Culture and Social Development
Cultural Elements
Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Sudan
This map is of the ethnic groups in the Republic of Sudan. It shows the different areas throughout the country and what different languages are spoken by what groups.
APA Citation:
₦airaland Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2015, from http://www.nairaland.com/2061638/somali-sudanese-wedding/4
APA Citation:
₦airaland Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2015, from http://www.nairaland.com/2061638/somali-sudanese-wedding/4
Internet resources on Culture
1. Countries and their Cultures
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sudan.html
This web page is a great page to learn about the culture of the Sudanese people. This site gives a bit of history about the country. There are different sub-heading of topics about different types of culture in the country, such as, economy, food, architecture, politics, social life, etc.
2. Resilience and Culture/Ethnicity
Examples from Sudan, Namibia, and Armenia
http://resilnet.uiuc.edu/library/grotb98b.html
This webpage is a paper written by Edith H. Grotberg, Ph.D. on the culture and ethnicity groups in Sudan and two other countries. It is a little longer to read, however it has some good information on Sudanese cultures.
3. Sudanese Cultural Information
http://www.chihealthstelizabeth.com/downloads/Sudanese-2.pdf
This link take you to a pdf file that give different information about Sudanese culture. There is advise on greeting, tone of voice, non-verbal communication, food beliefs, diets, etc.
4. Society and Culture
http://www.sudan.net/society.php
This web page gives information about the culture in Sudan and the society that the Sudanese people live in. This page talks about ethnicity, language, and religious beliefs.
5. Sudanese Cultural Customs
http://sudan.usembassy.gov/sudanese_cultural_customs.html
This webpage by the US Embassy is a good source for people preparing to travel to Sudan to find out the customs and expectations of the visitor so they do not offend the Sudanese people.
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sudan.html
This web page is a great page to learn about the culture of the Sudanese people. This site gives a bit of history about the country. There are different sub-heading of topics about different types of culture in the country, such as, economy, food, architecture, politics, social life, etc.
2. Resilience and Culture/Ethnicity
Examples from Sudan, Namibia, and Armenia
http://resilnet.uiuc.edu/library/grotb98b.html
This webpage is a paper written by Edith H. Grotberg, Ph.D. on the culture and ethnicity groups in Sudan and two other countries. It is a little longer to read, however it has some good information on Sudanese cultures.
3. Sudanese Cultural Information
http://www.chihealthstelizabeth.com/downloads/Sudanese-2.pdf
This link take you to a pdf file that give different information about Sudanese culture. There is advise on greeting, tone of voice, non-verbal communication, food beliefs, diets, etc.
4. Society and Culture
http://www.sudan.net/society.php
This web page gives information about the culture in Sudan and the society that the Sudanese people live in. This page talks about ethnicity, language, and religious beliefs.
5. Sudanese Cultural Customs
http://sudan.usembassy.gov/sudanese_cultural_customs.html
This webpage by the US Embassy is a good source for people preparing to travel to Sudan to find out the customs and expectations of the visitor so they do not offend the Sudanese people.
Country DEMOGRAPHIC Data
Category Statistic
Population 1950-5,733,944 2010-35,652,002
State with Largest Population Khartoum - 5,274,321
Largest city Omdurman in the state of Khartoum
Official Languages Arabic and English
Religions Sunni Muslim and small Christian minority
Military Sudanese Armed Forces, Land Forces, Navy, Sudanese Air Force
In the last 84 years child mortality rate in Sudan have decreased. In 1918 the child mortality rate was 410 per 1,000 born. So for every 1,000 children under the age of 5 410 would die. Then we look at the year 2002 were the rate drops down to 102 per 1,000. We can attest this to more education in the country, as well as more advances in technology. We have more programs such as Global Humanitarian Assistance that help aid countries such as Sudan in getting medicine and nutritious food to the poor and hungry. Along with a decrease in child mortality rate, there is an increase int eh GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in Sudan in the last 84 year. In 1918 the GDP was 2.4 and by 2002 it had increased to 5.5. This will also help the countries child mortality rate. The more money that is coming into and out of the country will help to make the people more self sufficient and able to access more affordable health care.
