Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Sudan

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Sudan.

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Did You Know?

13 curious facts about Sudan.

Cushite civilization, which reached its peak between 1750 and 1500 B.C., is thought to be the oldest Black civilization in the world. Its capital was Meroe on the Nile.
Cushite civilization, which reached its peak between 1750 and 1500 B.C., is thought to be the oldest Black civilization in the world. Its capital was Meroe on the Nile.
80% percent of the world's gum arabic, or gum acacia, is produced in Sudan. Harvested from acacia trees, it is used in inks, adhesives, certain types of candy and soft drinks.
Sudan exports many camels and sheep to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The longest river in the world, the Nile runs from south to north in Sudan. Since ancient times the historic Nile River has been the main route of travel and communication for Sudanese people to the Mediterranean Sea.
For pre-natal care and giving birth, Sudanese women have traditionally relied on midwives, or geem, a Dinka word, which means literally the “receivers of God's gifts”. Sudanese believe children are gifts from God.
In the Muslim areas of Sudanese villages, the local religious leader or imam often runs a religious school for the children called a khalwa, where the holy teachings of the Qu'ran or Koran are studied.
In a Sudanese home, a guest is first offered tea or a fruit drink, a refreshing and symbolic gesture to welcome someone after a “long journey”.
While Arabic is the official language of Sudan, Nilotic and Nilo-Hamitic languages are spoken in the south and Darfur is spoken in the western provinces. There are more than 100 spoken languages in Sudan and over 570 ethnic dialects or indigenous languages.
Muslim religious sects such as the Sufis, follow their own tariq, or pathway, to Allah. This can involve spiritual recitations, singing or the kind of ecstatic dancing performed by the “Whirling Dervishes” in the city of Omdurman.