Demographically too there exists a broad distinction between the northern and southern parts of the Sudan. Ethnicity is difficult to trace outright in the modern Sudan due to generations of intermarriage between various indigenous and immigrant groups. Although broad groupings are sometimes used – for example, Hamitic, Nilotic, Negroid, and Arab – the definition of these terms with reference to the actual Sudanese is very hard to establish.

None the less, the northern parts of the country appear at first glance to be ‘Arabicized’ in terms of cultural outlook, and the inhabitants are usually Arabic speakers, with a number of important exceptions, such as the Nubians in the north and the Beja people in the east. Northern Sudanese are almost wholly Muslim (though again there are exceptions, such as the enclave in the Nuba Mountains where Christianity and traditional African religions are practiced).

In contrast, the south contains the great majority of the 570-plus recorded Sudanese tribes; very few, if any, of these people are Muslim or claim Arab descent, and although the south has seen some degree of Arabicization and Islamicization, the process was restrained during the condominium period, when western missionaries effected a limited Christianization of the region as part of the ‘Southern Policy’.

Thus ethnically and culturally, as well as socially, economically and geographically, the Sudan is a diverse mixture – so much so, that some authors have been inclined to see it as a microcosm of Africa, typifying many of the central characteristics of Africa as a whole. Consequently, the simplistic conclusion of categorizing Sudanese into northern Arabs and southern Negroes or Nilotes, to which many authors render lip-service, is a misrepresentation that should be treated with caution.

Despite this diversity, or possibly even as a result of it, the Sudan has always possessed a distinct cultural history and unity, even though the boundaries of the Sudan as a country in former times might not match those of the present-day nation. Social, political, and economic intercourse with its various neighbours has traditionally bred in Sudan a specifically Sudanese identity, evident, if nowhere else, in the cohabitation of various strands of influence derived from the Mediterranean and African spheres in an historical and political context.

Its most important neighbor has always been Egypt, due largely to the domination of the area by the Nile. As a means of communication and trade, its role is unparalled in the region, and because of this, the northern riverian areas of the Sudan have usually been entwined quite closely with the lands to the north. Ever since the dawn of civilization, starting with the Egyptian conquest of the northern parts of the Sudan during the Middle Kingdom in 2000 BC, the paths of the two countries have been closely linked.

But indigenous Sudanese traditions have always been identifiable, even from the earliest times. From the beginnings of the ‘classical’ African Kushite civilization, and the kingdom of Meroe around 590 BC, the Sudan has always manifested a diverse range of indigenous cultures and a distinct heritage of its own. Both the richness and diversity of these cultures owe a great deal to the geography and demography of the area.

Current Tribal composition

The tribes can be categorized in eight main groups: 39% claims an Arab descent, 30% are of African origin, 12% are Bejja, 15% are Nubian and 4% other. As for languages, 51% of the population speaks Arabic and 49% speak other languages and dialects.

About Faith, 70% of the Sudanese people embrace Islam, 10% are Christians and 20% adhere to African creeds. Some populous tribal groups include:

Nubian tribes in the far North

Arab tribes in Central Sudan, Kordufan and Darfur

Beja tribes in Eastern Sudan

Mapan and Angassana tribes in Southern Blue Nile

Nubian tribes in Southern Kordufan

Darfur Region: Administrative Divisions, Tribal Sketch and subsistence means

Darfur is divided administratively into three states: West Darfur and its capital (El-Genaina), North Darfur (El-Fasher) and South Darfur and its capital Nyala. El-Fasher is considered capital of the region.

