Why are cattle so important to the Dinka?
The Dinka, the dominant tribe in the southern Sudan, regard cattle as sacred, approximating human beings in value. They live in symbiosis with their cows, sleeping outdoors in the same camp with them and using the cow’s milk, blood, skin and waste as vital resources for survival.
Why is cattle important in Sudan?
Livestock sector background It yields a flow of’ essential food, brings in a large amount of foreign exchange from export earnings, is a major means of transport, produces draught power in support of crop production and processing, provides dung for fertilizer and fuel and creates employment.
What is Dinka culture?
The Dinka are primarily transhumant pastoralists, moving their herds of cattle to riverine pastures during the dry season (December to April) and back to permanent settlements in savanna forest during the rains, when their food crops, principally millet, are grown.
What is cattle raid in South Sudan?
Cattle raiding is considered a form of revenge attack on enemy groups in order to weaken their financial strength by looting their cattle. Commercialisation of cattle raids, whereby cattle stolen from far away communities are sold in markets in exchange of cash, has been a lucrative income for many communities.
Why are cattle so important in South Sudan?
For the rural people of South Sudan, cattle are at the center of their culture. They use them as currency, treat them as objects of beauty, and fight tribal battles over them. In recent years, traditional cattle raids have turned deadly.
Do the Dinka eat their cattle?
But while the Dinka keep cattle, they don’t often eat them. So the sight of butchered meat on sale in the markets of Bahr El Ghazal, an area of the country being hit hard these days by drought and famine, is a cause for concern.
How many cows are in South Sudan?
12 million cattle
The country counts an estimated 12 million cattle, 12.1 million sheep and 12.4 million goats, making South Sudan one of the world leaders in animal wealth per capita.
Do Dinka eat cattle?
Why is cattle important to South Sudanese?
How many cows does South Sudan have?
How much does a cow cost in South Sudan?
The most current price for a cow is between SSP 40,000-60,000 (USD307-460).
What is interesting about the Dinka language with regard to cattle?
Linguists classify Dinka as a major language family in the Nilotic category of African languages. The Dinka have a diverse vocabulary with which to describe their world. It is estimated that they have more than 400 to refer to cattle alone—their movements, their diseases, and their variety in color and form.
How much does a cow cost in Sudan?
Does Dinka eat beef?
Millet is the mainstay of the Dinka diet. Depending on the season, it is supplemented with cow milk, fish, meat, beans, tomatoes, or rice.
Why are the Dinka so tall?
Though there has been a lot of speculation about the cause of the tall height of the Dinka people, the most common explanation is their nutrition which is said to primary milk and organic food.
How much is a cow worth in South Sudan?
Why are there so many cattle in South Sudan?
Most people keep cattle and sell animals to pay for things they need, like school fees or food. The second pillar is about social life, as throughout South Sudan getting married implies paying dowry ranging from ten to 100 head of cattle. The third pillar is food production as many children are fed on goat milk.
How many words does the Dinka tribe have for cattle?
It is estimated that the Dinka language has more than 400 words to refer to cattle alone—their movements, their diseases, and their variety in color and form.
Why are cattle important to South Sudan?
With over 12 million cattle in South Sudan, the livestock are an important source of rural livelihoods and play a central role in defining social status. Cattle theft is a common occurrence, and stolen animals are a source of meat, milk, and dowry.
What is the South Sudan cattle program (SSCP)?
The two-year South Sudan Cattle Program (SSCP), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), sought to mitigate local conflicts through the development of a cattle identification and livestock ownership and registration system to reduce both cattle theft and trade of stolen cattle.
Where do Sanga cattle come from?
They are part of the Sanga family of African cattle breeds which originated over 2,000 years ago from a combination of the Egyptian longhorn cattle of Africa and Zebu longhorns originally from India. Sanga cattle spread throughout eastern Africa, and many different breeds developed.
Why are cows important to the Mundari people?
Most Mundari people keep cattle and sell them to pay for their essential needs, like food or school fees and – possibly most importantly – the bride price. Secondly, cows produce food. Although very seldom killed for meat, their milk and blood are hugely important parts of the Mundari diet.