Who are the Nuer people?
Nuer people. They are concentrated in South Sudan, with some also found in southwestern Ethiopia. They speak the Nuer language, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan family. As one of the largest ethnic groups in southern Sudan, the Nuer people are pastoralist who herd cattle for a living. The cattle of the Nuer people serve as companions...
Where do the Nuer live in Sudan?
The Nuer live in South Sudan in rural swamps and open savannas on both sides of the Nile River. They are located approximately 500 miles south of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Where do the Nuer live in Egypt?
The main channel of the Nile River divides the country into western and eastern regions. The vast majority of the Nuer today live in their traditional homeland, located in the east Upper Nile Province around the junction of the Nile River with the Bahr el Ghazal and Sobat Rivers, and extending up the Sobat across the Ethiopian border.
Where did the Nuer come from?
It has been suggested that the Nuer, along with other Nilotic groups, settled along the Bahr-al-Ghazal, Bahr-al-Jebel, and Sobat rivers in South Sudan around the fourteenth century; that is where they acquired their techniques for animal domestication.
Where do the Dinka and Nuer live?
The Nuer and Dinka peoples belong to the Nilotic group of the Nilo-Saharan language family and inhabit the savanna and sudd region of the upper Nile in the southern part of the Republic of the Sudan.
How many Nuer people are there?
two million peopleThe Nuer are a prominent and second most populous ethnic group in South Sudan, contributing to 16 percent, or two million people, of the total population. Given this status, the Nuer have stood at the center of the civil Sudanese conflict for decades.
Are Nuer Luos?
Dinka and Nuer are not Luos they have different total meanings 90% but we share certain words BECAUSE we are Nilotes especially THE RIVER LAKE NILOTES.
What do the Nuer tribe eat?
The crops cultivated by the Nuer are millet (sorghum) and some maize. Next to milk, millet is the most important food. It is made into a boiled porridge and also brewed into a weakly alcoholic but nutritious beer. A little maize is eaten, but it does not grow nearly as well as millet under the wet conditions.
What is the Nuer community?
Politically, the Nuer form a cluster of autonomouscommunities, within which there is little unity and much feuding; homicidesare settled by payments of cattle effected through the mediation of a priest. The basic social groupis the patrilineal lineage. Groups of lineages are organized into clans. The members of a clan have in their territory a slightly privileged status, although they form a minority of its population. The majority belong to other clans or are descendants of the neighbouring Dinka, large numbers of whom have been subdued by the Nuer and incorporated into their society. In each communitythe men are divided into six age sets.
What is the Nuer?
The Nuer are a cattle-raising people devoted to their herds, although milkand meatmust be supplemented by the cultivation of milletand the spearing of fish. Because the land is flooded for part of the year and parched for the rest of it, they spend the rainy season in permanent villages built on the higher ground and the dry season in riverside camps.
What is the Nuer social group?
The basic social group is the patrilineal lineage. Groups of lineages are organized into clans.
How did the Nuer live?
They occupied the swampy flood plain known as the Sudd region along the White Nile. These farmer-herders lived by raising cattle and cultivating crops, moving away from their permanent settlements in the dry season after the rains had tapered off and the floods had receded in order to take advantage of grazing in low-lying areas near rivers and streams. Fishing, hunting, and the gathering of wild fruits rounded out their diet.
What is the landscape of Nuer?
The landscape also includes a few trees, such as small groves of thorny acacias and lalob trees, a very large shade tree, and a few palm trees.
Why are cattle important to Nuer life?
Because cattle represent the Nuer's social, cultural, and economic security, they are a constant source of conflict . The grazing plains of the upper Nile have been a major cause of conflict between the Nuer and the Dinka and among the different subgroups of Nuer. Cattle have also dictated the way the Nuer have reacted to state authorities. The successive governments in Khartoum have mandated that cattle in all Nilotic areas be incorporated into the state economy. Taxation was one method for achieving that aim. Requiring the Nuer to pay taxes in cash in a cashless economy where paid labor did not exist ensured that the Nuer would have to sell their cattle. The effort by the north to commercialize Nuer cattle has historically caused the Nuer to challenge the government, including their participation in the current war. Among the Nuer, the government's efforts to commercialize their cattle has been seen as an assault on their identity. There are regional variations between different Nuer subgroups, and these differences have been used by the government to weaken Nuer resistance. Nuer cattle have become monetized and commercialized, and the sizes of their herds have dwindled drastically, causing large numbers of Nuer to seek refuge in disaster relief centers across the country or in Dinka villages to the west.
