South Sudanese abroad return to a new nation

 
As Southern Sudan becomes the world's newest nation this weekend, Southern Sudanese raised overseas return home, to the world's newest country capital, Juba, amidst growing excitement, as a day of celebration sought for in decades becomes reality on Saturday.
 
One of such returnees is Lual D’Awol, who cultivated a passion for rap and basketball while living in Baltimore.
 
The excitements
 
Excited D’Awol said, "I chose to come early so I could be involved in the whole referendum process and to see the birth of our nation. I'm going to stay here.

I'm not going to go back (to the U.S.) because I don't really have anything else that I need to do over there."
 
Over the years, thousands of "Lost Boys of Sudan" found their way to US, Europe and other African countries, while fleeing bloodshed and famine through the decades of civil war fought by north and south Sudan,  
 
The 26-years-old D'Awol, was one of the lucky ones. He was born to diplomat parents who were abroad for much of the war. Born in New York City, he is now back in Juba doing work as an auditor for a project funded by the US government's aid arm.
 
The rapper by vocation, in his message to his fellow citizens, says "I think they should come back."
 
Over four million southerners flee their homes, many on foot, as two decades of conflict raged between Sudan's north and south.
 
They ended up in neighboring African nations like Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. A lucky few found refugee status in Western nations.
 
Returnees’ zeal
 
Another returnee, Mading Ngor said: "I always wanted to come back and I always knew that I had to. After losing my relatives in the war I felt a sort of moral obligation to contribute to the country. I came also to see whether there was a place for me in this new republic."
 
The 28 years old Ngor, who grew up in Alberta, Canada, where he studied journalism at Grant MacEwan University, further remarked that; ‘’I came as a journalist because independence is the story of the century and I wanted to be part of that."

Basketball gets boost
 
South Sudan is fast growing. It now has a new national basketball team, one that Simon Mayben has joined.
 
The 21-year-old Simon, who grew up in neighboring Kenya but has returned to Juba, says he is the second shortest player on the team.
 
Simon was born in Ethiopia, near the Sudanese border among the offspring of southern guerrilla fighters. He is the son of parents who played important roles in the south's liberation struggle but had the means to see to it that their son was educated during the war with the intent that he come back to contribute to the product of their hard-won struggle.
 
The African spirit
 
Although, some are finding the adjustment a challenge, others, like D'Awol, whose latest song is titled "Scattered Overseas’’, are excited to be back.
 
Southern Sudan voted in a January referendum to break away from the north.
 
Typical of the African spirit of brotherliness, the desire to return home overrides all challenges.
 
 

 
Reuters/Emma/Williams