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Sudan: Religions, Peoples, Languages
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Defence
3. Economy
4. Health. Education
5. Human rights
6. Religions. Peoples. Languages
7. History
RELIGIONS OF SUDAN
Last column: % of the population |
| Islam |
27,500,000 |
69% |
|
Sunni |
27,500,000 |
69% |
| Traditional religions |
10,000,000 |
25% |
| Christianity |
2,500,000 |
6.3% |
|
Roman Catholics |
1,800,000 |
4.5% |
|
Protestants |
700,000 |
1.8% |
| Baha'i |
2,000 |
<0.1% |
PEOPLES OF SUDAN
Last column: % of the population |
| Arabs |
21,000,000 |
55% |
| Dinka |
3,000,000 |
8% |
| Nuba |
2,100,000 |
6% |
| Nuer |
1,400,000 |
4% |
| Fur |
1,000,000 |
2.7% |
| Zande |
660,000 |
1.8% |
| Shilluk |
600,000 |
1.6% |
| Bari |
480,000 |
1.3% |
| Nubians |
200,000 |
0.5% |
| Other peoples |
6,300,000 |
17% |
LANGUAGES OF SUDAN
Last column: % of the population |
| Arabic |
21,000,000 |
55% |
| Dinka |
3,000,000 |
8% |
| Bedawi (Cushitic) |
1,800,000 |
5% |
| Nuer |
1,400,000 |
4% |
| Fur |
1,000,000 |
2.7% |
| Zande |
660,000 |
1.8% |
| Shilluk |
330,000 |
0.9% |
| Hausa |
550,000 |
1.5% |
| Bari |
480,000 |
1.3% |
| Nobiin |
350,000 |
1,0% |
| Masalit |
280,000 |
0.8% |
| Other languages |
6,200,000 |
17% |
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RELIGIONS
The actual number of adherents to the different religions of Sudan is hard to set exactly, as the figures differs much between the different sources. The percentage of Muslims range from 50 to 70. The percentage of believers in traditional religions range from 25 to 35. The percentage of Christians between 4 and 15.
According to all statistics, 100% of the Muslims are Sunnis, but these figures might include a (small) minority of Shi'is who are not accredited with any other designation of being Muslims. A common trait of Sudanese Islam are the religious brotherhoods, like the Qadiriyah, Khatmiyah and Mahdiyah. The two latter have been central in the formation of political parties in Sudan.
The traditional religions come in many different shapes, and few of the theological unities are large. They are usually recognizable with having no scriptures, and a leadership with only limited geographical control. There are common traits between the religions, like the belief in one high supreme god. For several of the religions does the belief in ancestor spirits play a central role.
Although Christianity in Sudan now is a result of European missionary activities in the south and te central of the country, starting in the second half of the 19th century, its history in Sudan goes back to the 6th century. Christianity was the dominating religion in Nubia, but was replaced by Islam following after Egypt became a Muslim state.
PEOPLES
The population of Sudan is divided into 19 ethnic groups, with 597 subgroups.
In addition to the typical ethnic division lines, are there one which is defined as Arabs and non-Arabs. The definition of who is and who is not Arab is based upon cultural identity and use of Arabic as mother tongue. Inside the group of Arabs many belong to ethnic groups with constitute many non-Arabs. The percentage of Arabs is hard to define. They constituted 39% of the entire population in 1956, the last time a census dealing with ethnicity was recorded. Looking at the figures for Arabic speakers, this figure appears to have risen to more than 50%. The reasons for this growth is probably connected to the cultural, economic and political dominance of Arabs in the Sudanese society, and the fact that it accepted that anyone can embrace Arabic culture and language.
Using 1956 figures, the Dinka ethnic group made up 12% of the population, a figure that appears to have gone down since then. The Beja made up 7%, also a figure that probably has gone down.
The Nubians are Muslims, but do not consider themselves Arabs, nor are are they registered as such. Living in the north of Sudan and the south of Egypt, they are fluent in Arabic as a second language.
The peoples of the south are generally classified as Nilotes, different black peoples. The largest groups among the Nilotic peoples are the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk. These groups represents about 15% of Sudan's total population.
Sudan has seen a substantial immigration over a long period of time. Today West-African peoples like Hausa, Fulani and Borno represent more than 10% of the population. West Africans are collectively denoted Fellata in Sudan.
LANGUAGES
Thanks to Sudan's ethnic diversity, it has as many as 134 languages, more than 400 if dialects are counted. In addition are 8 extinct languages located to Sudan.
Among the living ones is Arabic the totally dominating one, and there is even a large project to replace the original languages of many ethnic groups and make them start using Arabic instead. Arabic is also widely used as a second language, bridging the gap between the many peoples of this country. There are several variants of Arabic. The dominant is labelled Sudanese colloquial, another is called Juba pidgin Arabic, and used in the south. The Arabic used in the West is close to Chadian Arabic.
English is the principal language in the south., serving is a lingua franca in areas where Juba pidgin Arabic is not used.
The languages of Sudan belong to either of 3 families: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger-Congo.
To Afro-Asiatic belongs Arabic and Bedawi.
To Nilo-Saharan belongs Dinka, the several Nuba languages and Shilluk.
The Niger-Congo family is represented by languages spoken only by smaller groups.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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