scars (Garnhom)
Relationship, when men become adults, they no longer refer to themselves by their birth
names. Instead they adopt "ox-names"—derived from characteristics of their favorite cattle.
Thus, a man may be known as Makol (is a brown bull). Children's names often reflect the
circumstances of their birth.
Living conditions, traditionally, Abouk Ayom people dwelled in round clay huts with conical
thatched roofs. Homesteads were typically surrounded by a garden and separated from each
other by an open expanse of grassland forest. Garden soil would typically maintain its fertility for
ten to twelve years. Following this, the area would be set afire and a new homestead erected
nearby.
Family life, polygamy (multiple spouses) is common among the Abouk people. Men of high
social standing may have as many as five to ten wives. In polygamous marriages, wives
cooperate in performing household duties, although each rears her own children. Much of
Abouk Ayom people public life is dominated by men. However, women play a significant and
even powerful role in local life.
Clothing, the people in the area wear very little clothing and no shoes. Men go naked, and the
women may wear goatskin skirts. Both men and women wear strings of beads around their
necks. Women also wear bangles on their arms and legs, and they may also wear elaborate
jewelry in their ears.
Food, Abouk Ayom people have traditionally produced all the material resources needed to
sustain their livelihood via a combination of horticulture (gardening) with pastoralism (nomadic
herding), fishing and occasional hunting. Sorghum is the mainstay of the people diet. Depending
on the season, it is supplemented with cow milk, fish, meat, pumpkin, seas am, or limes tee and
fruits
Education, they people lacked any formal system of education until literacy (reading and
writing) was introduced via mission schools and Arabs in Wau, Tonj and Warrap. Rumthony
Primary School is the only available school in the area. Those who finished their primary
education, the travel far to Warrap Town, Wau or Tonj for further studies.
Cultural heritage, Song and dance play an important role in Dinka culture of Abouk Ayom
people. A set of drums is found in every settlement area. Artistic expression is associated with
cattle, which they often imitate in songs and dances. There are also battle songs, songs of
initiation, and songs celebrating the tribe's & clan’s ancestors.
Employment, tending herds of cattle and growing sorghum form the basis of the livelihood and
economy of the Abouk People. Labor is clearly divided along gender lines, with men in their

4. By Abraham Ayom, 2016 edition
twenties and thirties devoting their time to cattle-herding. Women are responsible for growing
crops, although men clear new fields for planting. Women also cook and draw water.
Sports, Abouk Ayom men engage in mock sparring, using spears or sticks and shields, in order
to develop their fighting skills.
Recreation, there is little time for recreation during the dry season, when much of the Abouk
Ayom people population disperses to follow the herds. Song and dance accompany social
events such as marriages, which take place during the rainy season.
Crafts and hobbies, Abouk Ayom men make spears and fishing hooks and ropes of cattle.
Women make clay cooking pots using a coiling technique. Besides making pots, which are
essential for carrying water, women also weave baskets and sleeping mats.
Social problems, since the civil war that began in the 1980s, numerous Abouk villages have
been destroyed. Hundreds of people have been died to consequences of civil war, killing,
starvation, illness and many others.
Challenges faced
Social
The following are the social challenge face by the community: corruption, poverty, hunger, poor
education, ill health, violence, diseases such as meningitis, bacteria, diarrhea, hepatitis, Malaria,
typhoid fever continue to threaten several lives of people in Abouk Ayom Area.
Solutions: To address these challenges, Government need to provide they require basic
services to the community. Also we need to have peace, structure, cooperation and willingness
among South Sudanese population
Economic
The economic problem is the issue of scarcity, but unlimited wants. Therefore, an underlying
features of economics is concerned with dealing how to allocate resources in society to make
the most efficient and fair use of resources. The following are the current economic challenges:
Volatile prices, Inequality/poverty, Recession, inflation, exchange rate volatility and balance of
payments/current account deficit
Solutions to these economic challenges, we need to have peace, structure, cooperation and
willingness among South Sudanese population.
Environmental
One of the environmental problem in the area is deforestation. There is large scale of felling of
trees for charcoal business, local gardening fertilizer and hardwood for timbers business
resulting decreases in forest areas.
Solution to deforestation: Government can make an impact by introducing Zero deforestation
policy. That means holding companies and individual accountable for cutting trees to produce
timers, beef, soy etc.

5. By Abraham Ayom, 2016 edition
Soil degradation, is another environmental challenge in the area. Soil erosion caused by rains,
floods & winds as well as over utilization of soils for agriculture and lack of use of manures have
resulted in turning the soils infertile in the area.
Solution to soil degradation; Government should introduce a policy where by homeowners
should be require to plan trees, flowers and crop over affected soil. This can be the simplest
and most effective ways of reducing soil degradation in the area
Desertification, in the area, people land is turning to dust, green vegetation is disappearing,
and there is loss of nutritive matter due to agricultural over-exploitation, loss of soil surface due
to wind and rain erosion, there are no more trees and grass does not grow anymore like before.
Solution to desertification, major policy interventions and management approaches are needed
to prevent and reverse desertification.
Political
 Endless poverty
 Corruption
 Luck of reasonably democratic government
 The long years of bloody conflicts civil war have destroyed a lot in the area
Types of Settlement
Settlements can vary in size and shape. Some people live alone or with their family in single
properties, eg farmers, but most group together in towns and cities.
Hamlet, this is a very small group of homes. There are unlikely to be many other facilities
Village, this is larger than a hamlet and contains more functions, eg a few shops, a post office,
a village hall and possible a primary school and a doctor’s practice. Villages can vary in size
from a few hundred people to several thousand.
Town, this may contain tens of thousands of people. Towns have a range of functions such as
shopping centers, secondary schools, railway stations and hospitals.
City, a city is an area with large numbers of people. Cities provide a very wide range of
functions including more specialized functions such as universities, large hospitals and sports
stadiums.
Rural areas, are places in the countryside with few buildings, urban areas are settlements with
lots of building in them. Transport links, services and entertainment facilities are better in urban
areas because more people live in them.
Settlement patterns
Abouk Ayom aread has low population density, although distribution throughout the area is
uneven. The bigger population densities are found along the Rup and Toch area and few other
in Alel area. About 90% of Abouk Ayom population are in rural area. Rural settlements are
usually clustered along pasture area with water supply problems, especially during the dry
months. The most common type of housing in rural areas is a round hut known as tukul. It has
a thatched concical roof and is made of mud, grass, millet stalks, and wooden poles