DWAN LYECI

My Elephants & My People

(Growing up amongst elephants and the Acholi people)

Dr. Abe’s love for wildlife began during visits to Uganda National Parks with her father, a teacher, sportsman and administrator who had unwavering beliefs in education, culture and humility. Her mother named her Lawino because of a dream. In addition when pregnant with Eve, she saw elephants thus Eve’s life was fated to join with these majestic animals before birth and carried through to her doctorate. It is the twin fates of the Acholi people and elephants of Uganda.

My Elephants and My people is the struggles she shared with her family, tribe and elephants in a country that changed from lush landscapes, bountiful wildlife to social and environmental breakdown over military coups and exploitation. Recovering from a near fatal brain hemorrhage, Dr. Abe describes how elephant society and her tribe catastrophically suffered through the massacres. Covering a generation (for humans) it is an insight detrimental off takes of individuals has on populations. Social breakdown in elephant society precipitated by humans began the unraveling of Ugandan Acholi communities and values. With perception, Eve describes some behaviors she observed amongst elephants in herself. Like the elephants, Eve’s family and tribe became refugees, fleeing the onslaught of soldiers. As chairperson of the task force to Acholi Religious leaders Peace Initiative Dr. Abe worked on the regeneration of elephants and people of Acholiland.