Jieng Chieftaincy: A Narrative Inquiry of Leadership (Bääny) and the Lived Experiences of Jieng Chiefs in the 21st Century.

This article investigates Indigenous leadership among the Jieng (Dinka) chiefs of South Sudan, focusing on their lived experiences and leadership roles amid ongoing civil and communal conflicts in the world's youngest nation-state. Through narrative inquiry with six current Jieng chiefs, the study reveals that leadership (Bääny) is understood primarily as community service, problem-solving, and upholding Jieng cultural values such as cieng—customs emphasizing respect, hospitality, and harmony. Despite a rich pre-colonial heritage and decentralized, egalitarian political structures, the chiefs report that wars, the proliferation of guns, nepotism, and weakened governance have undermined their authority and the effectiveness of Indigenous leadership systems. The findings contribute to Afro-centric leadership scholarship by contextualizing Jieng leadership within its triple heritage—Indigenous, Arab, and European colonial influences—and highlight the need to empower Indigenous leaders to address contemporary challenges in South Sudan.