Who Are the Nuer?
The Nuer are a Nilotic ethnic group of approximately 2 million people in South Sudan and Ethiopia, closely related to the Dinka. They speak Nuer, mutually intelligible with Dinka. The Nuer were immortalized in anthropological literature through E.E. Evans-Pritchard's classic studies describing their "ordered anarchy"—a society without centralized political authority, where order emerged through kinship, blood feuds, and spiritual leaders. Like the Dinka, Nuer culture centers on cattle, but their segmentary lineage system became a model for understanding acephalous societies. South Sudan's civil war has pitted Nuer forces against the Dinka-dominated government.
Segmentary Lineage
The Nuer became anthropology's classic example of segmentary lineage organization—a system where social units unite or divide depending on context. At lower levels, close kin may feud; at higher levels, entire clans unite against outsiders. "I against my brother; my brother and I against my cousin; my cousin, my brother and I against the stranger." This flexible system allowed Nuer to coordinate action without chiefs or kings. Blood feuds regulated violence through compensation rules. This "ordered anarchy" fascinated anthropologists and influenced understanding of stateless societies worldwide.
Nuer Religion
E.E. Evans-Pritchard's study of Nuer religion explored how a cattle-herding people with no written texts developed sophisticated theological concepts. Kwoth (Spirit/God) is immanent in natural phenomena and refracts into multiple spirits. Prophets (guk) receive spiritual power for healing and divination; some became influential political figures. Sacrifices—particularly cattle—communicate with the spiritual realm. Despite Christian missionary presence and conversions, traditional beliefs persist. The Nuer prophet Ngundeng Bong (1830s-1906) remains culturally significant; his sacred mound and spear carry political symbolism today.
White Army
The "White Army" (named for ash warriors smear on their bodies) is a Nuer militia mobilized during civil conflicts. Originally formed during Sudan's civil war, it remobilized after South Sudan's 2013 civil war outbreak. Composed of youth with traditional weapons, the White Army represents a traditional Nuer institution—age-set warrior formations—adapted to modern conflict. Its decentralized command reflects Nuer political culture; coordination emerged from cultural networks rather than hierarchical orders. The White Army's mobilization demonstrates how traditional social structures shape contemporary conflict.
Conflict with Dinka
Dinka-Nuer relations have oscillated between cooperation and conflict for centuries—both peoples competing for cattle, grazing land, and resources. Colonial boundaries disrupted traditional accommodation mechanisms. After South Sudan's independence, political competition escalated into civil war when Nuer politician Riek Machar split from Dinka president Salva Kiir in 2013. Ethnic massacres targeted both communities. The conflict displaced millions and created famine. While fighting has subsided, underlying tensions remain unresolved. How these related but rival peoples coexist within South Sudan shapes the nation's fragile peace.
References
- Evans-Pritchard, E. E. (1940). The Nuer: A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People
- Evans-Pritchard, E. E. (1956). Nuer Religion
- Johnson, D. H. (1994). Nuer Prophets: A History of Prophecy from the Upper Nile in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries