Welcome to South Sudan's book library

South Sudan — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Name: ZakGT Host App
Author: ZakGT

Real words from the people of South Sudan, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.

Capital: JubaPopulation: ~11 million (no full census since 2008; estimates vary widely)Founded: 9 July 2011 (independence from Sudan)Region: AfricaLanguages: enCurrency: South Sudanese pound (SSP)Quote code: 211Quote_ss

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Proverbs

Moea uecha heavy hayen.

“A friend is someone you share the path with.”

True friendship is shown by walking life's journey together, not just by words.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

Source: Dinka (South Sudan) proverb, African Proverb of the Month (June 2022), African Proverbs Working Group / Tangaza University College, Nairobi

Agal hosi arik naboite.

“Two heads are better than one.”

A community that works together, as in hunting parties, succeeds where a lone individual cannot.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

Source: Lopit (South Sudan) proverb, African Proverb of the Month (March 2020), African Proverbs Working Group / Tangaza University College, Nairobi

Thilɛ dit tuɔ̱ŋ.

“There are not big horns, they are all horns.”

A person's worth should be judged by character and behavior, not by outward size or status — all are equal.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

Source: Nuer (South Sudan / Ethiopia) proverb, African Proverb of the Month (July 2020), African Proverbs Working Group / Tangaza University College, Nairobi

Labwor ma kok pe mako lee.

“A roaring lion does not catch any prey.”

Loud boasting without action achieves nothing; results come from deeds, not declarations.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

Source: Acholi (South Sudan / Uganda) proverb, African Proverb of the Month (November 2011), African Proverbs Working Group / Tangaza University College, Nairobi

Ɛ yak mi cɛ yaŋ cam la nyɔkε ni jɛn kɛ ɣɔɔk piny.

“The hyena that bit the cow will do it again.”

Wrongdoing left unaddressed will be repeated; a mistake must be corrected so it does not happen again.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

Source: Nuer (South Sudan) proverb, from "A Collection of 100 Nuer Proverbs and Wise Sayings" by Margaret Wambere Ireri with Daniel Chier and John Maker, African Proverbs Working Group, Tangaza University College, Nairobi

“The death of the father does not make the son an orphan.”

The extended family and community continue to raise and support a child even after a parent is gone.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A water hole is not dug in a place without water.”

Pursue your goals where the right conditions actually exist, not where success is impossible from the start.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A man who does not possess cows cannot govern.”

Leadership is earned by first managing one's own responsibilities well; those who cannot govern their own affairs cannot be trusted to govern others.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Each day dawns in its own way.”

Opportunities and circumstances differ from one day to the next; good fortune is never constant, so one cannot foretell the future.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The leopard's skin does not change colour.”

A person's true character does not change, even when they present themselves to others differently.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A wound is not touched.”

When a person is hurting emotionally, do not remind them of their pain; be considerate of others' agonies.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Animals with a long tail should not step over the fire.”

A person carrying a known weakness or fault should avoid situations that could expose it to the community.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“God cannot be pushed to do what we like.”

A person cannot manipulate providence to their own desires; instead, be grateful and pray humbly for what is needed.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“One's fate is not chosen.”

No human being can fully control their own future; a person may strive to improve their life, but its ultimate course is not theirs to decide.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Years are not like twins.”

One season of life is never quite like the next; success and hardship both come and go over time.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“People do not grow downward like a cow's tail.”

A person should always work toward progress and betterment, never toward decline.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The buttock does not miss its place.”

Every person has a purpose and a role within the community, and is expected to take up their responsibilities.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“People must not be corrected at their departure time.”

Correct a person's mistake as soon as it happens rather than waiting until the moment for change has already passed.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Changing your mind is not being a liar.”

Revising an opinion in light of new facts and circumstances is honest, not dishonest.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The husband of a bad woman grows old without stomach.”

A troubled marriage causes lasting distress, while a caring spouse keeps a family healthy and whole.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Problems cannot be foreseen like the coming of the rain.”

