Living on Earth in the Sky: the Anyuak. an Analytic Account of the History and the Culture of a Nilotic People / the Human Territory

Living on Earth in the Sky: the Anyuak. an Analytic Account of the History and the Culture of a Nilotic People / the Human Territory PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN: 9783796512711
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Living on Earth in the Sky: the Anyuak. an Analytic Account of the History and the Culture of a Nilotic People / the Human Territory

Living on Earth in the Sky: the Anyuak. an Analytic Account of the History and the Culture of a Nilotic People / the Human Territory PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN: 9783796512711
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Living on Earth in the Sky: The human territory

Living on Earth in the Sky: The human territory PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Anuak (African people)
Languages : en
Pages : 314

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Living on Earth in the Sky: The human being

Living on Earth in the Sky: The human being PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher: Schwabe
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
The Anyuak definition of what a human person is appears to be a relatively easy one, at least in theory, because it is based upon purely physical criteria; The metaphysical dimensions of a human being are completely neglected in this definition and are only of importance when needed to exclude a human being from human society. The term "person" is essential in Anyuak language, for it introduces a special category within the large category of "human beings": not all human beings are also persons. The notion of "personality" is, in this context, of no relevance, because it is merely a qualitative extension of the notion of human person, its individual aspect. There is no moral element in the judgement of a human person, at least in this theoretical sense, and even intelligence which elsewhere is considered to be almost exclusively human is not considered when defining the truly human qualities of a person. Because the individual characteristics of a person, his or her mistakes and problems, do not turn into existential questions, Anyuaks hardly ever ask themselves about their "real" identity or meditate about their inner life: Anyuaks know perfectly well who they are and what place they have in existence, and it is with this deep and sober self-knowledge that they face their private destiny. The best, as well as the most complete, answer to the philosophical question "Who am I?" thus is for Anyuak a very easy, self-evident one: "Who I am? - I am a human person!" "Human person" means in Anyuak language "dhano". "Dhano mo dicwo" is a male, "dhano mo dhago" a female person; the plural is "jiy" or "jow", the latter meaning literally "fellows, people". The term "dhano" is positively discriminating and describes a definite sphere of exclusively human values. A human person is of course a human being, the latter being a particular species living on earth an thus clearly different from animals, birds or fish. The differentiation from animals is, as we shall see, of importance, because unlike animals the human being has a spiritual dimension and is conscious of his or her existence. But because of human superiority over animals and because of the usually peaceful coexistence between man an animals on earth, the human being contents himself with stating the differences between man an animals in their physical nature and intellectual capacities; the difference between man an animals is a positive one because it strengthens the position of the human being and is therefore of psychological rather than of truly existential importance to the definition of a "human person". Anyuak existence would probably be much less problematic if their universe were simply divided into a spiritual sphere above (of God) and an earthly sphere of existence below (of humans, animals, etc.). The problem of human society is aggravated by the fact that the nature of human being is not the same in all people, that there exist treacherous elements which side with the spiritual, nonhuman matters and find tremendous pleasure in torturing an killing other human beings. A "human being" is therefore not necessarily a "human person" but can, in spite of his or her human appearance, very well have supernatural, i.e. inhuman qualities. When Anyuaks define a "human person", they primarily think of these cetergories of existence: while the difference to animals and the one to invisible spiritual matters in the sky does not need to be stressed, the differentiation between real human persons and people of mainly spiritual nature has to be emphasised and made perfectly clear because it is a differentiation within the same category of earthly appearances, the category of human beings. The human beings thus are divided into "persons" and "non-persons", the former defined by purely human values, the latter depending upon spiritual attributes. If one wonders "Who is walking over there?", anyuaks never give a precise answer such as "These are people coming from Ajwara" but simply say what in their opinion is the most and the only essential "Be jiy di piny", "These are people of the earth", i.e. earthly, not spiritual existences, they are normal people. This expression shows clearly that a true human person is closely linked to the earth, while spiritual non-persons of course are rather related to the sphere of the sky, to immaterial spirituality. To be a "human person" is the most positive thing an Anyuak can say about her or himself. Here, there is no idea of humanity as a fault of the humans'' imperfection and need for salvation, on the contrary, the human person is the only positive and solid criterion on which all other matters are to be judged. The term "dhano", person, thus qualifies or disqualifies somebody as a human being. Soemtimes, one does hear it in a positive sense, as in the already mentioned examples or when for example a difficult discussion is to be put on a constructive level by saying "yini dhano thuoo", i.e. "you are a human being like me" (and should therefore not argue as if you were a sorcerer); usually, however, one applies the term to disliked or even hated people, by calling them "non-persons", i.e. "pa dhano". A man walking naked in a big village (like Akobo or Otalo) is today considered to be mad (at least if he never wars clothes) and thus said to be "no person any more" ("pa dhano ket") and consequently left in peace (even by the police). In such a context, to be a non-person is synonymous with "to b mad" (bol): when for example my watercarrier in one of his frequent malaria attacks completely lost his mind and even forgot all the obligatory respect due to the king, walking with shoes in royal presence and even disregarding the king''s orders, he was not caught, tied up and slashed as normally would have been the case: "Let him be," the king said calmly, "he is no human person any more" (i.e. he does not know what he is doing).

