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 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan (Re: sentimental)
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Life of Dinka and Nuer is the richest life in Sudan. This post is tending to expose this life and its role in south Sudan culture. I would be happy if the board members post their views to enrich the topic..
Sentimental
Cloud over cattle camp
Dusk, when people and cattle come together again at the end of the day, is the main time for social activity.
These photographs show the everyday lives of Dinka and Nuer people of southern Sudan. The Dinka and Nuer are the largest tribes in southern Sudan. They are closely related; it is thought the Nuer are descended originally from the Dinka. They are both dispersed, anarchic, mutually supportive societies. The photographs also describe briefly how these people are affected by a war.
Without the war, life in Southern Sudan would be generally good. Even with the war, many people continue to lead a rich traditional life. People are proud of their culture. Communities are close. Children play an important part in everyday activities, and learn the complex skills needed to survive in this difficult but rewarding environment.
People in southern Sudan know about the outside world. They want to engage with it, but want to have some control over the way their society will change as a result. School education, to complement their traditional education, is valued as one way to achieve this.
The photographs were taken mostly at the start of the dry season, around several different locations where there are Community Based Animal Health projects operating under Operation Lifeline Sudan. OLS is the co-ordinated aid programme to southern Sudan and includes Save the Children.
Scarified boy with cow
This young man is tending to his cow. His forehead bears scars from his initiation. The initiation ceremony marks the change from being considered a child to being considered an adult, and happens in early teens
School class room by Pibor River
Village schools are spreading through southern Sudan. Usually they are locally made classrooms, but sometimes pupils are taught under the shade of a large tree.
Nile swamps from air
The Nile is one of the world's great rivers. This picture is taken from an aeroplane flying over the swamps that for so long deterred outsiders from penetrating the area. Although we all learn that 'the Nile flows to the Mediterranean', most of the water that flows with the Nile and other rivers into south Sudan does not reach the sea at all, but evaporates, falls as rain on the highlands around, and flows back into south Sudan again; perpetually recycling locally
The Sobat River at dawn
The Sobat River flows down from the highlands of Ethiopia, and is a major tributary of the White Nile. Once it hits the flat land of Sudan, it becomes sluggish, and many little islands of vegetation float slowly along with it.
People crossing a watercourse
Villages are usually built on slightly raised sand banks which sit on the floor of the clay basin which makes up much of southern Sudan. Particularly during the wet season, and particularly near to the main rivers, there are many watercourses or areas of swamp to be crossed when travelling around. Boats are only practical on larger stretches of water.
 A
cattle camp from the air
Cattle are brought together at night into camps for social reasons and for protection against both enemies and biting insects. A cattle camp can have many thousand cattle, as well as smaller numbers of sheep and goats. The cattle are grouped around extended families, giving the effect of many joined circles
 A
cattle camp at dusk
In the foreground is a dried cow dung fire. In the morning, all the cow dung is collected and dried; and in the evening, the dried dung is lit to make smoky fires. The smoke drives away biting insects and allows the cattle to get some rest. The ash from the fires also repels insects; cows can be seen flicking it over themselves, dogs sleep in it, and people, particularly children, powder themselves with it. The smoke and smell of cow dung fires is a characteristic part of life in southern Sudan.
 A
tassle-horned song bull
Young bulls, particularly those with well patterned coats, are often selected at an early age to be 'song bulls'. They are usually castrated (so they are really 'song bullocks'), and their horns are pared away just above the base so that the left one grows forwards, and the right one grows backwards. When they get older, a tassle is hung through holes in the tips of its horns for decoration. Dinka in particular select cattle for the size of their horns. Song bulls are highly valued and very well treated. Their owners groom them, sing songs to them, and develop a close and special relationship with them. 'Horn surgery', as the shaping of cow horns is known, is recorded in the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, so has obviously been practiced along the Nile for thousands of years
Calves awaiting the return of their mothers in the late afternoon
The light is fading, the dung fires have been lit, and the cows will soon return from their day's grazing. The young calves, which stay in the camp all day while their mothers go to graze, will then be able to get some milk to drink. In many villages, particularly where biting insects are bad, most of the animals (all the young stock) sleep in luacs (Nuer) or under shelters (Dinka), together with young men and boys, who all benefit from the protection of the fires. Women sleep in their own dwils. In the migratory cattle camps, people sleep around fires or under mosquito nets if they have them.
 A
boy trying to lead a reluctant cow
Children help with all the daily tasks from an early age, particularly with herding of sheep, goats and young animals, and with other camp tasks. Caring for the animals helps them realise the extent of their mutual dependence on each other, and develop respect. From a children's point of view, animals provide food, companionship, social and economic security, and cultural identity
more is comming soon
Sentimental
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| العنوان |
الكاتب |
Date |
 A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-24-02, 10:06 AM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | ABDU | 08-24-02, 12:26 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-24-02, 01:29 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | Tumadir | 08-24-02, 01:34 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-24-02, 01:53 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-24-02, 02:04 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | Elmosley | 08-24-02, 02:11 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | Yassir Mahgoub | 08-24-02, 03:12 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-25-02, 07:52 AM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | Elmosley | 08-25-02, 03:32 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-25-02, 08:44 AM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-25-02, 01:47 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-25-02, 02:27 PM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | degna | 08-25-02, 02:34 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-26-02, 07:52 AM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-28-02, 07:26 AM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 08-31-02, 01:10 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | Alsawi | 08-31-02, 06:06 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 10-13-02, 07:45 AM |
 Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 12-06-02, 01:17 PM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 12-21-02, 11:40 AM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 12-21-02, 11:41 AM |
| Re: A study on Dinka of Southern Sudan | sentimental | 12-31-02, 08:55 AM |
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