Hardship in life arrives unexpectedly, so a person should be ready to face and overcome it when it comes.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“In times of famine, even eatable creeping grass is not kept aside.”

Use every resource available to you in hard times; every asset has value when true need arrives.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The medicine is not drunk free.”

Nothing of value comes without cost; every cure or solution carries some price or effort.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Returning insult for insult makes people lose sight of what is right.”

Responding to abuse with more abuse clouds good judgment; it is wiser to stay calm and reason things through.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not talk in the bush that has not been burnt.”

Be careful speaking ill of others behind their backs, because word travels and secrets rarely stay hidden.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not throw words like a stick in the night.”

Speak with care and forethought, because careless words can wound deeply and can never be taken back.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not give yourself away like the Nile Perch did.”

Avoid drawing attention through pride or showiness, since standing out too much can invite trouble.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not remain on the riverbank.”

Passiveness and indecision help no one; a person should make a decision and act rather than hesitate forever.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A false allegation is like biting your tongue while chewing a hard piece of meat.”

Telling lies brings self-inflicted pain of conscience; it is better to always speak the truth.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The foot does not remain along the way.”

No human being is free of mistakes; we must keep adjusting our path toward what is right.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not dissent with people the way calves do.”

Cooperate with others toward shared, common goals instead of constant, pointless quarrelling.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A violent man does not easily find food.”

Disrespectful and hostile behaviour isolates a person from the support and goodwill of the community.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Blindness of the heart brings misunderstanding.”

Stay open to the opinions of others rather than assuming your own view of a matter is complete.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not look for the severed head of Nyankiir.”

Do not go looking for trouble in daily life; face hardship bravely only when it truly comes to you.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“It is not so difficult to drive a goat across the river.”

With determination and a clear plan, nothing worth achieving is truly out of reach.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not do things in the darkness.”

Act with openness and honesty, since anything done secretly is eventually brought to light.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not clean the field that you will not be able to cultivate.”

Take on only what you can genuinely manage; greed or overreach leads to failure and waste.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Too many words bring a bad word.”

Excessive talking increases the chance of saying something careless or hurtful; speech should be measured.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Long life is better than earthly wealth.”

A long life spent serving family and community is worth more than riches alone.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Do not let your hair be shaved with a blunt blade.”

Avoid walking knowingly into a difficult or painful situation that could have been sidestepped.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A house that is broken in its foundation cannot be repaired and made to stand again.”

Once a relationship is deeply damaged, it is very difficult to fully restore it to how it once was.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Good reputation is better than wealth.”

The respect and trust a person earns outlasts material riches and can be carried into future generations.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Children are the seeds of the future.”

Raising children with good values builds a strong, stable future for the whole community.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Seeking is better than begging.”

Working independently to provide for oneself is more honourable than depending on the charity of others.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“The leg looks after the throat.”

A person must move and work with their own effort to secure food and other basic needs; laziness should be discouraged.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Bend yourselves when the snake has not yet bitten you.”

Take precautions against a known danger before it strikes, not after the harm has already been done.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Better to say what you know yourself than what you have only heard people say.”

Speak from verified fact rather than hearsay, to avoid spreading disagreement, shame, or mistrust.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“A rascal child gets easily into the fire.”

A troublesome, undisciplined person more easily brings misfortune upon themselves through their own behaviour.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“One wise child is better than ten foolish ones.”

A single person of good judgment can be of more value to a family or community than many who lack sense.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

“Words said behind one's back cause misunderstanding.”

Openness and direct speech prevent the confusion and harm caused by gossip and secret talk.

