article
The fighting Nuer: primary sources and the origins of a stereotype
Africa • 51 (1) • Published In 1981 • Pages: 508-527
By: Johnson, Douglas H. (Douglas Hamilton).
Abstract
In this article Johnson attacks another ethnographic myth about the Nuer (see document no. 19.) According to Johnson, many traveler and government accounts depicted the Nuer as 'truculent and aggressive warriors.' Johnson goes to the archives to find the origin of this myth. He found that Nuer aggressiveness was in response to initial hostile foreign (Egyptian) intrusion into Nuerland, shooting first and asking questions later. Also, Dinka interpreters and guides unfavorably influenced early travelers' opinions regarding the Nuer. Government officials perpetuated the myth out of their frustration and inability to control the Nuer.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2002
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2000
- Field Date
- 1975-1991
- Coverage Date
- 1839-1930
- Coverage Place
- Sobat and Jonglei Provinces, Sudan
- Notes
- Douglas H. Johnson
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 524-527)
- LCCN
- 29010790
- LCSH
- Nuer (African people)