Religions in Sudan and the impact on the countryThe main religion in Sudan is Islam. However Islam did not start in Sudan. Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula (Library). Islam was developed in the Middle East in the 7th century C.E. Islam has spread to the entire world. At this time Islam is considered one of the largest spreading religion in the world. Christianity is also practiced in Sudan. Christianity originated in Jerusalem and spread throughout the world as well and is considered the largest religion in the world. However in Sudan there is about a 97% Islam following and only less than 2% Christianity following. According to (Sudan – Civil War and Genocide: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East) “Christianity predated Islam in northern Sudan and was effectively eradicated and replaced by Islam by the early Sixteenth century.” The role of Islam and Christianity in Sudan has been a major role. The country has gone through civil wars over religion. Sudan has since became two countries. The northern one is Republic of Sudan and the southern one is named Southern Sudan. In the northern one which this web page is about has a majority of Islamic followers as stated in the previous paragraph. The country of Sudan is a country that see’s men as a superior gender. This is also a belief in the Islamic faith. With this being said, one can say that the Islamic faith holds an important role in the social development of Sudan. The sacred place for Christianity is Jerusalem which is about 2,162 km or 1343.4 miles. The sacred place for Islam is Mecca which is about 1393 km or 865.57 miles. Although neither sacred place is inside the country of Sudan, Mecca is closer to Sudan. In fact you can get to the country of Sudan from Mecca by crossing the Red Sea. “Islam has been an enduring element in the history, politics, and law of Sudan for centuries” (Military). With knowing this we will learn that the religion of Islam not only plays an important role in politics and government in Sudan, but it also is the reason why many human rights violations are allowed. Violations such as female circumcision, allowed rapes of women, marrying young women to older men, etc. After researching this information on religion in Sudan, I have found that Islam is not only a widely practiced religion in the country, but the religion also plays an important role in the government of Sudan. Islam also is practiced more than Christianity in the country and due to the conflict between religions there are had been a long fought civil wars in Sudan, which resulted in one country becoming two. References: Library. (n.d). Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html Military. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2015. From http://wwwglobalsecurity.org/military/world/sudan/political-parties-nif.html Sudan – Civial War and Genocide: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East. (n.d). Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://www.meforum.org/22/sudan-civil-war-and-genocide The four major religions in Africa. The religion of Islam makes up the most of northern Africa and Christianity makes up most of southern Africa. Sudan is shown in mostly Islam, however there is about a 2% Christian population in the Republic of Sudan.
APA Citation: 15 facts on African religions | OUPblog. (2014, May 15). Retrieved July 27, 2015, from http://blog.oup.com/2014/05/15-facts-on-african-religions/ |
Figure 2. Comparison in changes in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in Sudan between 1918-2002 as portrayed by gapminder.og
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Map of religions in Sudan. Islam covers most of northern Sudan.
APA Citation:
Maps. (2011, July 28). Retrieved July 27, 2015, from http://southsudaninfo.net/maps/
APA Citation:
Maps. (2011, July 28). Retrieved July 27, 2015, from http://southsudaninfo.net/maps/
Cultural Diversity in Sudan
When talking about threats to cultural diversity in Sudan the first thing that might come to mind is the recent Civil Wars that have taken place between Northern and South Sudan. Others might say that "globalization is often declared as one of, if not the greatest threat to cultural diversity"(Displacement, Conflict, and Socio-Cultural Survival in Southern Sudan), and still others might say that land alienation (Land Alienation and Genocide in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan) is the greatest threat. However Sudan is very rich in cultural diversity. There are "19 major ethnic groups and about 597 subgroups and speak more than 100 languages and dialects" (When the Data hits the Fan!).
Looking at the picture in figure 1 can you see school children from capital state of Khartoum.
However looking at the picture you can see a women from the state of Nubia.
Looking at the picture in figure 1 can you see school children from capital state of Khartoum.
However looking at the picture you can see a women from the state of Nubia.
Both the children and the women come from the same country, however there is much diversity in their cultures. The female children in Khartoum are covered from head to foot, with only a small amount of skin showing. If you go to this women's village in Nubia, you will see other's with little to no clothing on like her. However some Nubian women do wear clothing similar to sari because they are close to the board of Egypt (Egyptian Traditional Clothing). This is just one small example of the diverse cultural difference from the same country.
When we think about the recent civial war in Sudan one might think that would cause a loss of cultural diversity. Although it did cause the country to become two seperate countries, Northern and South Sudan, the cultural diveristy remains just in thier own countries. So the north and south did loss some diversity, yet it is not a dangerous situation. As well as globalization is not causing a huge loss of cultural diversity. The people in Sudan are bennifiting from globalization with money coming into their economy. Gloablization is also helping to allow people from other countries to learn about Sudan and it's cultures.
Over all the cultural diversity in Sudan is not at risk. People speak many different languages or dialects, there are close to 20 different ethnic groups in the country, and even though the country has been split into two countries, the culutre is still there. Sudan is not allowing the western influences to effect them in a negative way.