Living on Earth in the Sky

Living on Earth in the Sky PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN: 9783796534027
Category : Anuak (African people)
Languages : en
Pages : 407

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Book Description
The monograph on the history and culture of the Anyuak is the result of more than five years of fieldwork (1976-1983). It is a well-documented, detailed and passionate description of an African people's spiritual and material world, their culture and history. Myths, oral traditions, stories, maps, genealogies, records of songs and music as well as a great number of photographs invite the reader to join in the journey through the universe of the Anyuak in order to make own discoveries or simply to participate in the spiritual adventure. The Anyuak live on both sides of the border between South Sudan and South-western Ethiopia. They are relatives of the better known Shilluk, Dinka and Nuer, but have turned from cattle owners into fervent agriculturalists. The Anyuak are a highly intellectual, strong-minded and well-organised people who have created, in the middle of so-called wilderness, a centre of human civilisation. If their socio-political system is of a particular interest, their philosophy is equally fascinating: it centres on the human person and governs his or her relationship not only within human society but also with animals, earthly matters and spiritual forces. Thanks to their stubborn, almost desperate belief in the essential goodness of existence and the positive forces of life, the Anyuak have - in spite of all pressures from outside - up to now succeeded in preserving their cultural identity and maintaining their pride of being "pure human beings". While the first four volumes of the monograph described the sphere of the above (the sphere of transparency), the sphere of the below (the sphere of material existence, the earth) and the space between them (the sphere of human self-awareness and the period of personal existence), the fifth volume focuses on the Anyuak village and its physical and social structures and opens the wide and lively sphere of collective existence. A fundamental part of the community's socio-political organisation is the "Sphere of Justice" as the tool which holds society together and allows it - in spite of all tensions and ruptures - to survive as one existential unity. Volume VI describes the political system which unites the various layers of society as well as its individual members, provides inner cohesion and defends it against attacks from the outside. The strong political self-awareness of the Anyuak finds its expression in the powers of village headmen and of an absolute ruler, a king, whose divine immortality symbolises and incorporates the community's spiritual forces, its bold aggressiveness and its determination of self-defence. Because of the author's close friendship with the late charismatic King Agada, this sixth volume of the Anyuak monograph is of substantial significance for the comprehension of "divine kingship" in the Sudan.

A Practical Discipleship Model That Fosters Spiritual Maturity

A Practical Discipleship Model That Fosters Spiritual Maturity PDF Author: Owar Ojha Ojulu
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666783765
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 163

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Book Description
Jesus challenges us to live in him and continue living out the truth so that we claim our allegiance to Christ and live as disciples free from fear and from cultural customs that contradict the gospel message. This project has found that the lack of discipleship training among the Anyuwaa churches has resulted in a lack of understanding of what this ministry entails—teaching and making disciples. In addition, failure to embed elements of the Anyuwaa culture into the discipleship approach, and the persistence of certain elements of Anyuwaa life that run counter to gospel beliefs, has inflamed this crisis. Therefore, this book presents a call for the church to challenge the culture of syncretism and the fear of witchdoctors, to shift its paradigm and begin interpreting the gospel message, utilizing contextual elements but interpreting them through the lens of the gospel, calling people to embrace gospel values within their own cultural context. When we start interpreting strong cultural beliefs and traditions through the truth of the gospel, it is proof that we have come to the best discipleship approach, as we speak the truth of the gospel in the life our church and the hearts of our believers.