Darfur is home to over 100 African and Arab tribes. The entire population of the region embraces Islam and speaks Arabic in addition to local dialects. The region is famed for cattle rearing and agriculture, meaning that the majority of the local populace is either pastoralist or farmers. -

Among the prominent in the region’s African tribes are the Fur, Zaghawa and Massalit clans. The Fur, after whom the region was named, is the largest of the three and 90% of its members do farming around Jebel Marra mountain in the center of the region and around the big towns. The majority of the two other tribes live on cattle-rearing. As for Arab tribes, they are headed by Rizeighat which is spread over central and southern Darfur. The Rizeighat tribe is considered pastoral, locally known as the “Baggara” or herdsmen, raising cattle and sheep. Small branches of the tribe live on farming around the town of Dhain. Other Arab tribes include Beni Halbeh, Habbaniya, Taisha, Salamat, Mahamis and Ma’alia who trace their ancestry back to the legendary north African knight “Abu Zaid Al-Hilali”. Darfur also houses many other tribes like Berti, Bargho, Turjum, Dajjo, Fallatah, Bodaya.

The region is home to Jebel Marra, the mountain whose ranges have a mild climate similar to that of the Mediterranean. The region is fertile and in the south, there is Al-Radome Natural Reserve which hosts a variety of wild animals, forest woods and constantly witnesses heavy rainfall.

East Sudan Region Administrative Divisions, Tribal Distinctions and living means

East Sudan is divided into three states: the Red Sea with (Port Sudan) as its capital, Gedarif (Gedarif) and Kassala (Kassala). The Red Sea and Kassala are inhabited mainly by the Bejja tribe and Rashaida. The Beja embraced Islam in the middle of the ninth century. It branches into the Hadandawa tribesmen who dwell in Sinkat, Kassala, Haya towns, the Amarrar in Seloum, Port Sudan and Kassala in addition to the Bisharyeen, Bait Joke, Beni Amer and Halanga, the Ababdah in Shalatin, Qasireh in Halaib, Abu Ramad and Atbara, the Shuwak and Habab in Qaroreh, Aqior, Nagfa and Agordat and the Suwakniyeh in Sawakin and Port Sudan. The Bejja speak two main languages. The Tebdawi and the Tigrini. The former is derived from the dialect spoken in ancient Kush, which is influenced by Tigrinya and Arabic languages. A lot of the Bejja people also speak tebdawi, a language not transcribed.

The Eastern part of the Red Sea state is semi-desert and its population is pastoral. However, the states of Kassala and Gedarif pursue farming because of their abundant water resources from rains, rivers and underground reserves that has made their land so fertile. The two contribute effectively to food supplies.

Touristic potentials are found in the beaches of the Red Sea, regarded as one of the world’s beauty attractions for divers with its colorful coral reefs. Other coastal areas include the reputed Arousa village on the Red Sea, the island of Sanjaneb and the old historical town of Suakin.

North Sudan Administrative Divisions, Tribal Peculiarities and means of living

Sudan's northern part comprises two states: The Northern State with Dongola as capital and the River Nile State and Damer its capital. The Northern State is the country’s largest state in respect of area.

The climate here is desert and semi-desert and the local population take farming as the main occupation where they grow on both banks of the river such crops as wheat, groundnuts, vegetables and fruits. A section of the people is engaged in trade.

Of the Northern State tribes of Nubian descent are the Halfaween, Sukkot, Mahas and Danagla.

These tribesmen have their own language and local tongues beside Arabic. They are followers of Islam. Other tribes in the State are the Kunooz, Jaafreh, Sawarb, Jawabreh, Bidairya Dahmashya, Kababish, Merafab, Karafab and others.

Main tirbes inhabiting this area are Shayqeih, from the 4th cataract until Debba, Jaalyeen from Abidya to Sabaloqa, Robatab from Berber to Abu Hamad and Manasir. All these tribes are of Arab descent, embrace Islam and engage in agriculture.

Northern Sudan have great touristic potentials represented by archaeological remains of Kush, Nepata and Merowe Kingdoms to old civilizations depicted by palaces, pyramids and relics of the civilization.

Central Sudan, Administrative Boundaries Tribal Distribution and means of Subsistence

Central Sudan includes seven states, the state of Khartoum with its capital (Khartoum), South Kordufan (Kadogli), Norht Kordufan (Obeid), Gezira (Medani), Sennar (Sinja), White Nile (Rabak), and Blue Nile and its Captial (Damazine). Tribes of Central Sudan are the Abdallab who inhabit the are north of Khartoum and parts of the Gezira and Blue Nile States.

