Values Of The Nuer

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Values: “a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life” -New Oxford American Dictionary Arguably, the root of any society can be found in its value system because it is upon values that life itself is measured. The Nuer of southern Sudan are a people who have existed in relatively the same manner for hundreds of years. Might this be attributed to their value system? While a system of values cannot be narrowed down to one specific thought or belief, there is an interconnected web of principles which have remained constant throughout time in the Nuer society. These criterion of ideals include hospitality and egalitarianism, contribution to society, family-centeredness, respect to religion and ancestors, and reverence and understanding of cattle. It is within these ideals that the Nuer find their own unique values. Hospitality can be found within every aspect of Nuer life. While there is no complex system by which debts and scores are kept, the Nuer are a highly reliant upon one another. Often, members of the community will borrow and share anything and everything. Although there is no record of debts, there is an expectation of mutual lending. If your neighbor borrows from you, you may borrow from your neighbor in the future. This is not an altogether foreign concept to western societies. It is not uncommon for my neighbor to come over to borrow a cup of sugar. The following week, if I am out of sugar, I do not hesitate to do the same. However, there is a unique system of “fission and fusion” for which the Nuer are renowned for. During the dry season, the tribe, which is made up of several patrilineal groups, lives in a large settlement. Although the members of the tribe are living in near vicinity of one another, their assets are individually owned. It is during the rainy season, when the rivers flood, that

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