What does the Nuer language mean?
The Nuer language is a Nilotic language closely related to the speech of the Dinka and Atwot. The language is uniform with no definable dialects.
Why do Nuer sacrifice animals?
Frequently an offering is presented or an animal is sacrificed in order to appease or drive away the evil spirit. The Nuer pray for health and well-being, offering sacrifices to Kuoth so he will answer their petitions. There is no organized religious hierarchy or system, but many individuals serve as diviners and healers.
What are some examples of names for Nuer women?
For example, most common names for Nuer women and girls begin with the latter sound: Nyayoi, Nyawec (the c at the end is pronounced ch ). Because of these unusual sounds, the written form of the language developed by missionaries in the 1930s and 1940s includes several letters not used in writing European languages.
How much rain does Nuer get?
The region receives heavy rains—about 50 to 100 cm (20 to 40 in) per year —which falls almost entirely from May through October, with average daily maximum temperatures about 30° to 32°c (86° to 90°f). Dry winds blow from the north from November until April, bringing clear, sunny skies, with March and April being very hot months with high temperatures in the range of 38°c (100°f). The Nuer homeland is very flat, causing slow drainage and widespread flooding during the rainy season. Those same lands offer lush grazing for cattle during the dry season. The landscape also includes a few trees, such as small groves of thorny acacias and lalob trees, a very large shade tree, and a few palm trees.
Where do the Nuer live?
The Nuer live in South Sudan in rural swamps and open savannas on both sides of the Nile River. They are located approximately 500 miles south of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Due to the civil conflict, the Nuer also inhabit United Nations refugee camps in the South Sudanese capital city of Juba.Nuer also seek refuge in neighboring countries like Uganda, which hosts over a million refugees. Approximately 2.5 million South Sudanese are seeking refuge or asylum protections. The majority of these refugees are women and children.
What ethnic group is Nuer?
The Nuer are a prominent and second most populous ethnic group in South Sudan, contributing to 16 percent, or two million people, of the total population. Given this status, the Nuer have stood at the center of the civil Sudanese conflict for decades.
Why was the Nuer leader dismissed?
In 2013, Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer, was dismissed by the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, over accusations of a coup attempt against the president. In addition to past support for the North by the Nuer, this sparked massive violence;
What is the Nuer clan?
The Nuer of South Sudan form a cluster of autonomous sections and clans. The North had long sought state control of Nuer land, but neglect of social and political developments provoked two civil wars. This eventually led to South Sudan gaining independence from the North after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 and the Independence Referendum in 2011.There is no structured political system for the Nuer, generating significant conflict. However, dominant clans often hold more significance and elders often make decisions.
How many people are seeking refuge in South Sudan?
Approximately 2.5 million South Sudanese are seeking refuge or asylum protections. The majority of these refugees are women and children. The Nuer of South Sudan are cattle raising pastoralists. Horticulture is also commonly practiced, but less desirable. With more than 80 percent of the populace living in rural areas, ...
What is the NIRA?
International nonprofit and government agencies like the Nuer International Relief Agency (NIRA), The Red Cross, UNICEF and the U.N. provide humanitarian relief, health and education for war-affected and displaced Nuer.
Where do the Nuer live?
The Nuer live mostly in Southern Sudan, in the east Upper Nile Province around the junction of the Nile River with the Bahr el Ghazal and Sobat Rivers, and extending up the Sobat across the Ethiopian border. The Center of the Nuer area is around Lake No.
Which countries are Nuer?
The Nuer of South Sudan and Ethiopia
What is the Nuer culture?
A cultural profile of the Nuer. The Nuer are a Nilotic group in South Sudan, living a mixed pastoral and agricultural lifestyle. The Nuer People of South Sudan — A Cultural Profile. Profiles Menu.
What is the Nuer tribe?
The Nuer, a tall and very dark people, are related to the Dinka, who live to their west, and their culture is very similar. The Nuer call themselves Naath, meaning "human beings." The Nuer, Dinka and Atwot (Atuot) are sometimes considered one ethnic group.
How does the Nuer life change?
The Nuer living pattern changes according to the seasons of the year. As the rivers flood, the people have to move farther lack onto higher ground, where the women cultivate millet and maize while the men herd the cattle nearby. In the dry season, the younger men take the cattle herds closer to the receding rivers. Cooperative extended family groups live around communal cattle camps.
What is the Nuer man's dearest possession?
