Cultural Semester Project: Sudan, Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world, including the adjacent islands.
Africa covers twenty percent of Earths total land area. In terms of Sudan, (which name
originates from the Arabic bilad al-sudan meaning land of the blacks) the capital city is Juba,
and was settled during the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, by many of their current ethnic
groups. In addition, after the settling Sudan was invaded in 1820 by Muhamad Ali and the
Sudanese people were enslaved. In the nineteenth century, they were to be considered under the
British Egyptian ruling. Sudan is located between Chad, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Sudan was once the largest country in Africa until July 2011, when Sudan was split into two, that
being Northern Sudan and Southern Sudan. Sudan handles most of their export deals with China,
India, Algeria, Uganda and Pakistan. However, the imports are from Uganda, China, Pakistan,
Russia, and lastly the United States; this being the only real relation between the United States
and South Sudan.
3.

The culture within Sudan is very diverse. As the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan

in Washington, D.C. states in their article called The Peoples and Traditions of South Sudan Of
the most visibly diverse practices are the languages, the livelihoods, everyday objects of life,
marriage systems and the perceived relationship between each ethnic group and the rest,
between the state and the tribe. In continuation, the most common religions practiced are
traditional religions and Christianity. The official language of South Sudan is English, but there
are sixty indigenous languages and, when considering the natives, there are a diverse amount of
languages spoken that can for the most part divided into three categories: Eastern Sudanic
languages, Central Sudaric languages, and Ubangian languages. Amongst the roughly sixty-four

tribes, each have stuck with their own original languages and very rarely are able to speak
English.
1.

In addition to the tribes, my good friend Hakeem was born into the Omarng tribe.

Hakeem was born on October 07, 1997 in Sudan Africa. Life in Sudan was well for Hakeems
family. Hakeems uncle was the priest of the village, and therefore had the largest house in which
Hakeems family lived with him.
4.a-2.a However, the life of Sudan was short lived since he left when he was five years old in
2002. Hakeem left Sudan due to the civil war that was occurring at the time. As a child of five,
Hakeem recalls running from flying bullets from gun fire during the war times. South Sudan has
a history of years and years of civil war. The first civil war started in 1955 and ended in 1972
with an agreement for southern Sudan to control the international issues; the second civil war
then started in 1983 and took place for over two decades leaving two and a half million people
deceased and four million injured to a far extent. The second civil war was caused by outrage
between the government and the Libertarian army of Sudanese people in regards to the
recourses, southern self- determination, and the role of religion in the state according to
enough projects website.
2.b-4.b

His family then made the quick decision to come to the United States on a plane.
Life in the United States once Hakeem arrived was very difficult. He lived in apartments

in not-so-well neighborhoods while his family struggled economically. Culturally speaking,

Hakeem had to learn to live and act like an American. Since he arrived at a young age, it gave
him more time to become accustomed and learn American ways more sufficiently. At first,
Hakeem hated the change of lifestyle and having to go from wealthy to poverty but once settled,

he came to love the diversity it holds along with the people. School came easier than expected
and led him to be very successful academically.
4.b

Back home in Sudan, by January 2005 peace came when the government and Sudan

peoples Libertarian army signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. This agreement
established an interim for a six-year period. At the end of the six years, South Sudan voted for a
referendum to secede from Sudan. In 2011, Sudan voted for independence, and six months later
Sudan became the newest country. However, unfortunately Sudan still struggles with security for
multiple reasons one being that the army continues to threaten civilians and so forth. Because of
this, United States welcome refugees and more often than not, they seek safe haven here and now
there is a large population of many from different areas not just Sudan.
5.a

As far as music goes, South Sudan has a vast history. In the early nineties, to make space

for propaganda, the Sudanese government completely demolished important textual artifacts, for
example, the destroying of unique recordings of Southern Sudanese artists. As a result, the artists
overcame governmental restrictions. In order to do so, the Sudanese would disguise their music
and meaning within the songs by using different languages.
Further in history, in the seventies to eighties Juba hosted a diverse music layout. Bands
in genres such as Jazz and dance music were frequently at venues. Even more, tribes would sing
hymns about their famous long-horned cattle. In contrast, today you will find most Sudanese
music and hymns within the churches. Furthermore, a new category the Sudanese sing about is
growing and covers topics on war and liberation, which can be exampled in many of its new
music by artists singing in the hip hop genres and R&B.

5.b,c

There is a piece of music that significantly speaks of the terrible subject of war and

perfectly examples the topic at hand. The song is called Theres a War by Slick Nick, a South
Sudanese hip hop song. The piece of music speaks about war and how it is effecting the people
saying things such as Theres a war, were dying in Africa. The song is a homophony, with
lively style, with fast tempo and medium dynamics, compound time and a quadruple meter. It is
a very fast, upbeat song however it is contradicting because it is actually about an important,
serious, saddening topic.
5.d

The song and music itself has been an influence to the United States but just the same, the

United states has also influenced Sudanese music. For example, in the song Theres a war in
Africa the artist seemed very influence by American culture by speaking in English and the
clothing he was wearing was quite modern. When considering the music itself, its vibrant beats
and catchy lyrics demonstrates the evolution of the music over time. You then notice the
difference and how the education and capabilities have evolved.
Throughout these many years Sudan has had many hardships. The list is long and
unfortunately continuing. Despite many horrific life occurrences, there has been growth within
society and the music community. Through the wars and anguish, South Sudan has also earned
its independence. Its new found knowledge within music from the United States is impressive,
and has proven to only example the other education received in their society.

Bibliography:
1. www.everyculture.com
2. www.southsudanembassydc.org
The People and Traditions of South Sudan
Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Washington, D.C
3. Atlas.media.mit.edu
4. www.britannica.com
5. www.africansudanese.org
6. www.bahr-el-jebel-safaris.com
7. www.enoughproject.org
8. www.worldmusic.net
The Music of Sudan and South Sudan; Divided Together