Miracle of the men of heights, African tribe known to have some of the tallest people in the world. Welcome to South Sudan
The tribe referred to as the “Tribe of Basketball”
The Dinka tribe of South Sudan is known to have some of the tallest people in Africa and possibly the world.
The Dinka Tribe
The Dinka tribe is a Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan who resides along the Nile from Jonglei to the Abyei region of the Ngok Dinka in South Sudan. They originate from the Gezira (in present-day Sudan) and were said to have been ruled by the kingdom of Alodia, a Christian multi-ethnic empire dominated by Nubians.
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They are the largest ethnic tribe in South Sudan and one of the three groups that formed the original settlers. After defending their region against the Ottoman Turks and resisting slavery attempts by slave merchants who intended to convert them to Islam in the mid-1800s, the Dinka tribe spread across the region.
According to the 2008 Sudan census, the Dinka tribe made up about 18% of the 4.5 million of South Sudan’s population.
Widely known as the legendary cattle keepers of Sudan, the Dinka people practice mainly traditional agriculture and pastoralism. They rely on cattle husbandry not just for commercial profit or food but as a measurement for wealth and power.
Height in the Dinka Tribe
Often referred to as “the tribe of basketball,” the Dinka people appear to have some of the tallest people in Africa and the world in general. The majority of the people appear to be dark-skinned, slim, and of course, tall. Their physical features have made them stand out in many ways and many tourists who visit them, are left fascinated.
According to a report by Roberts and Bain Bridge, in 1953–1954, the average height of men in a sample of about 52 is 182.6 cm (5ft 11.9 inch) and 181.3cm (5ft 11.4 in
ch) in 227 Dinka women. Interestingly the tallest NBA player in history also happens to be a Dinka man named Manute Bol — with a height of 7ft 7inch. He played for Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Washington Bullets.
Though there has been a lot of speculation about the cause of the tall height of the Dinka people, the most common explanation is their nutrition which is said to primary milk and organic food. But I’d like to think genetics have more to play in the cause of the Dinka height as many other tribes which follow the same diet don’t seem to be as tall.
Whatever the reason is for the fascinating height of the Dinka people of South Sudan, they are believed to be a hospitable tribe who find pride in their culture and in being the tallest humans in Africa.
