MARITA MULI - 1060221

FAMILY LAW GROUP WORK

THE DINKA OF SOUTH SUDAN

Dinka Marriage Traditions

1. Initial Meeting (Thian)

Thian

Description: Thian represents the initial phase where boys and girls meet, often
during community gatherings or cattle camps.

Activities:

Social Dances (Laak): Boys and girls participate in traditional dances where they
can observe and interact with each other.

Cattle Camps (Wut): These are communal activities where young people gather to
tend to cattle, providing an informal setting for interactions.

Elders' Role: Elders supervise these gatherings, ensuring that interactions adhere to
social norms and traditions.

2. Courtship (Yeer)

Yeer

Description: Yeer is the courtship period where a young man shows interest in a
young woman through various gestures and gifts.

Courtship Practices:
Beaded Gifts: The young man presents the girl with beaded necklaces and
bracelets, symbolizing his interest.

Small Livestock: Gifts of small livestock like goats are common, representing the
boy's seriousness.

Intermediaries: Friends or relatives act as go-betweens to communicate the young

man's intentions and the girl's responses.

Public Acknowledgement: The courtship is often public, with the community

observing and supporting the process.

3. Betrothal (Thiec)

Thiec

Description: Thiec involves the formal engagement where the boy's family visits
the girl's family to formally seek her hand in marriage.

Ceremonies:

Family Gathering (Diin): Both families come together, with elders leading
discussions about the union.

Gift Exchange: Initial exchange of gifts, primarily cattle, symbolizing the boy's
family's commitment.

Significance: This stage solidifies the relationship, making it publicly known and
respected.

4. Dowry Negotiation (Akiir)

Akiir
Description: Akiir is the process where elders from both families negotiate the
dowry, which is a crucial part of Dinka marriages.

Negotiation Details:

Elders' Council (Bencham): Elders from both sides meet to discuss and agree upon
the dowry.

Dowry (Agut): Typically involves a significant number of cattle, goats, and

sometimes other livestock. The number of cattle is often a reflection of the bride's
family's status and the groom's family's wealth.

Ceremonial Agreement: Once agreed, the dowry is documented and celebrated

with a small ceremony.

5. Engagement Ceremony (Gol)

Gol

Description: Gol is the public celebration of the engagement, marking the formal
agreement between the families.

Festivities:

Traditional Songs and Dances: Performances that celebrate the couple and their
families.

Food and Drink: Traditional dishes such as grilled meat (duar), sorghum-based
porridge (wal), and fermented milk (piok) are served.

Blessings (Ruot): Elders give blessings to the engaged couple, invoking prosperity
and fertility.

Community Involvement: The entire community often participates, reinforcing the

communal nature of the marriage process.
6. Pre-Wedding Preparations (Leek)

Leek

Description: Leek includes all the preparations leading up to the wedding

ceremony, ensuring everything is in place.

Preparations:

Further Gift Exchanges: Additional livestock and handmade crafts are exchanged.

Bridal Attire (Jong-jieng): Traditional attire is prepared for the bride and groom,
often involving intricate beadwork and animal skins.

Homestead Preparations: The groom's family prepares their homestead to receive

the bride.

Community Support: Family and friends help in organizing the preparations,

highlighting the communal aspect.

7. Wedding Ceremony (Aroth)

Aroth

Description: Aroth is the grand wedding ceremony that concludes the marriage
process with elaborate rituals and celebrations.

Ceremonial Elements:

Traditional Blessings (Ruot): Elders bless the couple, invoking the spirits of
ancestors for guidance and prosperity.

Exchange of Vows: The bride and groom exchange vows in the presence of their
families and the community.
Moving to Groom's Homestead: The bride is ceremonially moved to the groom's
homestead, signifying the start of their life together.

Feasting and Celebrations:

Grand Feast: Featuring a variety of meats, grains, and traditional beverages like
marisa (a local beer made from sorghum).

Community Dance (Wol): The community participates in dances and songs,

celebrating the new union.

Traditional Games (Kuac): Various games and competitions are held as part of the
festivities.

Conclusion

The rites of passage in Dinka marriage customs emphasize the communal nature of
marriage, the importance of family and elders, and the central role of cattle and
livestock. These traditions ensure that marriage is not just a union between two
individuals but a bonding of two families and communities

References

Deng, Francis Mading. The Dinka of the Sudan. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972.

Hutchinson, Sharon E. Nuer Dilemmas: Coping with Money, War, and the State.
University of California Press, 1996.

Lienhardt, Godfrey. Divinity and Experience: The Religion of the Dinka. Oxford
University Press, 1961.

Alier, Deng. Customary Law of the Dinka. New Sudan Council of Churches, 1990.