Like many of his pastoral neighbors, a Nuer man's dearest possession is his cattle. Life depends on cattle and a Nuer will risk his life to defend them or to raid his neighbor's cattle. The Nuer worldview is built around the herds and prestige is measured by the quantity and quality of the cattle a man owns.
When did the Nuer move east?
Archeologists indicate that the introduction of cattle in this area is related to the development of the distinct peoples the Nuer are descended from. Oral traditions indicate that the Nuer have moved east of the Nile River only during the last 200 years. They began an especially active migration about the mid 1800s.
Where are the Nuer people from?
The Nuer people are a Nilotic ethnic group concentrated from Bentui to the far east near Baro River going into Ethiopia in Gambela Region} The Nuer speak the Nuer language Thok Naath, which belongs to the Nilotic language family. They are the largest ethnic group in South Sudan. The Nuer people are pastoralists who herd cattle for a living. Their cattle serve as companions and define their lifestyle. The Nuer call themselves “Naath”.
What did the Nuer tribe eat?
Typical foods eaten by the Nuer tribe include beef, goat, cow’s milk, mangos, and sorghum in one of three forms: “ko̱p” finely ground, handled until balled and boiled, “walwal” ground, lightly balled and boiled to a solid porridge, and injera / Yɔtyɔt, a large, pancake-like yeast-risen flatbread.
What language do the Nuer people speak?
The people speak the Nuer language / Thoknath which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language phylum.
Why do Nuer people eat cattle?
The Nuer people never eat cattle just because they want to. Cattle are very sacred to them, therefore when they do eat cattle they honour its ghost. They typically just eat the cattle that are up in age or dying because of sickness. But even if they do so, they all gather together performing rituals, dances or songs before and after they slaughter the cattle. Never do they just kill cattle for the fun of it. “Never do Nuer slaughter animals solely because of the desire to eat meat. There is the danger of the ox’s spirit visiting a curse on any individual who would slaughter it without ritual intent, aiming only to use it for food. Any animal that dies of natural causes is eaten”. Many times it may not even just be cattle that they consume, it could be any animal they have scavenged upon that has died because of natural causes. There are a few other food sources that are available for the Nuer to consume. The Nuer diet primarily consists of fish and millet. “Their staple crop is millet.” Millet is formally consumed as porridge or beer. The Nuer turn to this staple product in seasons of rainfall when they move their cattle up to the higher ground. They might also turn to millet when the cattle are performing well enough to support their family.
How did the Nuer culture evolve?
Before development, the Nuer used every single piece of cattle to their advantage. According to Evans-Pritchard, cattle helped evolve the Nuer culture into what it is today. They shaped the Nuer’s daily duties, as they dedicate themselves to protecting the cattle. For example, each month they blow air into their cattle’s rectums to relieve or prevent constipation. Cattle are no good to the Nuer if constipated because they are restricted from producing primary resources that families need to survive. Evans-Pritchard wrote, “The importance of cattle in Nuer life and thought is further exemplified in personal names.” They form their children’s names from the biological features of the cattle.
Why did Sharon Hutchinson return to Nuerland?
In the 1990s, Sharon Hutchinson returned to Nuerland to update E.E. Evans-Pritchard’s account. She found that the Nuer had placed strict limits on the convertibility of money and cattle to preserve the special status of cattle as objects of bridewealth exchange and as mediators to the divine. She also found that as a result of endemic warfare with the Sudanese state, guns had acquired much of the symbolic and ritual importance previously held by cattle.
Why are the Nuer people undercounted?
The Nuer people have historically been undercounted because of the semi-nomadic lifestyle. They also have a culture of counting only older members of the family. For example, the Nuer believe that counting the number of cattle one has could result in misfortune and prefer to report fewer children than they have. Their Ethiopian counterparts are the Horn peninsula’s westernmost Horners.
Where do Nuer people live?
The Nuer people are indigenous to East Africa, mainly residing in the central basin, extending eastwards along the Sobat and Baro rivers into southwestern Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the Nuer mainly live in the Gambella region in Akobo, Jikow, Wanthuar, Lare woredas, and Itang Special woreda. Other gr
Where do Nuer live?
In Ethiopia, the Nuer mainly live in the Gambella region in Akobo, Jikow, Wanthuar, Lare woredas, and Itang Special woreda. Other groups local to the Gambella region include Anyuaa, Mezengir, Opo, and Komo. During rainy seasons, Akobo and Jikawo become flooded, and the people migrate to the highlands with their cattle until the riverbanks recede.
What is the Nuer religion?
