Eastern Equatoria State

Name:

Eastern Equatoria also known as Sharq al-'Istiwa'iyah

Province:

Equatoria

Flag:

Map:

Map of which highlights Eastern Equatoria State,South Sudan

 Counties:

• Torit
• Lafon/Lopa
• Magwi
• Ikotos
• Budi
• Kapoeta North
• Kapoeta South
• Kapoeta East (Narus)

Capital City:

Torit

 Area:

 82,542 km²

 Total Population

 225,872 people

Tribes which reside in Eastern Equatoria State include:

Acholi

Boya

Didinga

Dongotono

Jiye

Ifoto

Imatong

Lango

Lokoya 

Logir

Lopit

Lokuta

Lulubo

Madi

Nyangathom

Ofiriha

Pari

Toposa

References,Images and further reading: Flickr  Wikipedia 

Bari People

Bari warriors (1890)

Name:

Bari also known as Bari proper*

Language:

Bari Language which derives from the Kutuk language spoken by Karo group of tribes

Bari Land includes:

Lado
Gondokoro
Rejaf 

Bari people are found in Central Equatoria

Naming ceremony

The naming ceremony of a child is very important to the Bari community:

First child names (male) include: 

Jada

Yugusuk 

Loro

Or they are named after an important person in the clan of both the father and mother (particularly if they are a boy)

Second child names (male):

Lado

Swaka

 Third child names (male):

Wani

Fourth child names(male):

Pitia

A Female child following boys:

Kiden

Society

The matat (chiefs) lead the Bari people,they are part of their traditional system and are chosen if they hail from a relevant hereditary clan. In the past,society was made up the monye lo kak (fathers of the land) and the matat lo piong (rainmakers) who used to combine spiritual and secular powers.

Culture

Bari food which includes their staple dish Nyette

Bari culture is diverse in literature,folktales,songs,poems,dances and physical art which include ‘lasira’ (mat), baskets, kitty chairs, pots, ‘mae’ (rope for hanging belongings in the hut) and beads. The Bari also have spears, bows and arrows, whip made from the skin of hippo.

 

Bari Waist beads

Spirituality 

 

The Bari believe in the existence of two spiritual powers. 

 ''''Un lo ki'''' (the Almighty or God of Heaven)
''''Mu lo kä'''' (small gods) the spirits that reside in big trees.  

They believe that these powers are malicious and are the cause of sicknesses and bad omen. 

Bari Diaspora are mostly found in:

Australia
Europe
America

*this is because they are different from those from neighbouring Bari-speaking tribes 

Images,References and further reading: Gurtong Wikipedia

 

Central Equatoria State

NAME:

Central Equatoria State (since 2005) formerly Bahr el Jabal

FLAG:

MAP: 

TOTAL AREA:

22,956km²

TOTAL POPULATION (2006 (est.)):

2,500,626 people

COUNTIES:

 

Juba county
Lainya County
Morobo County
Terekeka County
Yei County
Kajo Keji County

MAIN CITIES:

 

Kajo Keji
Liria
Mangalla
Rokon
Tali
Terekeka
Yei
Gemaiza
Tombek
Tindilo
Muni
Rejong

CAPITAL CITY:

Juba,which also the capital city of the Republic of South Sudan

KARO GROUP OF PEOPLE 

Are found through East Africa in Democratic Republic of Congo,Kenya,Uganda and South Sudan

KARO GROUP OF SOUTH SUDAN:

Bari people

Kakwa people

Area of residence:

Kakwa People reside in Yei County

Yei County

Morobo County

Language:

Kutuk na Kakwa

Economy:

Reliant on Agriculture (Corn,Millett,Cassava) and Cattle

-Kuku people

Area:

Kajo Keji County

Mundari people

The Mundari reside in Terekeka County,the main cities are :

 

Mangalla
Gemaiza
Muni
Tombek
Tindalo
Tali
Rego
Rokon
Koweri
Ku'da 

Mundari Woman with tradition scarification

 Scarification

The Mundari rituals include scarification,which consists of a pattern of two sets of three parallel lines, each on either side of the forehead,which extends in a downward slope but is unconnected in the middle.

