The First Cattle and the Naath People

Introduction

Among the Naath people, cattle are not merely animals. They are life itself — a source of food, wealth, identity, poetry, spirituality, and social order. Elders say that to understand the Naath, one must first understand how cattle came to the people, and why they were entrusted to them.

This story is told in many variations across Nuerland, but its meaning remains the same: cattle were a divine gift, and with them came responsibility, community, and balance.

Before the Cattle

In the earliest days, the ancestors of the Naath lived close to the earth and the rivers. They hunted, gathered wild grains, and moved with the seasons. Life was uncertain. Hunger and conflict were common, and families struggled to sustain themselves during droughts and floods.

Elders say that during this time, people lived without unity, each family fending for itself. There was no bridewealth, no cattle camps, and no songs to bind people together.

The Divine Gift

According to the elders, the first cattle came from above, sent by Deng, the creator and guardian of life.

Some say a rope or vine descended from the sky, along which cattle were lowered to earth. Others say cattle emerged from the water, guided by a chosen ancestor. In all versions, cattle did not belong to any one person — they were given to the people as a whole.

“Care for them, and they will care for you.
Abuse them, and suffering will follow.”

The First Herd

The first cattle were few in number but strong and fertile. Elders describe them as calm, obedient, and deeply connected to humans. The people learned to follow the cattle’s needs — water, pasture, and shade — and in doing so, they learned how to live together.

Cattle determined where people settled, when they moved, and how they organised their lives. The cattle camp (wut) became the heart of community life, especially for young men.

Cattle and Social Order

• Marriage was formalised through bridewealth
• Families became connected through shared herds
• Conflicts were resolved through cattle compensation
• Status and respect were earned through care of cattle, not hoarding

Elders taught that cattle were never to be treated as mere property. They were living beings with names, songs, and personalities.

Spiritual Meaning

Cattle became the bridge between humans and the spiritual world. They were offered during prayers and sacrifices, blessings were spoken over herds, and songs were composed for beloved oxen.

An ox was admired not only for its beauty, but for what it represented: patience, strength, and continuity.

A Moral Lesson

“Cattle brought us together.
They taught us sharing, patience, and responsibility.
When people forget this, conflict returns.”

The elders explain that cattle are not the cause of conflict, but a test of character.

Why This Story Matters Today

In modern times, many Naath children grow up far from cattle camps, especially in towns and in the diaspora. Yet this story remains essential, because it explains why cattle remain central to identity, why land and community are sacred, and why unity matters more than ownership.

To remember the first cattle is to remember who the Naath are.