Cultural Anthropology for Missions

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FOR MISSIONS
M.M.NINAN
wild animals, attacks from fellow tribesmen, attacks and invasions
from neighboring tribes etc. The basic skills of spearing, spear
throwing, archery, stick fights, wrestling etc are common to all the
tribes in the South Sudan where there is a constant threat from wild
animals and from neighboring tribes.
Intrusion of tribesmen from outside is always suspected and killing
of an alien tribesman within tribal territory is not considered as
murder. In the modern state system a person who violates
immigration regulations are either put in jail or sent back.
Some form of military structure exists in all cultures. All able bodied
people are expected to be warriors and their services are called for
when necessary. Though war and war plans are made by a clan or
a tribe as a congregation, each warrior is on his own to establish a
name and a status and wealth for himself and for his family. Good
hunters and warriors were always respected.
This is very much similar to the Old Testament times and is
reminiscent of the period of King David or earlier. Often spiritual
forces were called upon for protection and elaborate ceremonies
intended to maintain the morale of the warriors are performed.
Tools and weapons of war are developed according to the
technology of the culture. lf spears and bows and arrows were the
early weapons, guns and missiles and heavy arms of warfare have
come to the Sudan now. Constant tribal warfare, besides civil war
on a large scale has caused this intrusion of modern technological
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