Mundari

The Mundari People
The Mundari, a small ethnic group numbering around 70,000 to 100,000, are indigenous to South Sudan, a nation born from the ashes of a decades-long civil war. Their homeland lies approximately 75 kilometres north of Juba, the capital, bordering the White Nile, a vital source of water for their livestock.
Despite the challenges they have faced, the Mundari have preserved their rich cultural heritage. Their beliefs blend elements of Christianity and animism, with symbols and rituals playing a crucial role. Oral traditions, including songs, dances, and poems, are used to transmit cultural values such as goodness and generosity.
A distinctive aspect of Mundari culture is the practice of ritual scarification. Men undergo initiation rites, spending time in nature with a village elder, before receiving V-shaped scars on their foreheads. This marks their transition to adulthood and reinforces their cultural identity.