They trace their origin back to Abdalla Jamaa who, with Amara Dongos, founded the first Arab-Islamic Sultanat in 1504 (Black Sultanate). There is also the Jamoiyeh tribe north and south of Omdurman. The abdallab take agriculture as main occupation while Jamoiyeh engage in farming and cattle-rearing. Of the tribes of central Sudan are the Funj, who forged an alliance with the Abdallab, to institute the Black Sultanate. They maintain that their descent goes back to the Muslim Khalif Hisham ibn Abdul Malek Ibn Marwan from Beni Omayah. There are also the Mapan, Angassaneh, Hawsa and Ambroro tribes in the Blue Nile state. In the middle, there are the Massalamiyeh tribes, considered as the first Arabs to arrive the Gezira state where they built Khalwas and Qoranic schools (religious schools for learning and reciting the Quran).

There is the Dabasin tribesmen who are cousins of the Shukriyeh. The Dabsin are concentrated in the Gezira state. Tribes of Central Sudan further include Johayneh, Halawen, Batahin inhabiting the Butana plain between Atbara and Blue Nile rivers, in addition to Shukriyeh and Kawahla. Kordufan tribes comprise the Hammar who entered Sudan from Tusisa. They rear camels and sheep and produce gum Arabic, the Jawameh who are related to the Jaalyeen, engage in farming and rearing with the town of Rahad as their center, the Shanableh (camel drivers) and the Buzaa. In Kordufan there is also the Missiriya tribes who are pastoral and farmers. As for the Nubian tribes, they live in Southern Kordufan.

Co-Existence in Diversity

Sudan’s interim constitution of 2005 stipulates that the Republic is based on multiplicity of religions and cultures and is an all-encompassing country. The State, which was founded on justice, equality and promotion of human rights, is committed to respecting and safeguarding human dignity.

These rights which include:

Life and dignity of the human being
Individual freedom
Freedom from slavery and bondage
Equality before law
Women and child rights
Immunity against torture
Just trial
The right of litigation
Restriction of capital punishment
Right to privacy
Right of belief and worship
Right of expression and information
Right of gathering and organization
Right of franchise
Freedom of movement and domicile
Right of ownership
Right of education
Right of the handicapped and old age
Public Health Care
Ethnic and Cultural minority rights
Sanctity of these rights and freedoms

The constitutional and competent courts uphold and protect provided therein and further monitored by the Human Rights Commission.

National Capital

Given its unique status as token of national unity, a mirror reflecting Sudan’s diversity and a miniature of the country’s different tribal components, ethnic, cultural and religious groups, the national capital was singled out by the constitution and devoted to it a special chapter. Article 154 of chapter 10 underscores respect of human rights in the national capital. Article 156 on the dispense of justice in the national capital reads:

a) Tolerance shall be the basis of co-existence between the Sudanese irrespective of their cultural, religious or traditional backgrounds
b) Any behaviour stemming from cultural and traditional practices not violating the public order nor degrading other’s norms or contravening the law shall be considered by law as exercise of individual freedom
c) Individual privacy may not be violated and courts shall not accept evidence acquired by trespassing such privacy
d) In exercising its jurisdictional powers in meting out sentences against non-Muslims, Courts shall consider the established principle in Islamic Sharia that non-Muslim population is not subjected to the prescribed harsh punishments per law
e) Leniency and benefit of the doubt in favour of the accused are two law principles required at universal level and in Sudan’s circumstances. Interim constitution of Khartoum State for the year 2006 provides that Khartoum, Sudan’s national capital, resembles national unity and manifests Sudan’s diversity where religions, traditions and cultures are the source of strength, concord, inspiration and basis of national cohesion and where rights of non-Muslims shall be protected per article 157 of the country’s Interim constitution of 2005. Meanwhile, the constitution entrusted the constitutional court with the basic rights and freedoms, deciding constitutionality or otherwise of laws and provisions in being consistent with the constitution, the interim constitution of South Sudan or the concerned state constitution (article 122).

