Acoli Jokes

• Did you hear the one about the Ganda man who divorced his new Acoli bride on the night of their honeymoon? She had everything a Muganda man would die/kill for—huge rear-end, money, cars etc—except the deal breaker— “lips!” Oh! Where are the bassenga?!

• Who was the first Acoli Catholic Bishop? Nobody

• Two Acoli, three opinions

• Where did Acoli warriors win a war? In their mouths

• What does Acoli: “Ribbe aye tekko” mean? I will cooperate/unite with you iff (if and only if) you agree with me

• What is the difference between an angry Acoli woman and a Tasmanian devil? I plead a fifth because my life will be in danger. I will only answer if I can get into a witness protection program

Living in Cocoons

In Acoliland homes were (and still are) joined by pedestrian paths. So, going to the next village, school, hospital, or wherever, you would walk through the open compounds. That was the physical openness of Acoli life which might also explain the pervasive psychological construct. Contrast that to the Ugandan Indians who built walls around their shop-cum-homes. They would emerge to the store fronts to peddle their wears and retreat inside the walls at closing time. There they remained mysterious unto themselves. No wonder few black Ugandans had any empathy when Amin expelled them.

Now in Acoliland my brothas and sistas are building mansions enclosed in obscene tall walls. I am told one prominent Acoli politician is planning (or has already done so) to erect walls around his 500-acre farm. What is going on? Is it fear? Fear of what? My sista, my brotha, we just want to pass by and say: I rio maber? And also check on whether you still go to the toilet like the rest of us! There is no envy or covetousness. In fact, we celebrate with you on your success. No one wants the junks you have collected in the mansion. Might we ask whether this physical cocooning is also a manifestation of mental and heart cocooning which shows up in rigidity and fear of other points of views?