Sudan

The largest country in Africa, Sudan's history has always been heavily influenced by that of Egypt because they share the main waterway of both countries, the river Nile. Sudan's capital, Khartoum, is located at the point of the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

Much of the population of the country live in desert village communities and are desperately poor, with most families spending much of their time ensuring that they have enough food to tide them over for the next few days. In the north of the country, many of the games that are played are closely linked to those in Egypt and the Arab world. This has included playing Backgammon and card games, as well as Dominoes. In all parts of the country, craft work, such as woodwork for boys and men, and spinning and weaving for girls and women, have been traditional pastimes.

In Khartoum, under the British, a number of social clubs were opened, the most well-known being the Khartoum Club, with others catering to different groups: the Egyptian Club, the Hellenic Club, the Native Officers Club, the RAF Club, the Sudan Club, the Sudan Hellenic Union's Club, the Sudan Schools Club, and the Syrian Club. In many of these clubs were facilities for recreational sports, such as tennis, billiards, Darts, Chess, Checkers, and card games, such as Whist and Patience. Among the British community, Bridge was also popular.

The rise in the number of Sudanese children attending schools from the 1930s contributed to the introduction of recreational sports in the country, with soccer quickly becoming one of the most popular, and recreational soccer is now encouraged by the Sudan Premier League, the professional soccer organization in the country. Missionaries also helped introduce many children to European-style toys, and since the 1970s, many Western-style plastic toys can be bought in markets throughout the country. The Sudan Boy Scouts Association was established in 1935—although scouting had been introduced in 1916—and the Sudan Girl Guides Association was founded in 1928. There are currently about 14,000 Boy Scouts in Sudan, and about 35,000 Girl Guides in the country. Music has been popular with many people in Sudan, and although the majority of the population is Muslim, there have been a number of famous women singers such as Mihera bint Abboud and Um el Hassan el Shaygiya, who have contributed greatly to girls and women, as well as boys and men, being participants in music as well as listening to bands and musical shows.