10. The traditional religious worldview of the Nuer is usually called "animistic." In the traditional worldview, the Nuer worship a supreme being called Kwoth (Kuoth), who has various manifestations. The Nuer pray for health and well-being and offer sacrifices to Kwoth so he will answer their petitions. There is no organized religious hierarchy or system within the traditional beliefs, but many individuals serve as diviners and healers.
What is the Nuer language?
The Nuer language is a Nilotic language belonging to the Nilo-Saharan language family. The language is uniform and does not have dialects.
What is the role of the Nuer?
This chief is entitled to wear a leopard-skin wrap and is entrusted to certain ritual duties and mediating feuds. The chief is only a mediator, however, and he has no authority to judge or to force either payments or the acceptance of payments in relation to disputes.
How many tribes are there in the Nuer?
Nuer are organized into what might be called "tribes," which consist of further sub-divisions by lineage. The Nuer, as a whole people, are divided into eight or nine large tribes. The lineages are a major structural factor for political order; however, there is no overall political authority in the tribal structure. Political activity involves various grouping or separation of the many territorial and clan sections.
Is age set important in Nuer?
Every person in Nuer society is categorized explicitly in terms of an age-set system. Relative age is important in Nuer interpersonal relations and somewhat takes precedence over genealogical considerations to a considerable degree. For instance, anyone of an older age set is addressed as father or mother, and the younger as son or daughter.
Where are the Nuer people from?
The Nuer peopleare a Nilotic ethnic group concentrated in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan and are from Ethiopia'sGambela Region. They speak the Nuer language, which belongs to the Nilotic language family. They are the second largest ethnic group in south Sudan and the second major ethnic group in Gambella. The Nuer people are pastoralists who herd cattle for a living. Their cattle serve as companions and define their lifestyle. The Nuer call themselves "Naath".
Why are Nuer people undercounted?
he Nuer people have historically been undercounted because of the semi-nomadic lifestyle. They also have a culture of counting only older members of the family. For example, the Nuer believe that counting the number of children one has could result in misfortune and prefer to report fewer children than they have. Their Ethiopian counterparts are the Horn peninsula's westernmost Horners.
Why do Nuer people eat cattle?
The Nuer people never eat cattle just because they want to. Cattle are very sacred to them, therefore when they do eat cattle they honor its ghost. They typically just eat the cattle that is up in age or dying because of sickness. But even if they do so, they all gather together performing rituals, dances or songs before and after they slaughter the cattle. Never do they just kill cattle for the fun of it. “Never do Nuer slaughter animals solely because the desire to eat meat. There is the danger of the ox’s spirit visiting a curse on any individual who would slaughter it without ritual intent, aiming only to use it for food. Any animal that dies of natural causes is eaten.” Many times it may not even just be cattle that they consume, it could be any animal they have scavenged upon that has died because of natural causes. There are a few other food sources that are available for the Nuer to consume. The Nuer diet primarily consists of fish and millet. “Their staple crop is millet." Millet is formally consumed as porridge or beer. The Nuer turn to this staple product in seasons of rainfall when they move their cattle up to higher ground. They might also turn to millet when the cattle are performing well enough to support their family.
How did the Nuer culture evolve?
The Nuer are able to structure their entire culture around cattle and still have what they need. Before development the Nuer used every single piece of cattle to their advantage. According to Evans-Pritchard, cattle helped evolve the Nuer culture into what it is today. They shaped the Nuer's daily duties, as they dedicate themselves to protecting the cattle. For example, each month they blow air into their cattle's rectums to relieve or prevent constipation. Cattle are no good to the Nuer if constipated because they are restricted from producing primary resources that families need to survive. Evans-Pritchard wrote, "The importance of cattle in Nuer life and thought is further exemplified in personal names." They form their children's names from biological features of the cattle.
Why are cattle important to the Nuer people?
Sharon Hutchinson writes that "among Nuer people the difference between people and cattle was continually underplayed." Cattle are particularly important in their role as bride wealth, where they are given by a husband's lineage to his wife's lineage. This exchange of cattle ensures that the children will be considered to belong to the husband's lineage. The classical Nuer institution of ghost marriage, in which a man can "father" children after his death, is based on this definition of relations of kinship and descent by cattle exchange. In their turn, cattle given over to the wife's patrilineage enable the male children of that patrilineage to marry and thereby ensure the continuity of her patrilineage. An infertile woman can even take a wife of her own, whose children, biologically fathered by men from other unions, then become members of her patrilineage, and she is legally and culturally their father, allowing her to metaphorically participate in reproduction.