Refrences
Displacement, Conflict, and Socio-Cultural Survival in Southern Sudan. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015, from https://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/149
Egyptian Traditional Clothing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://www.raqs.co.nz/me/clothing_egypt.html
Land Alienation and Genocide in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015, from http://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/land-alienation-and-genocide-nuba-mountains-sudan
When the Data hits the Fan! (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://simon-tanner.blogspot.com/2013/07/digital-sudan-cultural-heritage-revived.html
When we think about the recent civial war in Sudan one might think that would cause a loss of cultural diversity. Although it did cause the country to become two seperate countries, Northern and South Sudan, the cultural diveristy remains just in thier own countries. So the north and south did loss some diversity, yet it is not a dangerous situation. As well as globalization is not causing a huge loss of cultural diversity. The people in Sudan are bennifiting from globalization with money coming into their economy. Gloablization is also helping to allow people from other countries to learn about Sudan and it's cultures.
Over all the cultural diversity in Sudan is not at risk. People speak many different languages or dialects, there are close to 20 different ethnic groups in the country, and even though the country has been split into two countries, the culutre is still there. Sudan is not allowing the western influences to effect them in a negative way.
Refrences
Displacement, Conflict, and Socio-Cultural Survival in Southern Sudan. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015, from https://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/149
Egyptian Traditional Clothing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://www.raqs.co.nz/me/clothing_egypt.html
Land Alienation and Genocide in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015, from http://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/land-alienation-and-genocide-nuba-mountains-sudan
When the Data hits the Fan! (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://simon-tanner.blogspot.com/2013/07/digital-sudan-cultural-heritage-revived.html
Sudanese Cuisine
Recipe for: Dama Be PotaatasIngredients (Servings 2)
6 Onions 4 Tablespoons tomato paste 1/3 cup oil 3 garlic cloves 250 g beef steaks 2 cups water 3 tomatoes 1/2 green pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cardamom 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 potatoes |
Directions: Chop onions and put in pot and fry in oil at medium heat. Keep covered, stirring occasionally. Add water and cover, leaving on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until water is almost evaporated. Lightly blend onions and return to pot and add chopped tomatoes Peel and chop potatoes and fry potatoes until golden. Chop steak into small pieces and add to pot with chopped pepper, salt, cardamom. and cinnamon. Cover and leave for 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir, adding water until smooth and runny. Add potatoes, cover and leave to simmer for 10 minutes adding more water occasionally. Stir in crushed garlic. |
RELIGION, culture, and food
Sudan is a country that has a predominantly Islamic faith following. In Islam there are rules to food that can be consumed. There are forbidden foods such as, “Pork, lard or any porcine substance, Gelatin from animal source which is not halal, meat that is not slaughtered in the prescribed Islamic way, meat coming from a lawful animal died before slaughter, blood (direct or indirect), any food or drink with alcohol in it (all intoxicant and hazardous drinks), any human substance or part, all carnivorous animals and birds of prey, some non halal additives (E numbers like E120, E441, E542 ect.)” (Faith and Food - the way to your heart). In central Sudan the cuisine and dietary habits are more diversified. This could be due to the fact that different Sudanese cultures are in this area.
Most of the major cities and towns in Sudan lie along the Nile River. This is so that they can use the river to water their crops as well as produce power. In Khartoum it is ok for men and boys to share meals together; however girls are not allowed to and expected to stay home until married.
A cup of tea is how the day typically begins in Sudan. Then in mid to late morning they have breakfast. Cooking is typically in courtyards outside the house. They use charcoal on grills called kanoon. Sudanese people are hospitable. They eat in large groups where the food is placed on a communal tray and shared by all. Most meals are “eaten with the right hand, using flat bread or a stiff millet porridge known as asida or kisra” (Sudanese Food).
References
Faith and Food - the way to your heart. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2015, from http://www.faithandfood.com/Islam.php
Sudanese Food. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2015, from http://www.sudanembassy.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=39&Itemid=57
Most of the major cities and towns in Sudan lie along the Nile River. This is so that they can use the river to water their crops as well as produce power. In Khartoum it is ok for men and boys to share meals together; however girls are not allowed to and expected to stay home until married.
A cup of tea is how the day typically begins in Sudan. Then in mid to late morning they have breakfast. Cooking is typically in courtyards outside the house. They use charcoal on grills called kanoon. Sudanese people are hospitable. They eat in large groups where the food is placed on a communal tray and shared by all. Most meals are “eaten with the right hand, using flat bread or a stiff millet porridge known as asida or kisra” (Sudanese Food).
References
Faith and Food - the way to your heart. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2015, from http://www.faithandfood.com/Islam.php
Sudanese Food. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2015, from http://www.sudanembassy.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=39&Itemid=57