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Encyclopedia > Culture of Sudan
Woman with Henna painting in Sudan with a Jabana (coffee can).
Woman with Henna painting in Sudan with a Jabana (coffee can).
Sufi ritual in Khartoum.
Sufi ritual in Khartoum.

Sudanese culture melds the behaviors, practices, and beliefs of about 578 tribes, communicating in 145 different languages, in a region microcosmic of Africa, with geographic extremes varying from sandy desert to tropical forest. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1074x720, 84 KB) de: Frau mit Henna-Bemalung im Sudan mit einer Jabana (eine Kaffee-Kanne, häufig im Sudan und in Äthiopien anzutreffen) en: Woman with Henna painting in Sudan with a Jabana (a coffee can, often use in Sudan... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1074x720, 84 KB) de: Frau mit Henna-Bemalung im Sudan mit einer Jabana (eine Kaffee-Kanne, häufig im Sudan und in Äthiopien anzutreffen) en: Woman with Henna painting in Sudan with a Jabana (a coffee can, often use in Sudan... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (969x720, 73 KB) Description: Sufis, ritual in Khartoum. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (969x720, 73 KB) Description: Sufis, ritual in Khartoum. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as tropical rain forests, are a tropical and subtropical biome. ...

Contents

Ethnicity

In 1999, Sudan was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world. It had nearly 600 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages and dialects. An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... The term natural language is used to distinguish languages spoken and signed (by hand signals and facial expressions) by humans for general-purpose communication from constructs such as writing, computer-programming languages or the languages used in the study of formal logic, especially mathematical logic. ...


During the 1980s and 1990s some of Sudan's smaller ethnic and linguistic groups disappeared. Migration played a part, as migrants often forget their native tongue when they move to an area dominated by another language. Some linguistic groups were absorbed by accommodation, others by conflict.


Arabic was the lingua franca despite the use of English by many of the elite. Many Sudanese are multilingual. Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Lingua franca, literally Frankish language in Italian, was originally a mixed language consisting largely of Italian plus a vocabulary drawn from Turkish, Persian, French, Greek and Arabic and used for communication throughout the Middle East. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...


Religion

According to The World Factbook, the primary religions of Sudan are Muslim (approx. 70%), Christianity (approx. 5%) and traditional indigenous religions (approx. 25%). Sunni Muslims predominate in the north, while the south contains most of the followers of Christianity and traditional indigenous religions (animists).[1] This article or section needs to be updated. ... Sufi ritual being performed in Sudan Sudan is a religiously mixed country, although Muslims have dominated national government institutions since independence in 1956. ... The World Factbook 2007 (government edtion) cover. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch...


In the early 1990s, the largest single category among the Muslim peoples of Sudan consisted of those speaking some form of Arabic. Excluded were a small number of Arabic speakers originating in Egypt and professing Coptic Christianity. In 1983 the people identified as Arabs constituted nearly 40 percent of the total Sudanese population and nearly 55 percent of the population of the northern provinces. In some of these provinces (Al Khartum, Ash Shamali, Al Awsat), they were overwhelmingly dominant. In others (Kurdufan, Darfur), they were less so but made up a majority. By 1990 Ash Sharqi State was probably largely Arab. It should be emphasized, however, that the acquisition of Arabic as a second language did not necessarily lead to the assumption of Arab identity. Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Jesus Christ in a Coptic icon. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predominantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Alawite Islam, Druzism, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism Footnotes a Mainly in Antakya. ... Darfur (Arabic: , lit. ...


In the early 1990s, the Nubians were the second most significant Muslim group in Sudan, their homeland being the Nile River valley in far northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Other, much smaller groups speaking a related language and claiming a link with the Nile Nubians have been given local names, such as the Birqid and the Meidab in Darfur State. Almost all Nile Nubians speak Arabic as a second language. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... There is also Nile, a death metal band from South Carolina, USA. The Nile in Egypt Length 6 695 km Elevation of the source 1 134 m Average discharge 2 830 m³/s Area watershed 3 400 000 km² Origin Africa Mouth the Mediterranean Basin countries Uganda - Sudan - Egypt The...


Christianity

Christianity was most prevalent among the peoples of Al Istiwai State--the Madi, Moru, Azande, and Bari. The major churches in the Sudan were the Catholic and the Anglican. Southern communities might include a few Christians, but the rituals and world view of the area were not in general those of traditional Western Christianity. The few communities that had formed around mission stations had disappeared with the dissolution of the missions in 1964. The indigenous Christian churches in Sudan, with external support, continued their mission. Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... Rituals was an American soap opera that ran in syndication from September 1984 to September 1985 in 260 25 minutes episodes. ...


