The Dinka are a tall, thin and very dark skinned people who are found mostly in southern Sudan along the Nile River and into the countryside, generally to the west. There are about five distintive groups of Dinka. They are also rejected by other Sudanese people because of their leadership in the civil war that has ravaged the country for over a decade. The Dinka make up a majority of the rebel army, and in fact John Garang, the rebel leader is a Dinka.

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In this Islamic nation, the Dinka are also rejected because they are Christians, although many claim to be Christians only so they will not be identified as Muslim. Many are Catholic and have mixed Christianity with traditional African religions, while some still follow animistic practices.

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The Dinka are traditionally cattle herders. They give their cows names, and sometimes a herder will take the name of his favorite cow and prefer to be called by that name. They are poor people and the Islamic governement in Sudan has limited their opportunities even more.

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The civil war in Sudan has been hard on the Dinka. Many families have at least one relative who was killed while fighting the goverenment forces. Even if a Dinka is not involved in the war, people automatically assume he is a rebel because he is a Dinka.