Nyangwara people

Pojulu people

Area of Residence:

Lainya County

Yei County

Juba County

The Pojulu people are found in three counties in Central Equatoria State

 Pojulu clans include:

Nyori
Morsak
Goduck
Lobora
Mulusuk
Pirisa
Malari
Mankaro

The Pojulu chief   

Is the political leader of the Pojulu People.The chief position,is a hereditary position which has judicial powers in Pojulu society. It is usually falling to the eldest son of the departed chief. The chief is assisted by a council of elders, who come from numerous clans but all of which have the same criteria.Which includes wisdom, bravery and experience in matters pertaining to the tribe.

Diaspora

Australia

Democratic Republic of Congo

Egypt

Ethiopia

Europe

Israel

Kenya

New Zealand

South Africa

Sudan (Khartoum)

Uganda

United Kingdom

Other tribes that reside in Central Equatoria State include:

Keliko

Lugbwara

Moro Kodo

Adu (Makaraka)

Images,References and Further Reading: Wikipedia (1,2,3)  Kawka

The Shilluk and their fellow Luo people

The Shilluk are part of the Luo group which are believed to have resided originally in Western Bahr el Ghazal State,in the 10th Century due to disagreements the group split and migrated to wide range of areas.

A Map of Western Bahr el Ghazal State

Nyikang and his nation moved northward along the Nile towards Kush. Whilst other Luo groups rejected Nyikang's idea and headed south and westwards.

Nyikang led the Shilluk's to Upper Nile State to a land they now called the Shilluk Kingdom

Luo groups are found in Uganda where the Acholi,Alur (also found in the Democratic Republic of Congo), Chope, Jonam, Jopadhola, Kumam,Lango groups reside.

Ethophia where the Anyuak live on the highlands,Sudan in the Nuba region where the Funj group reside.

Also in Kenya and Tanzania where the flagship Luo (Jo-Luo) tribe resides.

Luo people are very proud of the achievements of fellow Luo Barack Obama

The most notable Luo person is Barack Obama the president of the United States,who's is an Kenya Luo (on his father's side).

Other South Sudanese tribes from the Luo group include:

 

Acholi (also found in Uganda)
Anyuak (also found in Ethophia)
Luo (Jur-Chol)
Pari
Thuri
Jum Jum (also found in Sudan)
Blanda Boore
Maban

Images,references and further reading: Barack Obama Biography Wikipedia SSDRC

The Shilluk People

Name

Chollo also known as Collo and Shilluk to outsiders 

Area

Found in Western and North Western area of Upper Nile State

Facts

One of South Sudan's largest ethnic groups

The Shilluk are not just a tribe they are part of the:

Läki Cɔllɔ or the Shilluk Kingdom

Shilluk people are the only people in South Sudan who have a recognised kingdom,which also has it's own government.They are also led by a King called Reth the current king is Reth Kwong.

Fashoda (Pachodo) is the Capital of the Shilluk Kingdom,

The Shilluk are part of the East Sudanic Group (which separated in 3000 BC),which includes neighbouring tribes such as the Dinka people.

Unfortunately for the Shilluk's over the years they have had a less than cohesive relationship with their Dinka neighbours.One of their most recent disagreements has been over land ownership.As the Dinka's of Jonglei State claim that the Shilluk land east of the Nile belongs to them and is not part of the Shilluk Kingdom.

As this land has belonged to the Shilluk's for hundreds of years,the tribes are in disagreement,which caused a rebellion to break out.Which caused the SPLA (Sudan Peoples Liberation Army) and the Dinka's to attack the spiritual home of  the Shilluk,Fashoda in late 2009.

Beliefs

The Shilluk look up to and believe in their spiritual leader and national hero Nyikang,who is believed to have been given special gifts by Jwok (God).

The Shilluk people are believers of Spiritualism and/or Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism) but a small minority have converted to Islam.This is because the Shilluk people collectively are a community which ensures that their traditions and beliefs are retained by passing them on to the next generation.

Below is a video of a Shilluk language film about Jesus Christ:

Economy:

Agriculture and Fish

Cattle

Customs:

Markings

The Shilluk people have a pattern of dots marked on their heads this is no longer a tradition which every Shilluk goes through but it's seen as a trademark of the Shilluk people.

Two Shilluk men with the trademark Shilluk markings,wearing Lau in 1936

Lau

Is the traditional dress of the Shilluk people,which has now been adopted into South Sudanese society.It is traditionally a cotton fabric worn and tied on left shoulder by men and worn on the right shoulder by women.

