Climate Change: Six (6) stunning stuffs Acholi People think about it

Climate Change: Six (6) stunning stuff Acholi People think about it

Article by Abet Tonny

Putting aside from the learned class of people, the scientific concept of “Climate Change” is still very foreign to the largest portion of Ugandans who predominantly live in rural areas. It does not, however, mean Ugandans have not been experiencing its harsh bite. But most locals view climate change as complex and somewhat unavoidable natural occurrences dictated by gods of the land. The current tragic experience of the unending scarcity of rainfall is interpreted as the gods are so annoyed with the evil being committed by people of the land. And that they (gods) have taken a little too long before reconsidering the dire need to reverse their decisions as man and creation wail in despair.

Also among most rural people in Uganda, the relationship between human activities and climate change is not well understood. This is because, in most cultures including Acholi culture, climate change is more strongly linked with supernatural interventions of gods than to human activities. 

The supernatural interventions of the gods can either be direct as a punishment for destroying nature. For instance, cutting mountain bamboo causes great annoyance to "Kijur" -the god of trees to withhold rain thus changing the climate. However, neglecting cultural values such as respect for elders as common practice among young people will also elicit the same magnitude of annoyance to the gods to hold back the rain. Additionally, the god-like Kijur does not concern himself with all tree species but only specific ones. Climate change is also viewed among these people as isolated responses of the gods and not global in perspective as the scientific concept puts.

Just like in many cultures of the world, there are gods that determine the manifestations we experience in our daily life as humans. Acholi people have a handful of these gods –three of them are responsible for nature and climate. I was excited to discover these gods: Kijur, Baka and Kilak.

With the above reality, this “new” scientific concept of climate change that links climate change directly to human activities without giving space for supernatural connection becomes one of the hardest to communicate in a way that moves people. This hardship is re-enforced by strong allegiance paid to cultural beliefs in some of these communities.

For over five (5) years now, the government of Uganda along with like-minded national and international agencies have intensified on climate change mitigation and adaptation moves. Better resource allocations have been made to climate change -an area of great global concern.

In the support of The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda, I made a study visit to a group of people (consisting of women, men, and young people) of Pawel Clan.  Pawel is one of the major clans of the Acholi tribe in Uganda. Acholi is a tribe with a very rich culture and has produced very important leaders in Uganda and the globe.

The visit left me with much to ponder upon as far as the future of climate change mitigation is concerned. The visit was intended for discovering the cultural resources available in the Acholi tribe to aid climate change fight. The discussions were long and very interesting but I’m going to share with you this essential portion. Acholi people are majorly farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture for food and income. Scarcity in rainfall must have been pinching hard here. Let’s read on together…

Question: What do you think is causing this enormous change of pattern in rainfall and temperatures in your area? And how are you managing to thrive in the midst of all this?

Answers

1. The intervention of gods of rain. Baka –a god of rain is annoyed and has decided to hold back rain; the gods of trees like Kilak and Kijur are also very annoyed.  According to the respondents, rejection of cultural norms and values by young people and their chronic disrespect for elders are among the key causatives for the annoyance of Baka. “Cutting of trees like mountain bamboos, shea amongst other trees is causing the annoyance of the gods of trees,” revealed Akelllo, an old lady of Pawel clan.

2.  Killing of innocent people; killing and burying of dogs and killing of tortoises are other three things that annoy gods enough to withhold rain. If you kill a dog in the Acholi area, it must not be buried less you send the community into a dry spell.

3. Cutting papyrus during the rainy season –according to them, the gods want papyrus to be cut only during the dry season.

4. Sharpening of grinding stone during day time is also annoying gods to alter the weather. Grinding stone, according to Acholi tradition should be sharpened before daybreak and before sunset –something like 6a.m in the morning and 6pm in the evening. Anything less makes the Acholi gods react harshly.

5. The world has rotated to the drier side of the atmosphere. Once it rotates to the right rain-soaked side, the rain will drip normally and quench the anxiety of plants, animals, and man for it.

6. The prayers of religious leaders are not being heard by the gods.

The brutality of weather especially the scarcity of rain on in Acholi community has seen the locals adapt in a number of ways: Firstly, Acholi traditionalists have ostensibly embarked on rituals they believe will buy back the mercies of gods of the land to re-stabilize climate. Acts like “Tedo got” translated as cooking for the mountain to appease gods of the mountain forests. The huge number of trees has been demolished by Acholi people. “Tedo kot” translated as cooking for the rain to appease Baka –the god of rain. Other rituals like “Agwela “is also practiced in relation to appeasing gods that guard nature and climate.

The another strategy that Acholi traditional leaders still observe is sensitization of young people about the importance of preserving biodiversity as well as the need to observe other cultural values especially respect for elders.

Wetland reclamation for crop production was also mentioned as a common adaptation strategy. Other prominent adaptation strategies included: planting drought resistant crops like sorghum, eating wild fruits and leaves, opening side businesses, hiring out portions of unused land to earn money for survival.