Living on Earth in the Sky: The sphere of spirituality

Living on Earth in the Sky: The sphere of spirituality PDF Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Anuak (African people)
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Sudan’s People and the Country of ‘South Sudan’ from Civil War to Independence, 1955–2011

Sudan’s People and the Country of ‘South Sudan’ from Civil War to Independence, 1955–2011 PDF Author: Martin Bol Deng Aleu
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1728355338
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description
(100% of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to humanitarian efforts and projects of ADONGOR FOUNDATION and Euro-African Foundations, NGOs registered in Poland working for African people at home and in Diaspora. You may visit www.adongor.org to find all information about the charity and its goal activities for each of its branches globally. ADONGOR FOUNDATION was founded by the author himself in 2018 and is registered officially with the Ministry of Justice in Poland. Euro African Foundation on the other hand was founded by Mr Adil Abdel Aati, and is a charity working in partnership with ADONGOR FOUNDATION.) --------------------------------------------- Sudan’s conflicts are rooted in the creation of the state. During Sudan’s Anglo-Egyptian colonial rule, the Arabic Muslim north and Christian and animist south were ruled as two distinct entities. The north was modernized but the south neglected, creating parallel entities which overlooked the diversity and historical interrelations between the areas. Sudan’s conflicts are rooted in the creation of the state. A 1947 policy change to unify them meant that when the country was granted independence in 1956, Sudan was left with a heavily unified and centralized state, ruled from the north. The south, which already had social and political grievances, feared it would be dominated by the Arabic and Islamist North. Promises to create a federal system were soon broken. In 1955, tensions flared up and led to the outbreak of the first Sudanese civil war. The conflict, which featured successive coups and regime changes, ended with the 1972 Addis Abeba agreement and another promise of political autonomy for the South. Disputes over the discovery of oil in the south in 1979, together with President Nimeiry’s decision to implement Islamic Sharia law for the whole of Sudan and end southern autonomy, led to a new surge in civil violence in 1983.

Playing Different Games

Playing Different Games PDF Author: Dereje Feyissa
Publisher: Berghahn Books
ISBN: 0857450891
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Focusing on ethnicity and its relation to conflict, this book goes beyond sterile debates about whether ethnic identities are ‘natural’ or ‘socially constructed’. Rather, ethnic identity takes different forms. Some ethnic boundaries are perceived by the actors themselves as natural, while others are perceived to be permeable. The argument is substantiated through a comparative analysis of ethnic identity formation and ethnic conflict among the Anywaa and the Nuer in the Gambella region of western Ethiopia. The Anywaa and the Nuer are not just two ethnic groups but two kinds of ethnic groups. Conflicts between the Anywaa and Nuer are explained with reference to three variables: varying modes of identity formation, competition over resources and differential incorporation into the state system.

Anyuak: "Living on earth in the sky"

Anyuak: Author: Conradin Perner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Anuak (African people)
Languages : en
Pages : 520

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Southern Sudan: Pt.1 V.1

Southern Sudan: Pt.1 V.1 PDF Author: Terje Tvedt
Publisher: I.B. Tauris
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 580

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Book Description
This comprehensive bibliography presents researchers, consultants, planners, aid organizations and others with the most comprehensive overview of the literature on the Sudan. It covers all fields and disciplines and all types of literature. To facilitate ease of use it is organized according to important topics of regional development: agriculture and pastoralism; anthropological & cultural studies; British and European colonialism; Christian mission and church related studies; development issues; fisheries; health; pre-colonial history; language and language studies; natural sciences; politics, ethnic and religious strife & civil war; travel and geography; and water and climate.