Anyuak

The Anyuak, also spelled Anuak, are a Nilo-Saharan-speaking ethnic group living in parts of South Sudan and Ethiopia. They refer to themselves by the name Anyuak, and their language is also called Anyuak. The Anyuak language is part of the broader Nilo-Saharan language family and is related to other Surmic languages spoken by neighboring groups.

Geographically, the Anyuak are concentrated along riverine areas in the southern and eastern corridors of the Ethiopian Gambela Region and in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan. A smaller portion of the population has migrated or been displaced into other parts of the region due to historical and contemporary conflicts.

Economically, the Anyuak are traditionally agriculturalists and riverine fisherfolk. They cultivate crops such as sorghum, millet, maize, and groundnuts, and often keep cattle and goats. Fishing is an important supplementary activity in communities near rivers and lakes.

Socially, the Anyuak have a clan-based structure and customary councils that deal with local matters. Life-cycle events, rites of passage, and communal rituals are part of their cultural repertoire. In modern times, the Anyuak practice a mix of Christianity—primarily Protestant and Catholic denominations—and indigenous beliefs, with religious practice often blending traditional customs with Christian worship.

History and contemporary issues: The Anyuak have a long-standing presence in their homeland, but their communities have faced displacement and hardship in recent decades due to regional conflicts and border changes. Despite pressures from modernization and conflict, the Anyuak maintain a distinct language and cultural identity within the broader East African mosaic.