Five Women of Sennar: Culture and Change in Central Sudan

Kenyon (Butler U.) used as representative examples of women in the town of Sennar in the Sudan a hairdresser, market woman, a midwife, a faith-healer/seeress and a leader of a spirit possession/healing group. These women's different positions in Sudanese society have not undermined their collective perceptions of how they are to achieve some level of self-determination and autonomy in a male-dominated environment. As one comments, men are like "morning shade," a gentle irony that helps them to understand their primary resource is each other. Kenyon includes a glossary of Sudanese Arabic terms and brings her 1980-1985 data up to date with more research in 2000 and 2001. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR