Cultural divisions within Darfur
Difference between "Arab" and "African"
It is important to define “Arab” and “African” in Sudan in order to understand what Arabization is. When culture and politics is being spread out into Africa, this is the concept of Arabization. (Prah, 2007, par.52). The “Arabs” are taking over slowly the “Africans”. The term “Arab” has three different significations. Arabization is also a process in which the term “Arab” is seen both locally and regionally. The first meaning of “Arab” is the contemptuous way of living of a nomad seen as uncultured or uncivilized. The second meaning would be a person who Arabic is their first language, and that could lead to a group becoming Arab with time. The last meaning is that when a person is “privileged and exclusive”, he or she is considered “Arab”. (Prah, 2007, par. 68).
The meaning of “African” is a person living in Africa who is considered being exclusive or inclusive into the continent. A person being considered as “African” is someone who can make a change of his or her continent later on, which is more political than linguistic. On the other hand, “African” has other meaning that is completely different from the first one and this time, is more racial and cultural. Culturally, it explains itself by being someone who communicates with others with the language originated naturally in Africa, and, for the racial side, a rebellion organized by people using sort of conflicts to oppose the government, or activities being opposed by military or political actions. (Prah, 2007, par.72)
It is important to define “Arab” and “African” in Sudan in order to understand what Arabization is. When culture and politics is being spread out into Africa, this is the concept of Arabization. (Prah, 2007, par.52). The “Arabs” are taking over slowly the “Africans”. The term “Arab” has three different significations. Arabization is also a process in which the term “Arab” is seen both locally and regionally. The first meaning of “Arab” is the contemptuous way of living of a nomad seen as uncultured or uncivilized. The second meaning would be a person who Arabic is their first language, and that could lead to a group becoming Arab with time. The last meaning is that when a person is “privileged and exclusive”, he or she is considered “Arab”. (Prah, 2007, par. 68).
The meaning of “African” is a person living in Africa who is considered being exclusive or inclusive into the continent. A person being considered as “African” is someone who can make a change of his or her continent later on, which is more political than linguistic. On the other hand, “African” has other meaning that is completely different from the first one and this time, is more racial and cultural. Culturally, it explains itself by being someone who communicates with others with the language originated naturally in Africa, and, for the racial side, a rebellion organized by people using sort of conflicts to oppose the government, or activities being opposed by military or political actions. (Prah, 2007, par.72)
Language – an important aspect of culture
One of a primordial aspect of the Darfur Genocide when talking about the culture in Soudan is “Tribes, Location and Language”. There are between forty and ninety tribes that are Arab or non-Arab, which are constituted of extended families. More specifically, the non-Arab tribes are mostly located in the Central and East of Darfur, and the Arab tribes, in the South and Southeast of Darfur. (Menon, 2012, p.2). There has been pressure and stiffness between the Arabs and the non-Arabs that has provoked the battle, which has brought to the non-Arabs to live for the sake to possess and to own fertilized land. (Hon, 2013, p.2). The Arabs, who are nomad tribes, and the non-Arabs, who are sedentary tribes, are the ones that caused the Darfur Genocide. (Husaini, 2010, p.3).
The most important way to resolve the conflict between people or tribes in Darfur is mainly communication. Communication is key in the Darfur culture, because every one speaks the Arabic language and for the non-Arabs, their tribal language as well. An example of Sudan tribe is the Masalit who always have their own oral tradition and who don’t own any scripts. This is a great form of culture, because the tribes reunite themselves at a specific place when a conflict presents itself, which is a tradition in Darfur. The different tribes mainly speak Arabic to solve their problems, since it is the mutual language between them. Regarding the tribes in Soudan, the process of “Arabization” is taken in hand by the Sudanese government and had a negative impact on the tribal languages. (Menon, 2012, p.2).
The Arab people living in Darfur are very proud of their culture, customs, more and way of life. By spreading Arabization, the Arabs accept and maintain their culture, in addition to speaking the Arabic language. With time, they are more dominating the population thanks to their distinctness. (Prah, 2007, par.69).
