2006年VOA标准英语-Warring Communities in Kenya's Rift Valley Gath

By Cathy Majtenyi
Turkwel Power Station
29 September 2006

In Kenya's Rift¹ Valley, the Turkana and Pokot ethnic² groups have long battled over resources, such as cattle and land. But they recently put aside their differences for a day to take part in a race organized by one of Kenya's top athletes as a way of bringing the groups together and easing tensions.

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Turkana and Pokot warriors³ singing, dancing and chatting side-by-side is a rare sight in Kenya's central Rift Valley.

But that is what happened on International Peace Day, as they along with the Marakwet and some members of Uganda's Karamajong ethnic group, focused on a common goal: to win the 10-kilometer race.

For runner Peter Loupe, this was a special day. He says this race, along with other sports projects recently introduced into the area, has improved the lives of community members.

Loupe says Pokot, Turkana and Marakwet families are living more peacefully together because of coming together at sports events such as the race. Through these initiatives, he says, people have also discovered talents they did not know they had, which has helped them economically.

More than 400 Turkana, Pokot, Marakwet and Karamajong men and women gathered in the early hours at the start line, some stretching or doing jumping jacks⁴ to warm up their muscles.

And then, they were off. The runners pushed themselves to the limit on the grueling track in an area that can reach up to 38 degrees Celcius.

The September 23 race was the brainchild of Kenyan athlete Tegla Loroupe. Born in West Pokot Division, Loroupe won at least a half-dozen world marathons, including the New York City Marathon in 1994 and 1995.

She went on to establish the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, which supports projects that promote conflict resolution, peace building and poverty eradication⁵ initiatives.  

Tegla Loroupe of Kenya competes in women's 5000 meters during the IAAF Super Grand Prix (file photo)

Loroupe tells VOA the race is meant to cultivate understanding and friendship among the warring communities. Her motivation, she says, comes from her own volatile⁶ childhood.

"I come from West Pokot myself," she said.  "Through my young age, I went through hell, like the other children are going [through] at the moment. We used to run away when the problem comes. We could stay [away for] one month, and you have to come back and sit in examinations, whereby you are sitting with someone who is staying in Nairobi, having their full-time⁷ education. As an athlete, running across the borders for many years, I realized that people love sports. I said, 'OK, I have a name as Tegla Loroupe. I have to come back from Europe or America to bring attention to our people.'"

Cattle raiding has been a long-standing practice among the Turkana, Pokot and other groups in the area, with attacks and revenge attacks claiming many lives.

Reverend Julius Murgor is a pastor⁸ with the Africa Inland Church, who heads the church's Pokot Outreach Ministries⁹.

He explains that poverty and cultural practices are among the major factors in the clashes.

"Somebody wants a cow, or cows, for various reasons: economical reasons and also for marriage, to give out as a bride price," he explained.  "So, they go down south to Pokot and take some, or up north to Turkana and take some, and give to the in-laws as bride price. Also, the fact [is] that the area is dry.  Most people don't have cows, and even if they do, there comes a time when there is starvation all over, so a lot of people lose cows.  By the end of a season, one is poor, and so they think of going to get some stock from the neighboring tribe. There is [also] tribal¹⁰ pride in subduing¹¹ your enemy, and being able to snatch away something they possess."

Murgor says one solution is for the communities to start small-scale businesses or trading as a way of fighting poverty and idleness.

For Tegla Loroupe, a race is a solid first step in breaking down cultural and economic barriers.

"Normally, in races there is no person who is better than another," she noted¹².  "You can always mix rich, poor, children.  People come together.  Today, this is something special, because we are doing [the event] in the community, in the crowd, where it is open for everybody.  Did you see insecurity today?  No.  People are happy.  They want to listen and learn from one another."

Loroupe says that, without peace among the ethnic groups, there can be no lasting¹³ and effective development in the area.

1 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

4 jacks   

n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃

参考例句：

• Hydraulic jacks under the machine produce the movement. 是机器下面的液压千斤顶造成的移动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The front end is equipped with hydraulic jacks used for grade adjustment. 前瑞安装有液压千斤顶用来调整坡度。 来自辞典例句

5 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

8 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

9 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

10 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

11 subduing   

征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗

参考例句：

• They are the probation subduing the heart to human joys. 它们不过是抑制情欲的一种考验。
• Some believe that: is spiritual, mysterious and a very subduing colour. 有的认为：是精神，神秘色彩十分慑。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。