In Memory Of The Slain Child
After Got Nyariegi, Nyipir/Gipir’s next stopover was Wang Nyakwin in Payila West village, Pangieth parish, Alwi sub-county, Pakwach district. While there, Nyipir/Gipir bitterly mourned the death of the innocent child, Nyakwin, whose stomach was cut to get his sacred bead. As such, the site is recognized as Nyakwin’s memorial on the west bank of the Nile.
Legend has it that once the bead disappeared in the anthill at Nyariegi, it is at Wang Nyakwin that Nyipir performed a ritual to allow him to see the bead for the last time. It manifested itself halfway before again disappearing into the soil where it turned into a spring, which seasonally flows from the bead in the soil during the wet seasons to remember the child whose stomach was cut.
Wang Nyakwin is spiritually important for annual ritual conducted by the high priest of Alwi chiefdom (in the months of January/February) to mitigate drought and any epidemic outbreak. The high priest position is hereditary and in the lineage of Odhoch – Oloth – Nyingwa – Olwor – down to Okello.
According to Cwinyaai Wathum, an elder in Alwi Panyangan, Wang Nyakwin is also significant because it is the site where the grandchildren of Paramount chief Songa [Nyangan and Rubanga] came from Atyak to perform a ritual to protect themselves from the effects of Songa’s tragic war against the PaNdooro and Lendu.
His narrative is in line with what Fr. Crazzolara points out in his book: ‘’The Lwoo Part II – Lwoo Traditions 1951,’’ (pages 191-2). The passage reads: ‘”…in order to avenge his father Keeno, Songa waged war on the PaNdooro and Lendu, who moved from Zeu, after they had burnt Keeno to death… In the fighting, Songa was badly wounded in the arm by an arrow, and he returned home in a weak state…, but Songa died shortly after from his wound.’’
It is reported that Odhoch, from whom the lineage of the priesthood is carried on, hosted them. They asked his wife for millet flour which she did not have. So, they chose to use cassava flour instead. The following day, Odhoch led them to Wang Nyakwin for the ritual. Since then, cassava flour is used as the food mixture for the annual ritual at the Wang Nyakwin site.