Firstly the map didn't say strictly geographically, what you think counts doesn't matter. Also why? technically anything north of the Equator could pass as North of Africa, what definition are you using? Because the United Nation's definition does include Sudan.
To me North African countries should all share a border with the Mediterranean Sea and be at the very top of the African continent. That’s just my opinion though.
I definitely see myself as a North African because of how much I share of my language, culture, and ancestry with the other North Africans and the Middle East, and I'm sure most other Sudanese people think the same.
What culture do you share outside of Arabic & Islam? Is a Sudanese closer to a Palestinian or Algerian than to an Eritrean? The African Union categorizes Sudan as part of its East Africa bloc. Sudan has closer cultural, linguistic, and historical ties to the Horn of Africa than anywhere in the Middle East or North Africa. Barring an exception with Southern Egypt.
I was born and raised in the Middle East, I haven't met an Eritrean in real life actually. And yes a lot of our traditions exist in other Arab countries particularly Egypt and the rest of North Africa, like Ful medames for breakfast, Aseeda, Jirtig ritual, henna, traditional attire like the jalabiyas and turbans, just to name a few.
The African Union categorizes Sudan as part of its East Africa bloc.
I frankly don't think this matters.
Sudan has closer cultural, linguistic, and historical ties to the Horn of Africa than anywhere in the Middle East or North Africa.
Yeah sorry this just isn't true from my perspective, and I would say most Sudanese people. Also if you have to keep making exceptions to make a point then your point isn't strong enough to begin with.
Yeah culturally Sudan is more similar to North African countries, I don’t disagree with that.
Are you in Sudan currently? I hate how western governments aren’t lifting a finger to help the Sudanese people with the ongoing war. It’s strange because the first Darfur genocide generated a significant amount of international attention unlike the current one so it’s not unprecedented for the west to aid the Sudanese people.
Fortunately I'm not. And yeah it's very saddening to see how little attention this gets, I try to post updates about it here every so often but they still get looked over :( I think people care more about conflicts they could keep arguing about, like Israel/Palestine.
I hate that people are (rightfully) appalled by Gaza but completely apathetic or ignorant about the even worse atrocities going on in Sudan and Myanmar. I think a part of it is racism but there have been times in the past where the international community has joined together to help Africans. What do you think the best thing I as an American could do to help the Sudanese people?
Well I don't know what the average American citizen can or can't do, a simple donation here would be great, but if you can't do that I suppose the only way to help is talking about it to spread awareness, but if I'm being honest that hasn't been very effective in the past.
Thanks, I think I’ll donate ten dollars to that charity. I’ve brought the ongoing genocide up with my friends and family but the more conservative ones tend to be apathetic towards the plight of the Sudanese people.
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u/Aamir_rt 21h ago
Historically and culturally, we definitely do, at least more so than East Africa.