What are the natural resources of the Western Nuer?
It is the cause of immense humanitarian disruption and destruction unprecedented in Naath history. Other natural resources potential include wildlife, fisheries, acacia senegaleise (gum arabica), and balantines aegyptiucm (laloob).
When did the Naath migrate?
In the beginning of the 19th century the Naath started to migrate and expand eastwards across the Nile and Zeraf rivers. This was done at the expense of, and more often than not, conquest and assimilation of their neighbours (most the Dinka, Anyuak and Maban).
Summary
The Nuer people are a Nilotic ethnic group concentrated in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan. They also live in the Ethiopian region of Gambella. The Nuer speak the Nuer language, which belongs to the Nilotic language family. They are the second largest ethnic group in South Sudan. The Nuer people are pastoralists who herd cattle for a living. Their cattle serve as companions and …
Overview
The Nuer people have historically been undercounted because of the semi-nomadic lifestyle. They also have a culture of counting only older members of the family. For example, the Nuer believe that counting the number of cattle one has could result in misfortune and prefer to report fewer children than they have. Their Ethiopian counterparts are the Horn peninsula's westernmost Horners.
History
The Nuer people are said to have originally been a section of the Naath people that migrated out of the Gezira but south into a barren dry land that they called "Kwer Kwong"", which was in southern Kordofan. Centuries of isolation and influence from Luo peoples caused them to be a distinct ethnic group from the Naath. The Arrival of Baggara Arabs and their subsequent slave raids in the late 1700s caused the Nuer to migrate en masse from southern Kordofan into what is now Bentiu. …
Culture
Cattle have historically been of the highest symbolic, religious and economic value to the Nuer. Sharon Hutchinson writes that "among Nuer people the difference between people and cattle was continually underplayed." Cattle are particularly important in their role as bride wealth, where they are given by a husband's lineage to his wife's lineage. This exchange of cattle ensures that the children will be considered to belong to the husband's lineage. The classical Nuer institution of g…
Nuer military and political leaders
Some important Nuer politicians were, Both Diu who was the first Nuer and South Sudan Politician from 1947 followed by Gai Tut. In Military is Bol Nyawan who fought against the Khartoum government in Bentiu; he was killed in 1985 by the current president of Sudan. Commander Ruai and Liah Diu Deng were responsible for the attack that forced Chevron to suspend activities in the oil field around 1982.
Naming conventions
• (Nya) Nyada meaning "daughter all females begin with (Nya) of", is the standard prefix used for female names. Gat, meaning "son of", is a common prefix for male names.
• Children are commonly given names to mark historical events ("Dɔmaac" meaning "bullet", or 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 ).
Oil
Oil exploration and drilling began in 1975 and 1976 by companies such as Chevron. In 1979 the first oil production took place in the southern regions of Darfur. In the early 1980s when the north–south war was happening, Chevron was interested in the reserves in the south. In 1984 guerrillas of SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) attacked the drilling site of the north at Bentiu. In return, Chevron cleared Nuer and Dinka people in the oil fields area to ensure security f…
See also
• Lost Boys of Sudan
• Dinka tribe
• Anuak people
• Nuer White Army
• Sudanese nomadic conflicts
Contents
Overview
- In South Sudan, the Nuer are primarily located in the northeast of the country The Nuer people have historically been undercounted because of the semi-nomadic lifestyle. They also have a culture of counting only older members of the family. For example, the Nuer believe that counting the number of cattle one has could result in misfortune and prefe...
History
- The Nuer people are said to have originally been a section of the Naath people that migrated out of the Gezira but south into a barren dry land that they called “Kwer Kwong””, which was in southern Kordofan. Centuries of isolation and influence from Luo peoples caused them to be a distinct ethnic group from the Naath. The Arrival of Baggara Arabs and their subsequent slave ra…
Culture
- Cattle have historically been of the highest symbolic, religious and economic value to the Nuer. Sharon Hutchinson writes that “among Nuer people the difference between people and cattle was continually underplayed.” Cattle are particularly important in their role as bride wealth, where they are given by a husband’s lineage to his wife’s lineage. This exchange of cattle ensures that the c…
Nuer Military and Political Leaders
- Some important Nuer politicians are Both Diu was the first Nuer and South Sudan Politician from 1947 and follow by Gai Tut in Military is Bol Nyawan who fought against the Khartoum government in Bentiu; he was killed in 1985 by the current president of Sudan. Commander Ruai and Liah Diu Deng were responsible for the attack that forced Chevron to susp…
Naming Conventions
- (Nya) Nyada meaning “daughter all females begin with (Nya) of”, is the standard prefix used for female names. Gat, meaning “son of”, is a common prefix for male names.[citation needed]
- Children are commonly given names to mark historical events (“Dɔmaac” meaning “bullet”, or Mac meaning “fire or gun” given to a child born during times of war or from another man in the name of the...