Naming process

Girls names  

Normally begin with Nya

Naming process after a family grievance

When a child is born after a grievance in the family they are called Aban, Kimo (both unisex names) and Ronyo (males only)

Other names associated with occasions :

Okach (which means hungry) or Nyakach refers to famine

Oyoo (which means road) or Nyayoo refers to a birth on the road/street

Acwanyo refers to coinciding with the arrival of an important person or relative 

Diaspora

Shilluk are found in mainly Canada,Europe (mainly in the United Kingdom),USA and Australia

Notable Shilluk people

Pagan Amum

Pagan Amum (Minister of Peace and former Secretary General of the of Government of South Sudan)
Lam Akol (Chairman of SPLM-DC ,former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a former high-ranking official of the SPLA)
Viviana Nyachan James (singer)

Images and References:   Gurtong    Wikipedia  Joshua Project

Upper Nile State

State:

Upper Nile also known as A'aly an-Nyl and Aâlâ En Nîl

Province:

Upper Nile

Approximate Population: 

964,353  

State Capital: 
Malakal

Other Important Towns: 

Renk, Kodok (Fashoda), Nasser, Oriny, Maiwut, Gerger, Melut

Counties :

Nasir County
Ulang County
Baliet County
Maiwut County

Longechuk County
Maban County

Renk County
Manyo County
Meluth County
Pinyikang County
Fashoda County
Makal County

Akoka County

Religion

The people of Upper Nile state are either spiritualists/traditionalists,Christians or Muslims.Upper Nile has the highest population of South Sudanese Muslims in the country,due to it's location in Northern South Sudan.

Those who practice Islam also the majority of those who were known to protest for the need of a secession.As they believe that the North not only ignores the needs of the Southerners but also ignores the fact that there are Muslims in South Sudan.  

Tribes which reside in the area

Anyuak people

Anywaa Jambo,Yambo and Nuro commonly known as Anyuak to outsiders

An Anuak woman

Occupations:

Herdsmen
Farmers

 

Land

Live in a grassy region that is flat and virtually treeless. During the rainy season, this area floods, so that much of it becomes swampland with various channels of deep water running through it. They are part of the Luo group of people which reside throughout East Africa,Anyuak people are also found nearby is Ethiopia.

Jum Jum people

Religion:

 
Muslim
Animism

Population:
 

50.000 people

Land:
 

The Jum Jum people reside in Northern Upper Nile State but the majority are found in Sudan.

The Jum Jum live on the Eastern border of Upper Nile

Occupations:
 

Men:Farmers and Shepherds
Women: help with the harvest of fruit,vegetables etc (agriculture)

Maban people
 

Also known as 'Mabaano',‘Burun’or ‘Chai’

Population:
 

100,000 people

People and Land
 

The Maban are originally from the Luo group and believed to have separated from the Shilluk in Soba near Khartoum,due to the collapse of the last Christian Kingdom of Makkura.They later migrated to the Baro River area.

Mabaano people live in Upper Nile state in Maban County, the Manbano and Buldid clans are also found in Maiwut county.

Customs and Beliefs

Traditionally,every October the Maban perform 'the sacrifice feast' which is used to confess all their sins and to ask their supreme being (who is their God) to grant them good health and to ask for tolerance towards their actions.

Traditional dance

Other tribes that reside in the area are:

Shilluk
Dinka
Nuer
Uduk

Fashoda Incident

Kodok (Fashoda) is the location of the infamous 'The Fashoda Incident' (1898) were there was the climax of territorial disputes between the United Kingdom and France. It brought the United Kingdom and France to the verge of war , but ended in a diplomatic victory for the UK.

Images and References:Gurtong,Joshua Project,Wikipedia

Nuer People

Also known as Nei Ti Naath (translates to ‘people’) or just 'Naath'.Nuer are the second largest tribe after the Dinka people in South Sudan

Nuer land

Relations-Nuer in Ethiopia

Nuer and their neighbours the Dinka people were once part of the same tribe but separated in the 18th century after a disagreement.A myth that is believed by many was that Jieng (Dinka) and Naath (Nuer) were brothers who fell out,when Jieng deceived  his family by stealing his brothers calf .The calf was a present from their father to Naath,Jieng was originally promised a cow as a present from their father.

