Changing Power Among Murle Chiefs investigates how Murle customary authorities—in particular, red chiefs—navigate and negotiate political, military and spiritual authority, while simultaneously challenging the view that Murle society has no organic leaderships structures. The challenge is not the absence of leadership structures but rather their abundance and the difficulties they…

The Chiefs’ High Court in Pibor town is located along the Pibor River, which—due to unusually high rains at levels not seen since 2012—had inundated the town, making the court an island surrounded by water. But on 21 and 22 October, the flood notwithstanding, the court house was full. I sat quietly in the back among some thirty youth from Bothonya age-set, and many more waiting outside. Chief…