T. Manager Apologizes Publicly Over Controversial Photo

South Sudanese Artist T. Manager has issued a public apology on his official Facebook page after a photo of him with Awiel girl went viral on social media, sparking discomfort among some community members. In his apology, T. Manager expressed that he meant no harm and apologized to those who were offended by the post.

“Aweil is a great land that all South Sudanese are proud of, including myself. The phrase ‘Aweil is good in everything’ was not meant to imply anything negative. It was simply my way of expressing my love and appreciation for the incredible beauty and hospitality of the Aweilian people,” T. Manager explained.

Unfortunately, the post was taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. T. Manager emphasized that his intention was never to disrespect the culture or offend anyone. 

He clarified that the young girl in the photo was simply there for a friendly picture and that no harm was done.

However, some members of the community were not satisfied with the post.

Guot G. Akol, in a Facebook comment, called the post a “hate speech” and urged T. Manager to apologize for the offense caused. 

African Bold also commented, warning T. Manager of potential consequences if he did not apologize.

On the other hand, Quan Atak Quan defended T. Manager, stating that the picture was open to interpretation and that T. Manager did not say anything negative. Quan believed it was a normal picture of T. Manager with a beautiful girl from Aweil.

Amidst the controversy, Koorinho expressed support for T. Manager, stating that the artist was expressing his pleasure towards his visit to Aweil and appreciating the characters of the natives and the nature of the land.

While T. Manager has apologized, it remains unclear whether he will be fully accepted by the Awielian community according to their cultural norms. 

Some individuals have cautioned T. Manager to remain safe due to potential unexpected traditional behaviors.

Despite the backlash, T. Manager had been performing in Awiel since the start of the year 2024, engaging with the people of Awiel.