Sub clans:

Bentiu Bul Gok  
Kuac  
Jikany    
Jagei    
Leek   
Dok The Naath (population of 2 million) found in Bentiu, central (Pangak and Akobo) and in eastern (Nasir) Upper Nile. With the river Nile as the principal geographic dividing line 

'Rool Naath' (the Nuer land)

 Nei ti Naath Ciang (homeland Nuer)
'Nei ti Naath Door' (wilderness Nuer) form the first level federal division.

Residents of areas around:

River Zeraf

Lou

Jikany 

River Baro 

Pibor rivers

Naming of children 

"Nya" (née ya) meaning "daughter of", is the standard prefix used for female names.
"Gat" meaning "son of", is a common prefix for male names.

 Names to mark historical events

"Domaac" meaning "bullet"
"Mac" meaning "fire or gun" given to a child born during times of war or from another man in the name of the deceased father who legally married the mother
"Nhial" means "rain" for males (which now a common name)

Facial markings (Gaar)

The facial markings at part of their initiation into adulthood,each pattern of Nuer scarification varies within sub groups/clans.

The most common initiation pattern among males consists of six parallel horizontal lines which are cut across the forehead with a razor, often with a dip in the lines above the nose. Dotted patterns are also common among the Bul Nuer and among females.

A Nuer male

Nuer diaspora

United States including states such as Iowa,South Dakota,Minnnesota,Tennessee,Georgia

Canada mainly in Toronto,Edmonton and Calgary

Australia where an estimated third of the South Sudanese population (20,000 people in 2008) are said to be from the Nuer ethnic group

United Kingdom amongst other places overseas

Notable Nuer people

Riek Machar Teny (Politician)-Vice President of South Sudan
Bul Nyawan (Politician)- fought against the Khartoum government in Bentiu but was killed in 1985 by the current president of Sudan.
Commander Ruai and Leah Diu Deng were responsible for the attack that forced Cheveron to suspend activities in the oil field around 1982.

References:Wikipedia,Gurtong,Flickr

Unity State

Flag:

State: 

Unity/Al-Wahda/Western Upper Nile

Province: 

Upper Nile

Capital city:

Bentiu

Counties:

 

Mayom
Rubkona
Parieng
Leer
Guit
Koch
Abeimnom
Mayendit
Payinjiar

Tribes:

Nuer (majority)

Dinka (minority) 

Oil reserves

The 1970's brought the discovery of oil reserves in Unity state,which drew attention from international oil companies.This unfortunately led to an engagement of oil exploration which caused displacement within the indigenous population within the region.

Unity oil field in Unity State,is situated within the Muglad rift basin and contains 150,000,00 barrels of oil.Unity state is also home to the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline which also runs throughout both Sudan and South Sudan

Jonglei State

State:

Jonglei

Flag:

Province:

Upper Nile

Jonglei State counties:

 

Twic East County
Duk County
Bor County
Akobo County,
Nyirol County
Uror County
Pibor County
Pochalla County
Ayod County
Pigi County
Fangak County

Capital city: 

Bor

TRIBES WHICH RESIDE WITHIN JONGLEI STATE INCLUDE:

Murle people

Estimated population:

300,000-400,000 people

Murle people performing a dance

Relations with neighbours

Hostile in the past due to cattle raids performed by the Murle people

Diaspora

Murle diaspora is very small compared to other tribes,as the majority of those who have left are found in East Africa and in various locations overseas.
 

Suri (Kachipo) 

Estimated population:

30,000 people

A Suri girl. The Suri people are known for cicatrisation practice,where both sexes have the option to bore and stretch their ear-lobes

Suri people are found in :

Boma Plateau of South-Eastern Upper Nile province in Jonglei state
 

Also in Meoun Payam of Pibor County 

The Suri believe that they originally lived on the banks of the Nile, in the country now inhabited by the Bor Dinka.

The Suri society is made up of six clans : 

Jufa (most dominant)

Meyun

Beela

Kembo

Durugan

Baale

Land and Climate:

Hilly with deep valleys
Mild with heavy rainfall

Ancestral relations: 

None.but are linguistically, culturally related and in visually similar in appearance to the Tirma of Ethiopia..

