The people call themselves Anywaa, others particularly their neighbours (Nuer, Dinka, Shilluk) simply know them as Anyuak

The Anyuak land originally was the stretch of territory extending along the Sobat River with its tributaries of Baro ( Ethiopia ) and Akobo-Pibor. They now live in Pochalla and Akobo Counties . The land is characteristically marsh land, rich savannah forest and grassland.

The Anyuak are predominantly subsistence agriculturalists growing sorghum, maize, simsim, beans and tobacco. They raise cattle, goats and fowl. The cattle-raiding practice of their neighbours, the Murle, has discouraged them from keeping large herds of cattle.

The Anyuak youth pan and extract gold from the streams that drain the Ethiopian highlands.

The Anyuak speak dho-Anywaa, almost 100% intelligible to the dhi-Pari, and very close to dhok-Chollo (Shilluk language) and the dho-Luo of Bahr el Ghazal .

The Anyuak society was originally divided into two large clans: Tung Goc and Tung Odolla. Each Anyuak village has a Nyie (king) or Kway-Luak (sub-chief) in control of the social and administrative matters of the village.

Anyuak communities are communal: it is obligatory to share resources.

Anyuak literature is orally expressed in form of poems, songs, folktales riddles and stories.

Nyie (King) Adongo Agada was enthroned in 2001. In May 2003 a peace agreement was signed between the Anyuak and Murle which stabilized their relationship.

There is a large Anyuak Diaspora population especially in America and Canada where Nyie Adongo Agada was living before being enthroned.

This information and more about the Anyuak and the other tribes of Southern Sudan is available from the Gurtong website. The website also contains news and documentation, including on the role of Customary Law in Southern Sudan .