ARABIC-SUDANESE Pyramids of Meroe, Kabushiyah Flickr / Scott D. Haddow DLIFLC DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER CULTURAL ORIENTATION | ARABIC-SUDANESE TABLE OF CONTENT Profile Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6 Geography .................................................................................................................... 7 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 8 Rivers and Major Bodies of Water ............................................................................ 9 Major Cities ................................................................................................................... 9 Khartoum ............................................................................................................10 Omdurman ..........................................................................................................10 Port Sudan ..........................................................................................................10 Kassala ................................................................................................................ 11 Important Elements of History ..................................................................................11 Independence ..................................................................................................... 11 The Southern Problem ......................................................................................12 Secession ........................................................................................................... 13 Darfur ...................................................................................................................14 Government .................................................................................................................14 Media ............................................................................................................................15 Important Elements of the Economy .......................................................................16 Current Socio-Economic Climate ...................................................................16 Energy ................................................................................................................. 17 Ethnic Groups ..............................................................................................................18 Nubians ...............................................................................................................18 Beja ......................................................................................................................19 Fur ........................................................................................................................19 Nuba ....................................................................................................................19 Endnotes for Chapter 1: Profile ............................................................................... 21 Assessment ............................................................................................................... 26 Religion Introduction ................................................................................................................. 27 Overview of Major Religions .................................................................................... 28 Islam ....................................................................................................................28 Sunni and Shia Divide ......................................................................................29 Sufism ..................................................................................................................30 Christianity ..........................................................................................................30 The Role of Religion in Government ......................................................................31 Influence of Religion in Daily Life ............................................................................ 32 2 CULTURAL ORIENTATION | ARABIC-SUDANESE Religious Conventions and Gender Roles ............................................................ 32 Religious Holidays and Events ................................................................................ 33 Islam ....................................................................................................................33 Christianity ..........................................................................................................34 Buildings of Worship .................................................................................................. 35 Mosques .............................................................................................................35 Christian Churches ............................................................................................36 Behavior in Places of Worship ................................................................................ 36 Mosques ..............................................................................................................36 Churches ............................................................................................................37 Endnotes for Chapter 2: Religion ............................................................................ 39 Assessment ............................................................................................................... 42 Traditions Introduction ................................................................................................................. 43 Formulaic Codes of Politeness .............................................................................. 44 Greetings .............................................................................................................44 Eye Contact and Personal Space ...................................................................44 Male/Female Interaction ........................................................................................... 45 Hospitality and Gift Giving ....................................................................................... 46 Eating Habits / Types of Food ..................................................................................47 Eating Customs ..................................................................................................47 Types of Food .....................................................................................................48 Dress Codes .............................................................................................................. 49 Nonreligious Celebrations ........................................................................................ 50 Dos and Don’ts ............................................................................................................51 Do ......................................................................................................................... 51 Don’t ..................................................................................................................... 51 Endnotes for Chapter 3: Traditions ......................................................................... 52 Assessment ............................................................................................................... 54 Urban Life Introduction ................................................................................................................. 55 Urbanization Issues ................................................................................................... 56 Work Problems in Urban Areas .............................................................................. 57 Healthcare and Health Issues ................................................................................. 57 Education and Schools in Cities ............................................................................. 59 Restaurants................................................................................................................. 60 Marketplace and Street Vendors ............................................................................ 60 3 CULTURAL ORIENTATION | ARABIC-SUDANESE Street Vendors ...................................................................................................62 Money, Credit Cards, and ATMs ............................................................................. 62 Urban Traffic and Transportation ............................................................................ 63 Street Crime and Solicitations ................................................................................. 66 Endnotes for Chapter 4: Urban Life ........................................................................ 68 Assessment ................................................................................................................71 Rural Life Introduction ................................................................................................................. 72 Tribal Distribution ....................................................................................................... 73 The Beja ..............................................................................................................73