The Dinka people, also known as Jieng, are a Nilotic ethnic group with approximately 4.5 million people living around the central swamps of the Nile River basin, located primarily in South Sudan. Additionally, the Dinka people are known for their notable height. Along with the Tutsi people of Rwanda, they are considered the tallest individuals in Africa and possibly the world.
The Dinka people live mainly in the Nile River region, which extends from Bor to Renk, in the Bahr el Ghazal region, Upper Nile (two of the three ancient provinces located in southern Sudan) and the Abyei area. of Ngok Dinka in South Sudan.
According to a study conducted in 1953-1954, the average height of Dinka individuals was approximately 182 cm. This was a relatively tall stature compared to the rest of the world at the time. However, today, the height of Dinka men appears to be slightly shorter, possibly as a result of prolonged malnutrition and frequent conflict.
They number approximately 4.5 million people, according to the 2008 Sudanese population census, making up about 18% of Sudan’s population and being the largest ethnic group in South Sudan.
Within the scientific community, there have been numerous debates about why the Dinka people are able to reach such heights. However, the explanations have not yet been fully agreed upon. The most commonly proposed explanation is their diet: a high-calorie diet, rich in dairy products, grains and meat, has allowed their bodies to grow to such heights.
The Dinka people make their living primarily through agriculture and herding, and depend on livestock for milk and similar by-products, as do nomadic peoples around the world.
According to the data collected, the Dinka people originate from the Gezira region, which is now part of Sudan. During the medieval period, this region was ruled by the Kingdom of Alodia, a multi-ethnic Christian empire dominated by Nubian rulers. Beginning in the 13th century, with the decline of Alodia, the Dinka people began to migrate out of Gezira, fleeing slave raids, armed conflict, and drought.
The Dinka people speak their language called Dinka or “Thuɔŋjäŋ” (Thoŋ ë Muɔnyjäŋ), which is one of the Nilotic languages belonging to the Eastern Sudanese language family. They write using the Latin alphabet with some additional characters.
Like many other tribes in Africa, the Dinka people also undergo important initiation rituals. At a certain age, young children are marked on their foreheads with a “V”-shaped symbol, symbolizing the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Men from the Dinka tribe in South Sudan have facial scars with three parallel lines on their foreheads, signifying bravery within the tribe. This procedure is usually performed by tribal elders or shamans.
