Homeland

My homeland is Sudan. I lived there all my life before I came to Canada. Even though my bloodline is Eritrean, Sudan was where I took my first breath and saw my first sights. Thus, it will always be in my heart.

Sudan is located in northeast Africa, and was bordered by nine countries and the Red Sea before the country separated on 9 July 2011 after many years of civil war. Now there are two countries: Sudan and South Sudan.

Sudan has a tropical climate and is one of the hottest countries in North Africa. The annual mean temperature in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, is very hot at 29.9 degrees Celsius (85.8 degrees Fahrenheit). There are three seasons: summer, autumn and winter. Summer starts at the end of February and continues until early Sept. Autumn and winter are relatively short and dry.

Sudan is well known for its hospitality. Sudanese people are very social, generous and genuine. They like to invite friends and family into their homes to share food and celebrate special occasions. They are also extremely welcoming to travellers from different countries.

It is a very reserved society ruled by a Muslim government. Women must wear clothes that cover their bodies completely as well as their heads. They often wear traditional long dresses called thobs. Men wear long white loose dresses called jalabiya.

There are 579 tribes living in Sudan. 114 languages are spoken, with 500 different accents. Folk music, the most popular music in Sudan, reflects the diverse cultures of each tribe. Additionally, each tribe practices its own style of dance. Sudanese food differs according to region. However, all of the food is delicious because it is grown locally and organically without the use of chemical fertilizer or pesticides.

Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan. The population is approximately 5 million. It is located where the White Nile and Blue Nile meet and flow into the Nile River, the second largest river in the world. The city is made up of many beautiful fascinating islands, where wealthy people enjoy boating, sailing and jet skiing.

Northern Sudan borders Egypt, so it shares some of the same history from ancient times. Both countries were ruled by pharaohs and worshipped the same pagan gods. Before Sudan was known as Nubia. The Nubians are the original people of Sudan, and there still remains many sights, monuments and pyramids from that time.

As you can see, Sudan is an interesting country that is both modern and ancient. It has a rich history and a thriving modern society. There is so much to do and see. I highly recommend visiting my home country if you ever have the chance.