Traditional South Sudan Wisdom

The story of South Sudan

South Sudan's modern borders sit atop a region of ancient Nilotic peoples , the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Bari, Zande, and dozens of other ethnic groups , whose cattle-centred societies predate any national boundary by centuries. The territory was drawn into Ottoman-Egyptian and then British-Egyptian rule during the 19th century as part of "Anglo-Egyptian Sudan", administered separately from the largely Arab, Muslim north. When Sudan gained independence in 1956, the south was folded into one state with the north despite deep religious, linguistic, and cultural differences, sparking resentment almost immediately. Two brutal civil wars followed , 1955-1972 and 1983-2005 , pitting the southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army against the Khartoum government, killing an estimated 1.5 million people and displacing millions more. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the second war and promised a referendum; in January 2011, southerners voted overwhelmingly (98.83%) for secession. On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became the world's newest sovereign state. Independence did not bring peace , a devastating internal civil war broke out in 2013 , but the country's cultures, cattle economies, and oral traditions remain a living thread back to its Nilotic roots.

Timeline — key moments

circa 1500s
Nilotic peoples including the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk establish cattle-based societies across the Nile basin.
1899
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan condominium established; the south is administered separately from the north.
1956
Sudan gains independence from Britain and Egypt; north and south are joined as one state.
1955-1972
First Sudanese Civil War, driven by southern demands for autonomy.
1983-2005
Second Sudanese Civil War after Khartoum imposes Islamic law; roughly 1.5 million die.
2005
Comprehensive Peace Agreement ends the war and grants the south autonomy plus a future referendum.
2011
January referendum: 98.83% of southern Sudanese vote for independence.
2011
South Sudan declares independence on 9 July, becoming the world's newest country.
2013-2018
Internal civil war between government and opposition forces causes mass displacement.
2020
A unity government is formed as part of the ongoing peace process.

Top 10 things to know about South Sudan

South Sudan is the world's newest widely recognised sovereign state, founded in 2011.
Its capital and largest city is Juba, on the White Nile.
The country is landlocked, bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Independence followed two of Africa's longest civil wars, spanning much of 1955-2005.
The Sudd, fed by the White Nile, is one of the largest freshwater wetlands on Earth.
Over 60 indigenous languages are spoken; English and Juba Arabic serve as lingua francas.
The Dinka and Nuer are the two largest ethnic groups, both with deep cattle-keeping traditions.
The Sudd's wetlands support one of the largest mammal migrations on Earth, including white-eared kob.
South Sudan's flag echoes the colours of the SPLM/A that led the independence struggle.
The economy relies heavily on oil, most of which is exported through pipelines via Sudan.

Famous people from South Sudan

Manute Bol

Basketball player & activist

One of the tallest players in NBA history; used his platform for Sudanese refugee relief and human rights.

Alek Wek

Model & designer

South Sudanese-British model whose 1990s breakthrough reshaped beauty standards in fashion.

Emmanuel Jal

Musician & activist

Former child soldier turned recording artist and peace advocate.

John Bul DauAuthor

Author & activist

One of the "Lost Boys of Sudan"; wrote "God Grew Tired of Us" about his journey from war to the US.

Francis Mading DengAuthor

Scholar & author

Diplomat and Yale-trained legal scholar who wrote extensively on South Sudanese identity and history.

Say it in South Sudan's language

Hello (English, the official language)

Hello

Hello (Juba Arabic, common lingua franca)

سلام

salaam

Thank you (Juba Arabic)

شكرا

shukran

Did you know?

★South Sudan is the world's youngest widely recognised country, born on 9 July 2011.
★The Sudd wetland can swell to over 130,000 square kilometres in the wet season , around a fifth of the country's land.
★More than 60 indigenous languages are spoken across South Sudan's many ethnic communities.

South Sudan culture

Cattle are central to Dinka and Nuer life , social status, dowries, and even personal names are tied to cattle herds.
Marriage among many Nilotic groups is sealed through a dowry exchange of cattle between families.
Oral storytelling, praise songs, and cattle-camp traditions carry history and identity across generations.
English and Juba Arabic act as common languages that bridge dozens of distinct ethnic tongues.

Why read South Sudan's books

South Sudan's story has largely been told through survivor memoirs and oral tradition rather than a long-established publishing industry , voices like the "Lost Boys" who lived through war and exile. The shelves here are a starting point for a literature still being written.