Abstract
Chapter 10 examines national identity reconfiguration in South Sudan. It analyses the weakness and strength of national identity formation in the newborn country, and interrogates mechanisms of national identity reconfiguration following the split and associated with nation building in a pluralist society. It highlights those elements that strengthen national identity following a bloody independence struggle. It critically examines the role of factors such as language, religion, history, national consciousness, symbols and culture in the construction of post-secession national identity.
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Notes
- 1.
Southern Sudan is the name used to refer to South Sudan before it achieved independence on 9 July 2011.
- 2.
The Mahdiyya or Mahdi revolution refers to the Islamic revolution led by the Imam Muhammad Ahmed Mahdi in the eighteenth century against Turco-Egyptian rule and later British colonialism. It was reported that Chief Chak Chak of Nyamlell sent his daughter Awet to Mahdi in recognition of the revolution. Mahdi renamed his new wife Magabolla, meaning “the gift accepted.”
- 3.
Arabi Juba originated in Juba town. It is a mixture of Arabic, English, Kiswahili and local dialects.
- 4.
Sudanisation was a policy introduced by the government just before independence whereby Sudanese nationals took over government positions from British and Egyptian administrators.
- 5.
The jallabiya is a long garment worn by Arab men, while the toub is a loose dress that covers a woman’s entire body, including her head.
- 6.
The Nasir faction refers to the movement that split from the SPLM/A and was led by Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol.
- 7.
This refers to a group of northerners who fought against Sudan alongside the Southern Sudanese and who formed SPLM-North after South Sudan’s secession.
- 8.
Kush is an ancient African kingdom situated between the Nile and its tributaries and mentioned in Isaiah v. 18 as a land of tall, black people. Some believe this is a prophetic reference to South Sudan and the South Sudanese people.
- 9.
Imatong is the tallest mountain in South Sudan and was known as a military training centre during the Anya Nya Rebellion. Many people think that, but for the mountain, the war of liberation would not have succeeded.
- 10.
Sudanile is a name once used by the Anya Nya liberators. Currently there is a Sudanile Party, which advocates this name change.
- 11.
Meaning “midpoint” in Dinka, a reference to its central location in the country.
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Mathok, D. (2017). National Identity Reconfiguration in South Sudan: Strengths and Weaknesses. In: Bereketeab, R. (eds) State Building and National Identity Reconstruction in the Horn of Africa . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39892-1_10
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