The Murle people are an ethnic group inhabiting the Pibor County and Boma area in Greater Pibor Administrative area, South Sudan, as well as parts of southwestern Ethiopia.
They have also been referred as Beir by the Dinka and as Jebe by the Luo and Nuer, among others. The Murle speak the Murle language, which is part of the Surmic language family. The language cluster includes some adjoining groups in Sudan, as well as some non-contiguous Surmic populations in southwestern Ethiopia.
Murle people of Sudan in traditional clothing
The Murle are a pastoralist people who live in a harsh environment. They are known for their distinctive scarring practices, which they use to mark important life events such as initiation and marriage. The Murle are also known for their cattle raiding, which has often led to conflict with other ethnic groups in the region.
In recent years, the Murle have been affected by the civil war in South Sudan. Many Murle have been displaced from their homes and have suffered from food shortages and disease. The Murle are a resilient people, but they face many challenges in the years to come.
Here are some more facts about the Murle people:
They are a Nilotic people, which means they are descended from the ancient peoples who migrated to the Nile Valley from Ethiopia.
They are divided into two main groups: the lowland Murle, who live in the swamps of South Sudan, and the highland Murle, who live in the mountains of Ethiopia.
The Murle are a patrilineal society, which means that property and inheritance are passed down through the male line.
The Murle are a polygamous society, with men typically having multiple wives.
The Murle are a warrior culture, and young men are expected to prove their bravery by raiding cattle from other tribes.
The Murle are a religious people, and they believe in a supreme being called Tammu.
The Murle are facing many challenges in the 21st century, including the civil war in South Sudan, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and environmental degradation.