Current Time in Yambio
South Sudan's culture of time
South Sudan's culture of time
A flexible sense of time is deeply rooted
South Sudan has a relatively relaxed culture regarding time, and it is common for meetings and gatherings to start later than scheduled. Flexible time management, known as "African time," is common, and strict time management tends not to be emphasized.
Life that starts with sunrise and ends with sunset
Since the power supply is unstable in many areas, it is common to see a lifestyle in which activities begin with sunrise and end around sunset. It is basic to make the most of sunlight during the day.
Traditional ceremonies and events are not bound by time
Weddings and tribal ceremonies have vague start times, and often begin as soon as the participants gather, with no set end time. Connections with people and the atmosphere of the place are more important than time.
South Sudanese values regarding time
Prioritizing time for relationships
In South Sudan, people tend to prioritize time spent with family and friends, and interactions with the local community, rather than using time efficiently. It is not uncommon for relationships to take priority over schedules.
A relaxed, unhurried rhythm of life
Due to economic and social background, daily life is carried out with a relaxed sense of time that is in tune with the rhythm of nature and the surrounding circumstances, and minute-by-minute plans of action like in developed countries are not common.
Awareness of "flow" rather than "divisions" of time
Rather than dividing time into small sections, the style of living according to the general flow of the day is deeply rooted. Intuitive divisions such as morning, noon, and evening are used as a guide for actions.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or relocating to South Sudan
It is safe to think of appointment times as a guideline
Even business or personal appointments rarely start exactly at the appointed time, and you are required to act with the expectation of being 30 minutes or more late. If you insist too much on punctuality, it may cause friction in your relationships with local people.
Public services and transportation are often irregular
Although the opening hours of buses, government offices, and shops are set, their actual operation is subject to change depending on the weather and staff's convenience, so it is important not to expect them to be on time.
Emphasis on daytime movement and activities
For safety reasons, you should refrain from going out at night, and it is basic to concentrate your movement and activities during the hours when the sun is up. To ensure time for activities, it is necessary to take into consideration the times of sunrise and sunset.
Interesting trivia about time in South Sudan
The "scheduled start time" of a meeting is not the signal to start
In many meetings, there is no one there at the designated time. It is common to act under the assumption that the meeting will start as soon as the participants gather, rather than the start time.
Weddings are the norm as "one-day events"
Traditional weddings in South Sudan start early in the morning and can last until late at night. There is no time schedule, and participants come and go when they like.
The habit of measuring time by the "position of the sun" rather than by clocks
Apart from urban areas, many people, especially in rural areas, do not own a clock, and many people judge the timing of their actions by looking at the length of the shadow and the position of the sun. This is also deeply related to the agricultural culture.