Click on the flags below to learn more about other countries.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
Sudanese Culture
Family Life
Sudanese extended families include uncles and cousins going back several generations. They determine a great deal about one's life, work, and marriage opportunities. Men make all of the decisions. Women and men do not sit together. If a man wants to marry a woman, he asks her father. The woman does not get to decide. Women do not call men by their first name. Many people do not like these rules. Families in Sudan are usually big. Most women have 4 to 6 children. Men generally have the most power in society, but women have the most power in the house. They are in charge of taking care of the chidren, while the men work outside the home. Often extended families live together. There are lots of aunts and grandmothers to help the mother with her household responsibilities. This has changed in recent years as more people have moved to the cities.
Beliefs
Most Sudanese are Muslim. Islam is the official state religion, and the country also follows Muslim law. Over 70% of the people are Muslim, and they live mostly in the north. About 5% are Christian, and they live mostly in the south. 25% of the people follow traditional religions like animism.
Language
Sudan is a very diverse country with many different ethnic groups. There are over 100 languages spoken in Sudan! Language is one of the most important parts of the people’s cultural idenity. Arabic is the main language. It is used by the government, the media, and the schools. Some people use English, but most people haven’t had an opportunity to learn it. 40% of the people consider themselves Arabs. Arabic is written from right to left, and it has 28 letters.
Dress
There are many different kinds of clothing in Sudan. A lot of people wear the same kind of clothing as Americans. However, many women wear traditional Muslim clothing and they cover their hair with a scarf called hijab. This is not mandatory; it all depends on the family background and rules. Sudanese clothing is very colorful. Women wear a long robe called a thobe, while men wear a long gown called galabiya. Both men and women like to wear shawls. You can usually identify a person’s ethnic group by looking at their clothing.
Food
Food is an important part of life in Sudan. Because we have suffered through many years of famine, we really appreciate what we have. People like to eat rice, lamb, and chicken. We use a lot of spices in our food. We always make sure that we offer food and drink to our guests, because hospitality is highly valued. We eat khubz, which is a kind of bread, and kisra, which is like a pancake. Bamia bamia is a delicious lamb and okra stew, and maschi, a beef and tomato dish, is also popular. Sudan is famous for its Guhwah coffee. Tea or chai is also very popular.
Recreation
Like its people, the culture of Sudan is also diverse. Sudanese people like to listen to pop and traditional music. We like sports like basketball. There have even been a few Sudanese players in the NBA. The most famous ones are Deng Gai, Luol Deng, and Manute Bol. Soccer is popular in Sudan, and the players are some of the best in all of Africa. People also like volleyball. We have wrestling and a kind of martial art performed with long sticks and shields. Men hunt deer. At night, chilldren play shelel, which uses stones, sticks, and holes made in a wooden board or on the ground. Young girls play ariks, which is like hopscotch. People also play backgammon, or tawal, and a board game called mangala, which uses stones.
