Identity: Why Don’t We Confirm the Confirmed?   Captain Mohamed Hassan Al-Tahir 

It begins with a question:

Can we agree upon common traits of the Sudanese personality? A question that seems simple but is, at its core, complex, because:

– It opens the door to the dialectic of identity and personality,

– It places us before the challenge of distinguishing between what is innate and what is acquired, and between what is shared and what is particular.

Definition of Personality

Personality is a set of psychological and social traits that determine the way an individual thinks, behaves, and interacts with others.

It is not merely a reflection of identity, but rather the product of individual and collective experiences, of culture and history, and of the environment in which a person lives.

A Historical Glimpse of Sudan

Sudan is a country of multiple ethnicities and cultures, where civilizations have blended for thousands of years: from the ancient Nubian kingdoms, through the Islamic era, up to the modern state. This long history created a rich diversity in lifestyles and values, but at the same time posed a challenge in shaping a unifying identity that transcends tribal and ethnic divisions.

Sudanese Tribes: Similarities and Differences

Looking at Sudanese tribes, we find recurring common traits in most of them: generosity, chivalry, pride in belonging, and adherence to traditions.

These traits can be understood through the concept of the prototype—the archetypal Sudanese personality, representing a general mental image of “the Sudanese” in the collective imagination.

On the other hand, there are stereotypes—simplified or sometimes biased images attached to a particular tribe or group, such as describing one tribe as excessively brave, another as inclined toward trade, humor, or wit.

These stereotypes may be partially true, but they do not necessarily reflect the full and complex reality.

The Core Question

So we ask: Why don’t we confirm the confirmed?

Meaning, why don’t we keep repeating the distinctive traits of each tribe as if they were final truths?

The answers are:

– Because constant emphasis on particular traits may reinforce division instead of unity.

– Because national identity is broader than tribal belonging, and it requires highlighting what is shared, not what is different.

– Because distinctive traits are not necessarily fixed; they change with time, experiences, and social transformations.

– And because focusing on the confirmed may blind us to seeing diversity as a positive value, trapping us within stereotypes.

Conclusion

Sudanese identity is not merely the sum of tribal identities, but a dynamic construct built upon shared human and cultural elements.

Therefore, we do not confirm the confirmed because we seek something deeper: the formulation of a unifying identity that transcends tribal boundaries and embraces diversity. Agreeing upon common traits of the Sudanese personality is the path toward strengthening national belonging—without losing the uniqueness of each group, and without falling into the trap of stereotypes.

Finally, if we must confirm the confirmed in identity, we refer to the previous article: Cities as Fingerprints—A Mark of Discipline and Identity.