Customs and culture of South Sudan, a newly independent country in the 21st century

Republic of South Sudan, Juba, the capital. South Sudan is a landlocked country in eastern Africa. To the east is Ethiopia, to the west is the Central African Republic, to the south are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Uganda, and to the north is Sudan. It has a savanna climate, high humidity and a lot of rainfall. The rainy season is from May to October every year, with the temperature being 20-40℃, and the dry season is from November to April, with the temperature being 30-50℃.

South Sudan was originally part of Sudan jointly managed by Britain and Egypt. After 1956, it became part of the Republic of Sudan and belongs to the 10 provinces of southern Sudan. After the first Sudanese Civil War, Southern Sudan gained autonomy from 1972 to 1983. The second Sudanese Civil War broke out in 1983, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005 and the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was established. In 2011, the independence referendum of South Sudan was passed, and the Republic of South Sudan declared independence at 0:00 on July 9, 2011, becoming the 54th country on the African continent. Heads of state of about 30 countries participated in the independence celebration ceremony of the Republic of South Sudan. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also attended the establishment ceremony. On July 14, 2011, the Republic of South Sudan officially became the 193rd Member State of the United Nations. On December 15, 2013, civil war broke out in the capital Juba, and there is still no complete peace. On August 26, 2015, under the mediation of the United Nations, all parties agreed to establish a 30-month transitional government and hold general elections later in the transition period.

On April 15, 2016, South Sudan officially joined the East African Community and became the sixth member of the organization.

South Sudan is a multi-tribal country, with four major ethnic groups: Nilottes, Nilhoham, Bantu and Nuba. The Negro people are black. The main tribes are Dinka, Nuvel, Shiruk, Bari, etc. As of July 2015, the population of South Sudan was approximately 12.04 million.

Most of the tribes in South Sudan have their own languages, so South Sudan is known as the "National Language Museum of Africa". However, the use of most languages is narrow, with only a few thousand people using them. The larger ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Zandin and Kirmo Multilingual, etc. The common language of each tribe is "Juba Arabic" mixed with various dialects and slang. South Sudan was influenced by British rule, and the official language is English.

South Sudan generally lives in semi-independent homes forming villages inhabited by nearby and extended relatives. Their society is constructed in the social management of kin, tribes and villages by kings or chiefs, depending on race.

South Sudan practices Christianity, Islam and indigenous religions. Some districts also believe in the power of spirit. Therefore, divination, storm calling, fortune tellers and spear masters are all in these areas.

South Sudan generally eats together and differentiates groups by gender, age and social status. Depending on their district, South Sudan enjoys a wide variety of foods. Some of their staple foods include milk, beef, millet, sorghum, honey, fish, mutton, traditional herbs and vegetables, peanuts, beans, game, sesame seeds, finger millet and yam.

Traditionally, there has been a clear division of labor based on gender, age and social status. Men generally take care of and maintain the family while women run the housework.

All areas have some form of launch ceremony to adulthood. Removal of jaw teeth, facial markings, wearing teads and male circumcision (among the Bantu group) are some of the commonly initiated rituals practiced by the people of South Sudan.

Marriage is one of South Sudan's major milestones and often involves all members of the immediate and extended family, including matriarchal relatives in some districts. Typically, young people do not engage in direct marriage arrangements; their parents discuss, promote and organize the marriage of children. Districts perform various rituals at marriage. However, gift exchanges between families are common.

Betrothal gifts are an important part of marriage. Marriage creation involves deep bonds between families, making divorce impossible unless serious issues are involved. In case of divorce, the entire dowry or part of it is returned to the man and his family.

Childbirth is also seen as special, with specific rituals being performed based on the child's society and gender. Children are usually named based on the seasons and events or after relatives. Because cattle are elevated in most districts, children can also be named after the color of the family cow. The boy walks the color of the cow, while the girl takes the cow.

The funeral ceremony is very complicated. Among them in Dinka district, men and women were buried around themselves. Inheriting wives is also practiced in several South Sudan regions, ostensibly to allow relatives of the deceased husband to continue his bloodline and protect his family. Normally, a widow is inherited by close relatives, but in some districts, she comes free to pick up the heir of her choice.

Traditional festivals: National Day: July 9, 2011 Peace Day: January 9 (January 9, 2005, the date of signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan) Army Day: May 19 (the date of the founding of the Sudan People's Liberation Army) Martyrs 'Day: July 30 (July 30, 2005, the Martyr Day of the former leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army)