Muslim Arab Sudanese in Cairo have played a fundamental role in Egyptian history and society during many centuries of close relations between Egypt and Sudan. Although the government and official press describes them as "brothers" in a united Nile Valley, recent political developments in Egypt have underscored the precarious legal status of Sudanese in Cairo. Neither citizens nor foreigners, their uncertain position is created in part through an unusual ethnic discourse which does not draw principally on obvious characteristics of difference. This rich ethnographic study shows instead that Sudanese ethnic identity is created from deeply held social values, especially those concerning gender and propriety, shared by Sudanese and Egyptian communities. The resulting ethnic identity is ambiguous and flexible, allowing Sudanese to voice their frustrations and make claims for their own uniqueness while simultaneously acknowledging the identity that they share with the dominant Egyptian community.
- ISBN10 1845452445
- ISBN13 9781845452445
- Publish Date 6 October 2007
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 28 October 2015
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Berghahn Books
- Format Paperback
- Pages 160
- Language English