The multi-ethnic market town of Kutum situated on the way to the blacksmith village of Toumra in Northern Darfur. Kutum is known for the many date palms (Fur: “senda”) seen in the wadi between the huts in the foreground and the hills.
Kutum, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
An isolated village on Jebel Gurgei in the Jebel Si area of Northern Darfur, where people still lived in a very special type of house with flat-topped roofs, called “Torrontoga”. In the Fur language “tong” means house, and such houses are associated with a mythical people called Torro. One man is standing in front of the entrance, while two others are standing on the flat roof.
Jebel Gurgei, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1969
A man and his daughter stand outside a flat-roofed Torrontonga house (Fur: “Tong)”. Note that in those days the Muslim Fur of Jebel Si did not practice a strict Islamic dress code for females.
Jebel Si area.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1969
Next to a stone-walled house of the Fur we can see four girbas. The girbas are water containers made of goat skin. However the girbas on the photo are used for carrying cereals.
Village near Kutum in Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Fur villages in the western foothills of Jebel Marra are frequently enclosed by fences made of wooden logs.
Kornei village near Nyertete, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A group of nomadized Fur watering a donkey (Fur: “lel”) at their camp in the area of Jebel Si. Note the seasonal huts made of branches in the background. They are very different from the tents used by nomadized Fur in western Darfur. In the Jebel Si area nomadized Fur farmers do not change ethnic identity.
Jebel Si area, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1969
The camp site of a Fur farmer who has succeeded in accumulating cash for investment in a sufficient number of cattle. Cattle thrive best when they are moved seasonally between different ecological zones. Successful Fur farmers therefore prefer to establish themselves as nomads like the Baggara Arabs when they have enough cows (Fur: “ko”). Note the tent made of straw mats (Fur and Arabic: “birish”) similar to those used by the Baggara nomads.
Lower Wadi Azum, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A woman outside her tent in the camp of nomadized Fur.
Wadi Azum area, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A group of nomadized Fur resting under the shadow of a tree.
Wadi Azum, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A Baggara family outside their tent.
Western foothills of Jebel Marra, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A woman from the Jumala Arabs of Northern Darfur is setting up the tent in a dry season camp (Arabic: “fariq”), near Wadi Aribo, close to Zalingi.
Wadi Aribo, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1966
A couple of the Weila Fulani is setting up their tent towards the end of the rainy season. The Fulani nomads generally move into the Fur area before the Baggara Arabs and they are also the first to move southwards as the rain approaches.
Near Nyertete, Western foothills of Jebel Marra, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
