Teresa Awien Dal: A Woman Who Achieved Extraordinary Things against all Odds of the Patriarchal System
Mark A. W. Deng
McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne − Australia
Summary
This piece is written in honour of the late Teresa Awien Dal Madut who died recently. She made history as the first woman from Apuk-Padoc to serve in parliament, and as one of the first few women from Warrap State to enter politics. She was a fearless woman, yet she was humble in all her engagements in public affairs. She will remain a great source of inspiration for women, especially young girls who may be intending to enter politics.
Up until perhaps the turn of the 19th century, it was awfully rare for women in Africa to participate in public affairs, especially politics. This owed largely to the male supremacy which confined the roles of women mostly to kitchen and child-rearing (it still does to an extent in the 21st century Africa if it varies from one society to another). The late Wangari Muta Maathai was internationally acclaimed for her fearless advocacy against male supremacy, challenging the traditionally held view of a ‘proper woman’− ie a woman that must have no other desires save to be a quiet and respectful ‘wife and mother’.
Relatedly, a woman was not supposed to be educated. This is still a firmly held view in South Sudan, particularly in the Jieeng (Dinka) nation where girls are viewed as sources of wealth for their families and agnatic relatives. In fact, there is a common stereotype that thukul e nya rac (literally school spoils a girl), although this is dying out as more and more girls are attending school.
The rationale underlying the ‘spoiled girl’ perception is that her value depreciates, the practical implication being that she may not bring the expected amount of bride-price to her family. (The price can be in the range of 50 to 100 cows for a normal marriage − ie one that does not involve competition for a girl).
Still, women find courage to shake off the shackles of the patriarchal system and achieve extraordinary things for themselves and their people. One such courageous woman was the late Teresa Awien Dal Madut who made history as the first woman from Apuk-Padoc − Tonj North − to serve in parliament, and one of the first few women from Warrap State to enter politics. This piece is written in her honour, acknowledging her achievements and service to the community.
Her Life and Education
The late Teresa Awien was born in Tonj on 19 August 1956 to Dal Madut Mayen and Achol Akot Mayen from Pakuacdiem clan in Agurpiny section of Apuk-Padoc, Tonj North. She started her schooling in 1962 in Aweil Primary School at the age of 6. She graduated from Aweil Primary School in 1970 and was admitted to (Bushere) Junior Secondary School in Wau in 1974. She moved to Juba Commercial Secondary School − one of the top high schools in Sudan at that time − in 1976, graduating in1980 with Sudan certificate of education.
The late Teresa Awien was an active student, and she was involved in sport in Sudan. In particular, she was a basketball player in Sudan Women’s Basketball Team from primary school to secondary school. At one point, she represented Sudan in basketball tournaments in several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the United Kingdom. As a testament to the good leadership she had demonstrated, she was appointed the Secretary-General of Sudan Women’s Basketball League.
Her leadership skills coupled with personal courage landed her in politics in the late 1990s in Sudan where there was hardly a space for women’s participation in public affairs (gender inequality remains pronounced in Sudan as much as it has been historically).
Political Achievements
The late Teresa Awien was involved in politics at the highest level. She held various positions in government in both Sudan and South Sudan:
She was elected to Sudan’s parliament from 1999 to 2003, and subsequently appointed as a member of the Political Bureau of the National Congress Party. She held that membership until 2010.
In 2010, she returned to Southern Sudan − a partially independent state then − and she contested the governorship of Warrap State but she lost to Nyandeeng Malek Delich. All was not lost, however. Governor Nyandeeng appointed her as the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries. She served for 3 years in that position – until 2012.
In 2016, she was appointed the Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Roads and Bridges in the now defunct Tonj State. She served in that position for 10 months − the entire duration of Tonj State.
In 2021, she was appointed the Deputy Chairperson of the Warrap State Anti-Corruption Commission. She held that position until her death on 12 June 2023.
Her Service to Apuk-Padoc Community
Besides her political achievements, the late Teresa Awien served as the Community Leader of Apuk-Padoc from 2021 to 2023. As community leader, she led various development projects, including drilling water wells. She also represented Apuk-Padoc in highly challenging issues, notably peace and reconciliation processes for Tonj North communities that occurred between 2020 and 2023 during which intercommunal conflicts worsened.
Final Remarks
The late Teresa Awien Dal was widely known as a fearless woman, yet she was humble in all her engagements in public affairs. In short, she was assertive respectfully − a demeanour that is not easy to maintain, given the heated nature of politics. It is her fearlessness that explains how she was able to overcome the odds of the patriarchal system and entered politics, making history as the first woman from Apuk-Padoc to serve parliament in Sudan and South Sudan. She was even nicknamed ‘Mawien’, meaning she was a man in a woman’s body. She certainly left an unfillable void, but she will live on through her achievements and services to her people. Indeed, she will remain a great source of inspiration for women, especially young girls who may be intending to enter politics in South Sudan. To any woman who may have self-doubts about her ability to engage in public affairs in South Sudan, look up to Teresa Awien Dal. She did it, and you can do it, too.