Special Commission for Rights of non-Muslims in the National Capital

Enshrined in the constitution and to protect the principles that religions and beliefs are source of moral strength and worship is availed to followers of all religions and beliefs and that, accordingly, no person shall discriminated against besides that non-Muslims shall not be affected by application of the Islamic Sharia in the national capital, the constitution incepted the special commission for rights of non-Muslims in the national capital to ensure enforcement of the said law provision. The commission accomplished many tasks, including, inter-alia:

Initiated the call for coordination and cooperation and visited the Religious Co-Existence Council, the people’s Friendship Council, Churches, non-Muslim cemeteries and leaderships of many other institutions
Appointed several officials in the justice-dispensing agencies on permanent basis and responsible to the Commission
Drafted a five-year plan of action for the period 2007-2011
Took part in meetings of the religions’ dialogue conference held in Khartoum in 2009
Invoked a decision by the Justice Ministry setting up a special attorney for non-Muslim rights and a consultative unit within the Justice Minister’s office to liaise between the commission and the said ministry
Organized a workshop on rights of non-Muslims between the law letters and actual application.
Vacated non-Muslim cemetery in Sahafa local marketplace and turned over the site to the concerned authority, the All Churches Council of Sudan
Furnished mail boxes for complaints and proposals besides appointing help committees in refugee camps
Worked towards disseminating the culture of peace

In addition, the commission have an action plan in stock aimed at gathering and documenting various tribal customs and traditions, resolving the procedure of swearing on the bible before courts, tackling the shortage of theology teachers in Christian schools, coordinating with the religions coexistence council in the spread of peace culture and policy, settling questions irking non-Muslims in addition to many other projects.

Darfur Region: Administrative Divisions, Tribal Sketch and subsistence means

Darfur is divided administratively into three states: West Darfur and its capital (El-Genaina), North Darfur (El-Fasher) and South Darfur and its capital Nyala. El-Fasher is considered capital of the region.
Darfur is home to over 100 African and Arab tribes. The entire population of the region embraces Islam and speaks Arabic in addition to local dialects. The region is famed for cattle rearing and agriculture, meaning that the majority of the local populace is either pastoralist or farmers.
Among the prominent in the region’s African tribes are the Fur, Zaghawa and Massalit clans. The Fur, after whom the region was named, is the largest of the three and 90% of its members do farming around Jebel Marra mountain in the center of the region and around the big towns. The majority of the two other tribes live on cattle-rearing. As for Arab tribes, they are headed by Rizeighat which is spread over central and southern Darfur. The Rizeighat tribe is considered pastoral, locally known as the “Baggara” or herdsmen, raising cattle and sheep. Small branches of the tribe live on farming around the town of Dhain. Other Arab tribes include Beni Halbeh, Habbaniya, Taisha, Salamat, Mahamis and Ma’alia who trace their ancestry back to the legendary north African knight “Abu Zaid Al-Hilali”. Darfur also houses many other tribes like Berti, Bargho, Turjum, Dajjo, Fallatah, Bodaya.
The region is home to Jebel Marra, the mountain whose ranges have a mild climate similar to that of the Mediterranean. The region is fertile and in the south, there is Al-Radome Natural Reserve which hosts a variety of wild animals, forest woods and constantly witnesses heavy rainfall.