Indigenous religions

Each indigenous religion is unique to a specific ethnic group or part of a group, although several groups may share elements of belief and ritual because of common ancestry or mutual influence. The group serves as the congregation, and an individual usually belongs to that faith by virtue of membership in the group. Believing and acting in a religious mode is part of daily life and is linked to the social, political, and economic actions and relationships of the group. The beliefs and practices of indigenous religions in Sudan are not systematized, in that the people do not generally attempt to put together in coherent fashion the doctrines they hold and the rituals they practice. In predicate logic and technical fields that depend on it, uniqueness quantification, or unique existential quantification, is an attempt to formalise the notion of something being true for exactly one thing, or exactly one thing of a certain type. ... Politics is the process by which decisions are made within groups. ... Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [okos], house, and νέμω [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... Italic text This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


Music

Main article: Music of Sudan

Sudan has a rich and unique musical culture that has been through chronic instability and repression during the modern history of Sudan. Beginning with the imposition of strict sharia law in 1989, many of the country's most prominent poet, like Mahjoub Sharif, were imprisoned while others, like Mohammed el Amin(return back to Sudan in mid of 1990s ) and Mohammed Wardi(returned to Sudan 2003), fled to Cairo. Traditional music suffered too, with traditional Zar ceremonies being interrupted and drums confiscated [1]. At the same time, however, the European militaries contributed to the development of Sudanese music by introducing new instruments and styles; military bands, especially the Scottish bagpipes, were renowned, and set traditional music to military march music. The march March Shulkawi No 1, is an example, set to the sounds of the Shilluk. Sudan has a rich and unique musical culture that has been through chronic instability and repression during the modern history of Sudan. ... Sudan combines the lands of several ancient kingdoms. ... Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... Mohammed Osman Hassan Salih Wardi (Arabic: محمد عثمان حسن وردي ) (born 1932 - ) a Sudanese singer and songwriter. ... Zar may refer to: Alternative spelling of Tsar South African currency, the rand Zar (religious custom), a widespread religious custom to placate spirits who are believed to have possessed them. ... A bagpipe performer in Amsterdam. ... March music is a genre of music originally written for and performed by military bands. ... Shilluk portrait circa 1914 The Shilluk are a major Nilotic ethnic group of southern Sudan, living on the west bank of the Nile around the city of Malakal. ...


Modern tribal music

The Nuba, on the front lines between the north and the south of Sudan, have retained a vibrant folk tradition. The musical harvest festival Kambala is still a major part of Nuba culture. The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) include a group called the Black Stars, a unit dedicated to "cultural advocacy and performance". Members include the guitarist and singer Ismael Koinyi, as well as Jelle, Jamus and Tahir Jezar [1]. Look up Harvest in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Kambala Kambala or Kamblā is a rural sport, prominent in districts of Udupi and Mangalore in Karnataka and also Kasargod district in Kerala. ... SPLA/M emblem Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) is a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the main opposition group in Sudan. ... The Black Stars is a team from the manga series Keroro Land. ...


Sport

Several Sudanese born basketball players have played in the American National Basketball Association. These include Deng Gai, Luol Deng and Manute Bol. “NBA” redirects here. ... Deng Gai (born March 22, 1982 in Wow, Sudan) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He played college at Fairfield University and graduated as number eight on the NCAAs all-time blocked shots list. ... Luol Deng (born April 16, 1985 in Wow, Sudan) is a British professional basketball player for the National Basketball Associations Chicago Bulls, where he plays small forward. ... Manute Bol (born October 16, 1962) is a Sudanese-born basketball player and activist. ...


The Khartoum state league is considered to be the oldest soccer league in the whole of Africa as it started in the late 1920s. The Sudan Football Association started in 1954. The Sudan national football team, nicknamed Sokoor Al-Jediane is the national team of Sudan and is controlled by the Sudan Soccer Association. It is one of only a few countries to have played since the inaugural African Nations Cup in 1957. Todd Matthews-Jouda switched nationalities from American to Sudanese in September 2003 and competed at the 2004 Olympics. The Sudan Football Association started in 1954 with the help of the Egyptian Football Association. ... First international Ethiopia 2 - 1 Sudan (Ethiopia; November 16, 1956) Biggest win Sudan 15 - 0 Oman (Egypt; September 2, 1965) Biggest defeat South Korea 8 - 0 Sudan (Seoul, South Korea; September 10, 1979) African Nations Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1957) Best result Winners, 1970 The Sudan national football team... Todd Matthews-Jouda (born June 20, 1979) is a hurdling athlete who is notable for having switched nationality from United States to Sudan in September 2003. ... Flag of Sudan Sudan at the 2004 Summer Olympics Medals Results by event Athletics Mens 110 metre hurdles: Todd Matthews Jouda - Round 1: 13. ...


