Animism in South Sudan

Animism and traditional beliefs in South Sudan are characteristic of the eastern part of the country. Most believers live in the states of East Equatoria , Jonglei and Upper Nile . In the central part of the country, around the Sudd swamp, the second largest community of animists resides, while in the west of the country, Christianity predominates in Western Bahr al-Ghazal . The number of animists in South Sudan is about 3.5 million people, that is, one third of the total population.

Deities

The concept of the highest deity or spirit , which is usually presented as the creator, the most powerful of the deities in the hierarchy. This is the most perfect incarnation of the deity, in the traditional religion, very far from ordinary people and therefore they often turn to a lower god in the hope of satisfying their desires. Belief in the spirits of ancestors is common to all people from the Nim tribe .

The Nuer people , for example, do not have prayer with which they could turn to God, but there are prayers to other spiritual beings, the spirits of their ancestors and the forces of nature. Traditional faith animates the wind , sky and birds . Dink refer to some memorable events, comparing them with the deity and worship them.

The main gods of the Dinka are Dengdit ("Great Rain"), Nyalich ("Upstairs"), Abuk (mother of Dengdit).

The main shilluk gods are Juok ( demiurge ) and Newkang (ancestor of the ruling family).

The main gods of Nuer are Nial ( demiurge ) and Quot (first ancestor).

Sacred Animals

Livestock plays an important role in the beliefs of the peoples of South Sudan, in particular for the Nilotic peoples . They sacrifice animals to the gods by reading a prayer before this. For nuer and dinka, cattle is the foundation of family development and social life, personal pride and wedding dowry .

Force of Nature

Of all the forces of nature, rain is the most revered and most widespread. There were periods of drought in South Sudan between 1970 - 1990, and there was a significant lack of rainfall, leading to famine and deprivation. For this reason, the ritual associated with the call of rain is very common in the state.

The difference between the natural and the supernatural in animism is not common. Spirits can have much greater power than people, but their power is expressed through the forces of nature. In animism, it is believed that some people have abilities related to both the ability to heal and harm others.

• Godfrey, Linard "Divinity and Experience: The Religion of the Dinka", Oxford University Press (1988), [1]

• Animism
• Spirituality
• Religion in South Sudan

• Religions in South Sudan
• Beliefs and customs of the people of Dinke
• Beliefs and customs of the Nuer people
• Peoples of South Sudan