Kadugli, Arabized in Sudan

Introduction / History

With the death of Mohammed in A.D. 632, Arabs surged from the desert pastures of Arabia, conquering lands to the east and west. They intermarried with the local North African and sub-Saharan tribes and introduced them to Islam. Such tribes include the Kadugli, a people who live in the southern part of Sudan near the South Sudan border. Tribes began adopting the traditions and practices associated with Arab culture.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Sudan is one of the poorest countries of the world. Most of its inhabitants are dependent on farming and animal production for their livelihoods. For most of the Arabized tribes, agriculture is the basis of the economy. Sorghum and millet are their staple crops, along with watermelons, gourds, okra, sesame and cotton. They also raise cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and dogs. They make cheese and butter from the milk of both the cows and goats.

Most Arabized tribes reside in permanent settlements or villages. Their homes consist of simple round huts with thatched roofs. Tribes such as the Kadugli dress similarly to individuals from other Arabic communities.

Arabized Kadugli live like Arabs of other regions. Their lives revolve around important ceremonies such as birth, marriage, death and the first haircut and circumcision for boys. The most elaborate of all ceremonies involve marriage. Polygamy (having more than one wife) is a common practice among Arabized tribes. However, according to Islamic law, a man cannot have more than four wives. After marriage, the newlywed couple generally lives with or near the husband's parents. However, in some groups, the young couple will live with the wife's family until after the birth of the first child.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Arabized Kadugli are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

There is also a Christian minority among the Arabized Kadugli who can take the fragrance of Christ to their Muslim neighbors.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kadugli homeland has been a battleground in recent years. The people need safety and protection from armed insurgents and the military.

Prayer Points

Pray for God’s protection for the Arabized Kadugli people.
Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to the Arabized Kadugli people and help them to disciple many in the ways of Christ.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage and protect the small number of Christians among the Arabized Kadugli.
Pray that Bibles, Christian broadcasts, the JESUS Film and gospel recordings will be easily available in Sudanese Arabic.
Ask the Lord to raise up Christian medical teams to work among the Arabized Kadugli community.

Text Source:   Joshua Project