- (Nya) Nyada meaning “daughter all females begin with (Nya) of”, is the standard prefix used for female names. Gat, meaning “son of”, is a common prefix for male names.[citation needed]
- Children are commonly given names to mark historical events (“Dɔmaac” meaning “bullet”, or Mac meaning “fire or gun” given to a child born during times of war or from another man in the name of the...
- Nhialmeans “sky”, and is a common name for males and females.
- Many Nuer have been exposed to missionaries and carry a Christian first name. Their second name is a given name and always in Nuer. The father’s given name follows the child’s given name, which is...
Oil
- Oil exploration and drilling began in 1975 and 1976 by companies such as Chevron. In 1979 the first oil production took place in the southern regions of Darfur. In the early 1980s when the north–south war was happening, Chevron was interested in the reserves in the south. In 1984 guerrillas of SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) attacked the drilling site of the north at Bent…
Introduction
- To generations of anthropology students, the Nuer of southern Sudan have been one of the best-known peoples in Africa, thanks to the pioneering cultural studies of British social anthropologist E. E. Evans-Pritchard. Early in the 20th century, the Nuer were estimated to number about half a million. They occupied the swampy flood plain known as the Sudd region along the White Nile. T…
Location and Homeland
- Nuerland is located in the southern Sudan between 7° and 10° north and 29° and 34° east. The main channel of the Nile River divides the country into western and eastern regions. The vast majority of the Nuer today live in their traditional homeland, located in the east Upper Nile Province around the junction of the Nile River with the Bahr el Ghaza...
Language
- The Nuer call themselves Naath, which means “human beings.” The Nuer, Dinka, and Atwot (Atuot) are sometimes considered one ethnic group. The Nuer language is a Nilotic language closely related to the speech of the Dinka and Atwot. The language is uniform with no definable dialects. To the ears of English speakers, the Nuer language sounds airy, light, melodic, and brea…
Folklore
- Nuer honor the memory of their famous prophets, known as guk, who are believed to be possessed by one of the sky spirits or lesser divinities. One such prophet was a man named Ngundeng, who died in l906. He was said to be able to cure illnesses and infertility. During his lifetime he and his followers constructed a large earthen pyramid, approximately 12 m (40 ft) hig…
Religion
- The Nuer religion involves belief in a divine creator or high god, Kuoth, who sustains life and health, and in many lesser spirits. The Nuer honor both the high god and the spirits (or lesser divinities) through observance of moral rules (including observation of kinship duties and other social obligations) and sacrifices. The two kinds of leaders in the Nuer religious system are prop…
Major Holidays
- Until recently, most Nuer did not use dates to calculate the passage of time. Even during the 1970s, most Nuer did not know in what year they were born or how old they were. A woman might tell you her daughter was born “the year of the measles epidemic” or the year of a flood when they had had to eat a lot of lalobfruit. So instead of specific dates for annual holidays, people hold rit…
Rites of Passage
- A woman in childbirth is attended to by another woman, usually a close relative, who must herself be a mother. People are careful to protect the mother and newborn child from any spiritual danger by making sure that pregnant women or their husbands do not enter the house. The Nuer nomenclature is rather complex. In some groups the child is named along the male lineage, but t…
Interpersonal Relations
- Nuer place great value on behaving in a respectful way toward others, offering greetings to strangers and friends alike, and offering hospitality to travelers. It is not considered necessary to offer every visitor a meal, especially if there is no woman around at the moment (since men are not expected to cook for guests), but offering something to drink is important. Wit, joking, and a…
Living Conditions
- In rural areas, Nuer build round, one-room houses out of poles, which are plastered with an adobe-like mixture of mud and dung that dries into solid brown walls. The tall, pointed roofs are thatched with straw. Sometimes the doorways are built very small, so that one has to crouch or even crawl to enter, making it easier to barricade the door at night as protection against wild animals. Simil…
Family Life
- Each married woman has her own house where she and her young children live. The Nuer practice polygyny, so husbands can marry more than one wife if they can afford to. Husbands sleep in the houses of their wives (if they have more than one wife, they go to whichever they wish) or in the cattle barns with other men. Several married women's houses in an extended family may surrou…