The Brothers' Bond

Gipiir and Labongo were the sons of a great chief named Okonde who lived in a village near the Nile River. They were inseparable, hunting and working together, and their bond was admired by everyone. Gipiir, the older brother, was known for his wisdom and calmness, while Labongo was celebrated for his strength and bravery.

To Labongo, his firstborn, he gave the royal spear - a symbol of leadership and authority that had been passed down through generations. To Gipiir, his younger son, he gave royal beads, representing grace and secondary leadership.

Soon after, the old man passed away, and Labongo took over as leader of the clan. The brothers grew into men, took wives, and had children, living in peace for many years in their fertile land.

The Lost Spear

One afternoon while Labongo was hunting, a wild elephant strayed into their maize garden. The women and children ran in terror as the massive animal destroyed their precious crops. Gipiir, hearing the commotion, rushed to help.

Without thinking, he grabbed the nearest spear - which happened to be Labongo's royal spear - and threw it at the elephant. The injured animal fled into the forest with the spear still embedded in its side.

When Labongo returned and discovered his precious spear was missing, he was furious. Despite Gipiir's explanations and apologies, Labongo demanded that his brother retrieve the spear, no matter the cost or danger involved.

The Journey and Return

Gipiir had no choice but to venture into the dangerous forest alone. For weeks he searched, facing hunger, disease, and wild animals. Just when he was near death, an old medicine woman found and nursed him back to health.

With her help, Gipiir eventually found the elephant's skeleton with the royal spear still intact. The medicine woman gifted him special beads before he returned home after years of absence.

When Gipiir finally returned with the spear, Labongo was overjoyed to see his brother alive and embraced him. The clan celebrated for days, but tension remained between the brothers.

The Bead and Separation

Years later, tragedy struck again when Labongo's young daughter accidentally swallowed one of Gipiir's special beads. Remembering his own suffering, Gipiir demanded the bead back immediately.

Despite Labongo's pleas, Gipiir insisted on retrieving his bead, forcing Labongo to make an unimaginable choice. This tragic event created an irreparable rift between the brothers.

They decided to part ways, burying an axe at a place called Wang-Lei near Pakwach. Labongo and his followers moved east, becoming the Acholi people, while Gipiir and his followers moved west, becoming the Alur people.

To this day, the site at Wang-Lei remains significant, with rituals performed annually to honor the memory of the brothers and promote unity among their descendants.