One of a primordial aspect of the Darfur Genocide when talking about the culture in Soudan is “Tribes, Location and Language”. There are between forty and ninety tribes that are Arab or non-Arab, which are constituted of extended families. More specifically, the non-Arab tribes are mostly located in the Central and East of Darfur, and the Arab tribes, in the South and Southeast of Darfur. (Menon, 2012, p.2). There has been pressure and stiffness between the Arabs and the non-Arabs that has provoked the battle, which has brought to the non-Arabs to live for the sake to possess and to own fertilized land. (Hon, 2013, p.2). The Arabs, who are nomad tribes, and the non-Arabs, who are sedentary tribes, are the ones that caused the Darfur Genocide. (Husaini, 2010, p.3).
The most important way to resolve the conflict between people or tribes in Darfur is mainly communication. Communication is key in the Darfur culture, because every one speaks the Arabic language and for the non-Arabs, their tribal language as well. An example of Sudan tribe is the Masalit who always have their own oral tradition and who don’t own any scripts. This is a great form of culture, because the tribes reunite themselves at a specific place when a conflict presents itself, which is a tradition in Darfur. The different tribes mainly speak Arabic to solve their problems, since it is the mutual language between them. Regarding the tribes in Soudan, the process of “Arabization” is taken in hand by the Sudanese government and had a negative impact on the tribal languages. (Menon, 2012, p.2).
The Arab people living in Darfur are very proud of their culture, customs, more and way of life. By spreading Arabization, the Arabs accept and maintain their culture, in addition to speaking the Arabic language. With time, they are more dominating the population thanks to their distinctness. (Prah, 2007, par.69).
The African culture
Pagan tribes are the people who have their own religion, which is exclusive of the main ones like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism. The Pagan tribes are Muslim, but they don’t see themselves as much extreme Muslims, since they practice it less severely or not as much as Muslims. “Unlike people in South Sudan who are mostly Christian and Pagan, Darfurians identify themselves as Muslims. Hence the conflict in Darfur occurred between Arab Muslim tribe versus African Muslim tribes.” (Husaini, 2010, p.4). The African culture in Darfur is directly linked with the pagans.
In Africa, the culture is not the same as in other parts of the world. Ethnic groups characterize culture, which is spread in two areas of the continent: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Like mentioned earlier, Africa is a continent where there are tribes, as well as ethnic and social groups. The African people present themselves mostly by their beliefs. The culture in parts of Europe and Southwestern Asia resemble the culture in area of Northwest Africa, which has an influence on the religion, Islam and plays a big role for all the Arab people and places. In the area of Sub-Saharan Africa, culture plays a big role as well, because they have a big diversity of cuisines, styles of music, dances, varieties of foods, etc. (Zimmerman, 2012, par.7)
“The ethnicity in Soudan is therefore like most scholars say, it is constructed and invented. In other words, the identity of being Arab is only in the sense of cultural attachment rather than a racial sense.” According to the scholars, the main causes of the conflict in Darfur are religion, ethnicity and marginalization. (Husaini, 2010, p.4)
Pagan tribes are the people who have their own religion, which is exclusive of the main ones like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism. The Pagan tribes are Muslim, but they don’t see themselves as much extreme Muslims, since they practice it less severely or not as much as Muslims. “Unlike people in South Sudan who are mostly Christian and Pagan, Darfurians identify themselves as Muslims. Hence the conflict in Darfur occurred between Arab Muslim tribe versus African Muslim tribes.” (Husaini, 2010, p.4). The African culture in Darfur is directly linked with the pagans.
In Africa, the culture is not the same as in other parts of the world. Ethnic groups characterize culture, which is spread in two areas of the continent: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Like mentioned earlier, Africa is a continent where there are tribes, as well as ethnic and social groups. The African people present themselves mostly by their beliefs. The culture in parts of Europe and Southwestern Asia resemble the culture in area of Northwest Africa, which has an influence on the religion, Islam and plays a big role for all the Arab people and places. In the area of Sub-Saharan Africa, culture plays a big role as well, because they have a big diversity of cuisines, styles of music, dances, varieties of foods, etc. (Zimmerman, 2012, par.7)
“The ethnicity in Soudan is therefore like most scholars say, it is constructed and invented. In other words, the identity of being Arab is only in the sense of cultural attachment rather than a racial sense.” According to the scholars, the main causes of the conflict in Darfur are religion, ethnicity and marginalization. (Husaini, 2010, p.4)