Other tribes within Jonglei State include: 

Dinka (Jieng)
Nuer (Naath)
Anyuak 

Jonglei State's political history

Jonglei State had been the centre of politics backdated to the fail project of the Jonglei Canal and the Mutiny of the Anyanya 2 in 1975 and again in 1983.

References:Wikipedia,Gurtong,MichaelFreemanPhoto

The Dinka people

Name

Jieng (plural)/Muonyjang (singular)

Jieng are known to outsiders as Dinka.

Area of residence (shown via the map below)

Dinka sub-tribes and the state capitals and areas where they reside

Aweil - Rek  
Pangak -Thoi Luach
Bailiet - Ngok   Renk
Bentiu - Ruweng
Bor - Bor, Twic, Nyarweng, Hol 
Rumbek - Agar Gok
Tonj - Rek Luach
Gogrial- Rek
Yirol - Aliab, Ciec
Abyei - Ngok 

Language

Thong muonyjang or thong-Jieng 

Also known as the Dinka language.

Culture

A Dinka Man

The Dinka are a cultural rather than political federation of sub-nationalities.Chief-ship is hereditary and holds the title of beny /bany (plural), which can mean either chief, expert, or military officer.

The word ring (or rem) probably refers to the supernatural power of the chief. Bith, on the other hand, is the sacred fishing-spear (unbarbed or un-serrated spear) as a symbol of office .

The Dinka have cultural and linguistic affinity to and share much with the Nuer and Shilluk to whom they refer to in their names:

• Foreigners are called 'jur' and the colour of the skin is the only distinction. ‘
• Jur chol’ refer to black foreigners 
• jur mathiang or buony refer to light skin people 

Society and beliefs

Many Dinka have converted to Christianity and Islam in Ngok and Abialang. 

They have adopted either jellabia or European dress and now nudity and wearing of skins are rare sight even in the cattle camps.''

Many Dinka's believe that the first people God created were Garang and Abuk (the equivalent of Adam and Eve).Deng was their first born from whom all Dinka people are descend from.

Dinka tradition permits addressing God and the spirits of the departed ancestors and relatives either directly or through a medium in a special offering place yik, situated in every Dinka homestead.

Arts

Dinka arts include different types of dance formations and songs. The common art is that of war: with a spear and stick (duelling),which they practice from their youth.

Diaspora found most notably in:

United Kingdom

America
Australia

Notable Dinka

The late John Garang (Former President of Southern Sudan and 1st Vice President of Sudan)
The late Manute Bol (Former NBA basketball player)
Salva Kiir (President of South Sudan and soon to be former 1st Vice President of Sudan)
Alek Wek (Model and Designer)
Luol Deng (NBA basketball player)

References: Gurtong,artrabbit

Northern Bahr El Ghazal (Šamāl Baḥr al-Ğazāl)

Flag

Map

Counties

 

Aweil West County -
Aweil North County -
Aweil East County -
Aweil South West County -
Aweil South County - 

 Area:

33,558km²

Borders:

South Darfur (Sudan)

Western Bahr el Ghazal

Warrap

Abyei

Capital City

Aweil

Dinka and Missriya

Dinkas and Missriya (Arabs) have interacted peacefully within the region for numerous years,but relations now remain hostile after raids of the Dinka area where committed by the Missriya.Who despite breaking the cohesion within the society,by abducting and killing Dinka civilians,the Missriya have an advantage of been  backed by the central government.Whilst those of the Dinka community suffered from the works of Missriya and central governments army.

Warrap State

Flag

Province

Bahr El Ghazal

Area

31,027km²

Capital City

Warrapalso known as Warrab (this could change to Kuajok but the outcome is currently pending)

Counties

 

Gogrial East County
Gogrial West
Tonj South County
Tonj North County
Tonj East County
Twic
Twic West

Abyei

Treated as a county of Warrap State

Technically  part of Southern Kordofan,as it is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan due to it's population which primarily consists of the Dinka people of South Sudan and Missriya of Sudan.

The Northern administration recently seized the region claiming it as part of Southern Kordofan therefore it is part of Sudan.This has lead to serious disruption,death and displacement of locals/civilians in the area.

Abyei currently has special status,until residents vote in a referendum to determine whether they will join Sudan (North) or South Sudan. 

Main Cites

 

Gogrial,
Kuajok,
Tonj
Thiet

Ethnic groups that reside in Warrap state include:

Dinka Rek

Mananger

References:Wikipedia