Người Mundari (Sudan) rám nắng tạo ra hình chữ V khi trưởng thành và luôn dành sự tôn trọng cho loài bò.
According to Africa Geographic, a tourism and conservation organization that has been active since 1991 in Africa, the Mundari are an indigenous ethnic group of the Nile valley. Because the land of the Mundari people is surrounded by the Nile River, they have good conditions for raising livestock, so they have long had a tradition of valuing livestock, especially cows.
In the photo, three Mundari people are next to Ankole Watusi cows with giant horns. These cows are considered the “king of cattle”. Photo: Africa Geographic
The Mundari tribe considers skin cutting an important ritual to mark a man’s maturity. Mature Mundari men need to perform a number of coming of age rituals with the village elders for three months. After the process ends, their forehead will have incisions creating a V shape.
According to Africa Geographic, most Mundari people are armed with guns. However, they do not like war and only use guns to protect their livestock. Photo: Last Place
Mundari culture emphasizes cattle and Ankole-Watusi cows are seen as a symbol of power. Their lives revolve around cows and sometimes, cow lives are more precious than human lives.
The Mundari’s position in society is determined by ownership of livestock. Ankole-Watusi cow is a sacred mascot, considered a living asset. The people of this tribe do not often dispute land, but mainly related to cows.
During the wedding, the groom’s family must give the bride’s family up to 40 cows. Photo: Africa Geographic
Mundari culture emphasizes cattle and Ankole-Watusi cows are seen as a symbol of power. Their lives revolve around cows and sometimes, cow lives are more precious than human lives.
The Mundari’s position in society is determined by ownership of livestock. Ankole-Watusi cow is a sacred mascot, considered a living asset. The people of this tribe do not often dispute land, but mainly related to cows.
During the wedding, the groom’s family must give the bride’s family up to 40 cows. Photo: Africa Geographic
A Mundari boy drinks milk directly from the cow. In addition to milk and manure, they also use cow urine to wash hands, faces and hair removal. Many people also drink cow urine because they believe it is a pure source of water. Cow urine is also combined with ash to create a horn polish for cattle.
Johnny, owner of the One Step 4ward blog, visited the Mundari tribe in 2023. He said there was a lack of water here, and people mainly bathed in cow urine.
Normally, the Mundari people do not eat beef, but their blood and milk are an important part of their daily diet. Photo: Zuma Press
According to Africa Geographic, the lifestyle of the Mundari people has changed more or less when young people began to “see the outside world with smartphones”.
Currently, many units are selling tours to visit tribes in Sudan, including Mundari. Photo: Africa Geographic