For as long as human beings have existed, conflict has existed. For as long as conflict has been prevalent, peacemakers have done the work that needs to be done: advocating and striving for orderly conflict resolution.
On 10th December 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize was established to recognise and celebrate the courageous efforts of peacemakers all around the world. But even before this recognition, there existed peacemakers who in their own way, did what they saw was necessary. One such peacemaker is a Shujaa named Hiile Korichir.
He was born near Illeret Town, at the place where The Omo River and Lake Turkana meet. As a son of the Daasanach (a Cushitic ethnic group), Hiile’s path was chartered out for him: he was expected to learn how to herd cattle and eventually become an expert herdsman. In his younger years he was taught Daasanach history, culture and customs. He was an attentive learner and was quickly singled out as a person who would grow up to hold a prominent role in his society. This would eventually come to be true.
As Hiile gained more understanding about his community, he realised that all was not well with his people. Unlike their neighbours who lived peaceful lives, the Daasanach seemed to always be at war with others. Their fiercest rivals were the Gabra, the community the Daasanach had been at war with for generations. There was everything negative from massacres to counter attacks, a recurring conflict that seemed to have no end. The attacks were largely as a result of disputes and competition over the scarce pastures and water resources, and uncivil debates about community borders. At the height of unrest, a whole generation of young warriors from both communities were wiped out. It was then that Hiile decided that enough was enough; It was time for peace.
His plan of action was to approach the community leaders and encourage them to seek peace. Despite his youth, Hiile humbly approached the councils of elders of both communities and peacefully requested them to call a truce. He was very convincing and he thereafter organised a peace ceremony to discuss the issues of each group and came to a compromise.
Because of his non-discriminatory nature, Hiile was trusted to be a fair and just mediator. He successfully negotiated a peace pact and arranged for a ritual sacrifice to seal the agreement. The ritual required each community to bury their weapons (spears, bows, arrows) as a symbol of the peace they had promised to uphold, and for those who would betray this pact, a curse would fall upon them.
Hiile Korichir’s legacy lives on and he is fondly remembered as the man who brought peace to his community. We salute this shujaa!
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