Shukria in Sudan

The Shukria have only been reported in Sudan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula are the original Arabs. Their distinctive culture developed in the Arabian Desert from people who lived either as tribal nomads or town dwellers. From there, migrations began that led to the spread of the Arab world.

It appears that most of the Shukria Arabs live in central Sudan. Most live in an area bounded by the Blue Nile, Nile, and Atbara rivers. They live primarily in rural villages and settlements situated along small waterways. These villages are of two different types: large villages, and the other more popular style, villages strung out along the Nile River in a continuous chain of closely adjacent huts.

The Shukria are primarily Sunni Muslims. One of the smallest groups of Arabs in Sudan, the Shukria compose a very small percentage of Sudan's total population. They speak an Arabic dialect called Shukriyya, or Badawi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Life is centered around the village for most of the Shukria. Large villages in Sudan can have up to 3,000 people; whereas, small villages have only a few hundred. Villages have no formal physical structure. Most have only one shop, which supplies necessities such as sugar, coffee beans, spices, and kerosene. Most families live in compounds composed of one or more houses, all of which are enclosed by a wall of mud or thorns. The houses are usually single-storied, flat-roofed structures made of mud brick. Usually, there is only one interior room. Occasionally, homes will have a thatched roof extending out to make a porch. It is thought that some Shukria live in southern Sudan below the juncture of the Blue and White Niles, living in what is known as Sudanese style houses. These are round, one room huts with thatched, cone-shaped roofs. In some areas, the base is made of mud; in others, it is of thatch.

In Sudan, the great majority of the population is employed in agriculture, and it is the basis of the Shukria economy. The major crops grown include wheat, maize, vegetables, and coffee. Domestic animals are kept in small yards to supply daily needs of milk and eggs.

Social life is important to the Shukria. They typically share a daily coffee time by sitting on the floor and drinking coffee. Because wood is expensive and somewhat scarce, animal dung is used as fuel for cooking.

Typically, Arab groups practice endogamy (marriage within a small social circle). However, as tribal intermixture has increased in recent years, village loyalty has replaced tribal loyalty for many. As a result, village endogamy has become the norm. Polygyny (having more than one wife) is rare in Sudan; most Arabs there have only one wife. In the past, marriages were arranged, but, increasingly, individual choice is becoming acceptable. Inheritance is patrilineal (traced through the males). In this system, boys inherit more than girls. The value of young girls is seen in their ability to have children and bond families through marriage. Children are seen as the family's greatest asset.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Being Muslims, the Shukria follow the teachings of the prophet Mohammed. In order to attain heaven, one must adhere to these teachings, which are revealed in their holy book, the Koran. The Muslim religion is a religion of works based on five "pillars," or duties. These include affirming that there is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet; praying five times a day; giving alms to the poor; fasting during the month of Ramadan; and making a pilgrimage to Mecca, if possible.


What Are Their Needs?

A profession of faith in Jesus may cost a Muslim his family, honor, job, and sometimes his life. Evangelization will be challenging due to the nature of the Arabs' lifestyle and belief system. Prayer remains the key to seeing them reached.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of Sudan's leaders to the preaching of the Gospel.
Ask God to anoint Christian radio broadcasts that are being aired in their region.
Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself as Lord to the Shukria.
Pray that signs and wonders will follow the Shukria believers as they share Christ with their own people.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a vigorous Shukria church for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Shukria in Sudan.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Shukria
People Name in Country Shukria
Alternate Names Baggara; Dubania
Population this Country 271,000
Population all Countries 271,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 14923
ROP3 Code 108969
Country Sudan
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 8  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Primarily north   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Sudan
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 8  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Primarily north.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
5.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
94.70 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Sudanese
Language Code apd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Sudanese
Language Code apd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Sudanese

Primary Language:  Arabic, Sudanese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1927-1964)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1978-2022)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Arabic, Sudanese Spoken Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Arabic, Sudanese Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Arabic, Sudanese Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Claudiovidri - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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