East Sudan Region Administrative Divisions, Tribal Distinctions and living means

East Sudan is divided into three states: The Red Sea with (Port Sudan) as its capital, Gedarif (Gedarif) and Kassala (Kassala). The Red Sea and Kassala are inhabited mainly by the Bejja tribe and Rashaida. The Beja embraced Islam in the middle of the ninth century. It branches into the Hadandawa tribesmen who dwell in Sinkat, Kassala, Haya towns, the Amarrar in Seloum, Port Sudan and Kassala in addition to the Bisharyeen, Bait Joke, Beni Amer and Halanga, the Ababdah in Shalatin, Qasireh in Halaib, Abu Ramad and Atbara, the Shuwak and Habab in Qaroreh, Aqior, Nagfa and Agordat and the Suwakniyeh in Sawakin and Port Sudan. The Bejja speak two main languages. The Tebdawi and the Tigrini. The former is derived from the dialect spoken in ancient Kush, which is influenced by Tigrinya and Arabic languages. A lot of the Bejja people also speak tebdawi, a language not transcribed.
The Eastern part of the Red Sea state is semi-desert and its population is pastoral. However, the states of Kassala and Gedarif pursue farming because of their abundant water resources from rains, rivers and underground reserves that has made their land so fertile. The two contribute effectively to food supplies.
Touristic potentials are found in the beaches of the Red Sea, regarded as one of the world’s beauty attractions for divers with its colorful coral reefs. Other coastal areas include the reputed Arousa village on the Red Sea, the island of Sanjaneb and the old historical town of Suakin.

North Sudan Administrative Divisions, Tribal Peculiarities and means of living

Sudan’s northern part comprises two states: The Northern State with Dongola as capital and the River Nile State and Damer its capital. The Northern State is the country’s largest state in respect of area.
The climate here is desert and semi-desert and the local population take farming as the main occupation where they grow on both banks of the river such crops as wheat, groundnuts, vegetables and fruits. A section of the people is engaged in trade.
Of the Northern State tribes of Nubian descent are the Halfaween, Sukkot, Mahas and Danagla.
These tribesmen have their own language and local tongues beside Arabic. They are followers of Islam. Other tribes in the State are the Kunooz, Jaafreh, Sawarb, Jawabreh, Bidairya Dahmashya, Kababish, Merafab, Karafab and others.
Main tirbes inhabiting this area are Shayqeih, from the 4th cataract until Debba, Jaalyeen from Abidya to Sabaloqa, Robatab from Berber to Abu Hamad and Manasir. All these tribes are of Arab descent, embrace Islam and engage in agriculture.
Northern Sudan have great touristic potentials represented by archaeological remains of Kush, Nepata and Merowe Kingdoms to old civilizations depicted by palaces, pyramids and relics of the civilization.

Central Sudan, Administrative Boundaries Tribal Distribution and means of Subsistence

Central Sudan includes seven states, the state of Khartoum with its capital (Khartoum), South Kordufan (Kadogli), Norht Kordufan (Obeid), Gezira (Medani), Sennar (Sinja), White Nile (Rabak), and Blue Nile and its Captial (Damazine). Tribes of Central Sudan are the Abdallab who inhabit the are north of Khartoum and parts of the Gezira and Blue Nile States.
They trace their origin back to Abdalla Jamaa who, with Amara Dongos, founded the first Arab-Islamic Sultanat in 1504 (Black Sultanate). There is also the Jamoiyeh tribe north and south of Omdurman. The abdallab take agriculture as main occupation while Jamoiyeh engage in farming and cattle-rearing. Of the tribes of central Sudan are the Funj, who forged an alliance with the Abdallab, to institute the Black Sultanate. They maintain that their descent goes back to the Muslim Khalif Hisham ibn Abdul Malek Ibn Marwan from Beni Omayah. There are also the Mapan, Angassaneh, Hawsa and Ambroro tribes in the Blue Nile state. In the middle, there are the Massalamiyeh tribes, considered as the first Arabs to arrive the Gezira state where they built Khalwas and Qoranic schools (religious schools for learning and reciting the Quran).
There is the Dabasin tribesmen who are cousins of the Shukriyeh. The Dabsin are concentrated in the Gezira state. Tribes of Central Sudan further include Johayneh, Halawen, Batahin inhabiting the Butana plain between Atbara and Blue Nile rivers, in addition to Shukriyeh and Kawahla. Kordufan tribes comprise the Hammar who entered Sudan from Tusisa. They rear camels and sheep and produce gum Arabic, the Jawameh who are related to the Jaalyeen, engage in farming and rearing with the town of Rahad as their center, the Shanableh (camel drivers) and the Buzaa. In Kordufan there is also the Missiriya tribes who are pastoral and farmers. As for the Nubian tribes, they live in Southern Kordufan.

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