From Refugee Camps to Olympic Glory, South Sudan's unstoppable rise in Basketball.

Perhaps the most extraordinary story to be written as the Paris Olympics unfolds would have to be how South Sudan, one of the youngest nations on the face of the earth, comes marching out from decades of conflicts to leave an indelible mark on the international podium in basketball. To a very great extent, this exact journey from being a war-torn nation to Olympic contender is the chronicle of sheer resilience, unwavering determination, and the undying spirit binding a people bound by hope.

The path of South Sudan, founded in 2011 after independence from Sudan, has been anything but smooth. The late founding father of the nation, Dr. John Garang Demabior, and the incumbent president, Salva Kiir Maryadit, steered the nation through times of turbulence, post-civil war and political unrest. But after all that, South Sudan discovered a new platform where it could prove itself and reclaim its pride,the basketball court.

The 2024 Paris Olympics just put the South Sudanese on the global sporting map in style, perhaps for people who could hardly predict it. It was met with so much ignorance and perhaps skepticism that it reached the basketball world. Just the other day, the South Sudanese team showed what it was made of during a pre-Olympic match against Team USA, showcasing talent and determination despite derogatory remarks by former NBA player Paul Pierce. Pierce's comments, quite ignorant, barely considered the great strides South Sudan has taken because a number of South Sudanese players have already been drafted into the NBA. More particularly, current president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and former NBA star Luol Deng worked tirelessly to put a team that stood amidst all odds to make it to the Paris Olympics.

Pierce's comments previously mentioned Team USA playing "some ii ii tribe in Africa." After he made his comments, there was far-reaching condemnation by Americans and Africans alike. The controversy just seemed to bolster the support behind the South Sudanese team. Deng and his players have shown that they are not in the games just to participate but are out to compete and inspire. The close loss to Team USA, 101 to 100, proved to be a pointer at their skills and tenacity that earned them worldwide recognition and respect.

To most of them, the journey to the Olympics began in my home town of Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The camp produced a people who turned out resilient and ambitious for the South Sudanese team to be an entry into the Paris Olympics, sending a message to millions of refugees around the world, that everything is possible. The stories of hardships and triumph told by the players deepened resonance in them as a symbol of hope and possibility for a better future.

In what was the first official Olympic basketball match for South Sudan, they made history with a 90-79 victory over Puerto Rico. It wasn't just a win but a loud statement of their presence and what they could become on the world stage. As a Kenyan and an African, I celebrate this massive achievement from South Sudan. Their story mirrors the broader narrative of what Africa can achieve and some of the extraordinary talent that tends to go unnoticed.

The involvement of South Sudan in the Paris Olympics is a ray of hope, proving that indeed, even in hard times, dreams do come through. The basketball team did not just uplift their nation but gave people across the world inspiration. Watching the Olympics further with anticipation and pride, we know that the story of South Sudan has just begun. The best, though, is yet to come in this new chapter, with much greater things lying ahead and a much brighter future shining for a rebirth of the nation onto the world stage.

Viva South Sudan, Viva Africa.

Author,

Ekaale Ekuam

A Freelance Writer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Consultant.