Entry
Reader's guide
Entries A-Z
Subject index
Dinka
The Dinka are a Sudanese people whose culture centers on their cattle. The Dinka believe that each family group should occupy an area that will provide pasture and water for their cattle herds. All of life's rituals and ceremonies are connected to this reality. In effect, the cattle are responsible for an understanding of the Dinka way of life in terms of births, marriages, death, and the meaning of the universe. Thus, they use every aspect of the cattle. For example, every aspect of the cow's body and skin is used for something in the culture. The urine is used as a cleaning soap when one is washing. It is also used to dye the hair, to tan hides, and so forth. The dung is ...
- Ancestral Figures
- Communalism and Family
- Concepts and Ideas
- Deities and Divinities
- Abasi
- Agwe
- Aida Wedo
- Aiwel
- Akamba
- Amen
- Anubis
- Anukis
- Apep
- Apis
- Asase Yaa
- Aten
- Atum
- Ausar
- Auset
- Azaka, the Loa
- Bes
- Bondye
- Chi
- Danbala Wedo
- Divinities
- Eleda
- Eniyan
- Ennead
- Esu, Elegba
- Ezili Dantò
- Ezili Freda
- Faro
- God
- Goddesses
- Hapi
- Hathor
- Heru, Horus
- Ibis, Symbol of Tehuti
- Jok (Acholi)
- Khnum
- Khonsu
- Mami Wata
- Mawu-Lisa
- Min
- Montu
- Nana Buluku
- Ngai
- Ngewo
- Nkulunkulu
- Nyame
- Nzambi
- Obatala
- Oduduwa
- Ogdoad
- Ogun
- Olodumare
- Olokun
- Olorun
- Orisha Nla
- Orunmila
- Oshun
- Oya
- Ptah
- Ra
- Ruhanga
- Sekhmet
- Serapis
- Seshat
- Set
- Shango
- Shu
- Songo
- Sopdu
- Tefnut
- Thoth
- Tibonanj
- Wepwawet
- Woyengi
- Yao
- Yemonja
- Zin
- Eternality
- Nature
- Personalities and Characters
- Possessors of Divine Energy
- Rituals and Ceremonies
- Adae
- Agricultural Rites
- Ceremonies
- Circumcision
- Clitorectomy
- Dance and Song
- Desounen
- Harvest
- Incense
- Initiation
- Invocations
- Lele
- Medicine
- Medicine Men and Women
- Mediums
- Mummification
- Music
- Naming
- Offering
- Ohum Festival
- Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
- Puberty
- Purification
- Rain Dance
- Rites of Passage
- Rites of Reclamation
- Rituals
- Seclusion
- Shawabti
- Shrines
- Societies of Secrets
- Yam
- Yanvalou
- Sacred Spaces and Objects
- Akhenaten
- Altars
- Amulet
- Asamando
- Bata Drums
- Boats
- Bois Caiman
- Cowrie Shells
- Crossroads
- Drum, The
- Flag and Flag Planting
- Govi
- Groves, Sacred
- Ikin
- Ilé-Ifè
- Incense
- Kisalian Graves
- Lakes
- Maroon Communities
- Mount Cameroon
- Mount Kenya
- Mountains and Hills
- Oumfò
- Potomitan
- Pyramids
- Rivers and Streams
- Rocks and Stones
- Sarcophagus
- Sphinx
- Totem
- Vilokan
- Waset
- Societies
- Symbols, Signs, and Sounds
- Taboo and Ethics
- Texts
- Traditions
- Akan
- Asante
- Azande
- Baga
- Baganda
- Bakongo
- Bakota
- Balanta
- Balengue
- Baluba
- Bamana
- Bamileke
- Bamun
- Banyankore
- Banyarwanda
- Bariba
- Barotse
- Bassa
- Basuto
- Batonga
- Bete
- Bobo
- Candomblé
- Chagga
- Chewa
- Chokwe
- Convince
- Dagu
- Dinka
- Diola
- Dioula
- Dogon
- Duala
- Efik
- Ekoi
- Ewe
- Fang
- Fon
- Fula (Fulbe)
- Ga
- Gamo Religion
- Gola
- Gurunsi
- Haya
- Hoodoo
- Hutu
- Ibibio
- Idoma
- Igbo
- Jola
- Kabre of Togo
- KalÛnga
- Kirdi
- Kumina
- Lobi
- Lomwe
- Lovedu
- Lugbara
- Luo
- Maasai
- Mende
- Mossi
- N'domo
- North America, African Religion in
- Nuer
- Obeah
- Okande
- Ovambo
- Palo
- Pedi
- Petwo
- Peul
- Rada
- Santeria
- Sara
- Saramacca
- Senufo
- Serer
- Shilluk
- Shona
- Songo
- Sotho
- Susu
- Swazi
- Tallensi
- Teke
- Tellem
- Temne
- Tiv
- Tsonga
- Tswana
- Tutsi
- Umbanda
- Vai
- Vodou and the Haitian Revolution
- Vodou in Benin
- Vodou in Haiti
- Vodunsi
- Wamala
- West African Religion
- Winti
- Wolof
- Xhosa
- Yao
- Yoruba
- Zarma
- Zulu
- Values
- Loading...