Clothing

Clothing is an important cultural indication that shows things such as prevalent moral and artistic values and traditions. Sudan’s clothing is mainly Arabic garb, woven clothing made, with the women covering their heads, as goes the tradition of Muslim and Islam. Women in Northern Sudan wear the colorful attire known as the Thobe. Many of the men of Sudan wear ankle-long white gowns called Galabiya, together with the Shaal, the same as a shawl. A thobe is an ankle-length garment with long sleeves, similar to a robe. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...


Education

Main article: Education in Sudan

The public and private education systems inherited by the government after independence were designed more to provide civil servants and professionals to serve the colonial administration than to educate the Sudanese. Moreover, the distribution of facilities, staff, and enrollment was biased in favor of the needs of the administration and a Western curriculum. Schools tended to be clustered in the vicinity of Khartoum and to a lesser extent in other urban areas, although the population was predominantly rural. This concentration was found at all levels but was most marked for those in situations beyond the four-year primary schools where instruction was in the vernacular. The north suffered from shortages of teachers and buildings, but education in the south was even more inadequate. During the condominium, education in the south was left largely to the mission schools, where the level of instruction proved so poor that as early as the mid-1930s the government imposed provincial education supervisors upon the missionaries in return for the government subsidies that they sorely needed. The civil war and the ejection of all foreign missionaries in February 1964 further diminished education opportunities for southern Sudanese. The public and private education systems inherited by the government of Sudan after independence were designed to provide civil servants and professionals to serve the colonial administration, rather than to educate the Sudanese. ... Nickname: Khartoums location in Sudan Coordinates: Government  - Governor Abdul Halim al Mutafi Population (2005)  - Urban Over 1 Million For other uses, see Khartoum (disambiguation). ...


Traditionally, girls' education was of the most rudimentary kind, frequently provided by a khalwa, or religious school, in which Quranic studies were taught. Such basic schools did not prepare girls for the secular learning mainstream, from which they were virtually excluded. Largely through the pioneering work of Shaykh Babikr Badri, the government had provided five elementary schools for girls by 1920. Expansion was slow, however, given the bias for boys and the conservatism of Sudanese society, with education remaining restricted to the elementary level until 1940. It was only in 1940 that the first intermediate school for girls, the Omdurman Girls' Intermediate School, opened. By 1955, ten intermediate schools for girls were in existence. In 1956, the Omdurman Secondary School for Girls, with about 265 students, was the only girls' secondary school operated by the government. By 1960, 245 elementary schools for girls had been established, but only 25 junior secondary or general schools and 2 upper-secondary schools. There were no vocational schools for girls, only a Nurses' Training College with but eleven students, nursing not being regarded by many Sudanese as a respectable vocation for women. During the 1960s and 1970s, girls' education made considerable gains under the education reforms that provided 1,086 primary schools, 268 intermediate schools, and 52 vocational schools for girls by 1970, when girls' education claimed approximately one-third of the total school resources available. Although by the early 1990s the numbers had increased in the north but not in the war-torn south, the ratio had remained approximately the same. Female education is a catch-all term for a complex of issues and debates surrounding education (primary education, secondary education, tertiary education and health education in particular) for females. ...


The revolutionary government of General Bashir announced sweeping reforms in Sudanese education in September 1990. In consultation with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic teachers and administrators, who were the strongest supporters of his regime, Bashir proclaimed a new philosophy of education. He allocated £Sd400 million for the academic year 1990-91 to carry out these reforms and promised to double the sum if the current education system could be changed to meet the needs of Sudan.


References


  Results from FactBites:
 
Culture of Sudan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1578 words)
In 1999, Sudan was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world.
As of 1991, the primary religions of Sudan are Islam(approx.
Sudan’s clothing is mainly Arabic garb, woven clothing made, with the women covering their heads, as goes the tradition of Muslim and Islam.
Sudan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (3716 words)
Sudan (officially the Republic of the Sudan or Republic of Sudan) is the largest country by area in Africa, situated in Northern Africa.
It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, Kenya and Uganda to the southeast, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest.
Largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, the Presbyterian Church in the Sudan and the Coptic Orthodox Church.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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