20/12/2025
This is a documentation of the early life of the Dinka people of South Sudan🇸🇸. The film was first recorded in the 1970s and originally broadcast on Italian national television in 1990. It is the work of Richard and Julia Kemp.
It portrays the insecurity of the nomadic and semi-nomadic Dinka life in the face of nature, alongside their myths. The narrative echoes themes found in the famous work of the Italian poet and philosopher Giacomo Leopardi. Considered one of the greatest poets of the 19th century, Leopardi wrote profoundly about the hardships and challenges of pastoral life. Though he never visited Africa, the Middle East, or Asia, his writings inspired young Italians to travel to places like South Sudan to witness such realities.
The film shows the daily activities of both men and women necessary for survival before the influence of Western culture. It focuses on two characters, Manyang and his wife Nyangau, who struggle together to raise their young family. In one scene, Manyang helps his wife by carrying their baby, while she carries lighter belongings. The film illustrates how a Dinka man is devoted to protecting his wife, providing food, and sharing in a life where each has different responsibilities.
Over the years, the traditional Dinka way of life has gradually changed due to Western influence and a prolonged civil war that has claimed millions of lives. Part 13
