Darfur, in the desert region of western Sudan, has been the scene of much horrible torture, death, and destruction in the past few years. For centuries the settled farmers and nomadic herder tribes in the area coexisted peacefully.

Unfortunately, many things have changed for the Massalit people in the last three years, because they have become one of the ethnic groups involved in the Darfur crisis. Through the suffering brought on by those of their own Islamic religious background, many people in Darfur have dared to question their own faith and have even ceased to pray.

However, today most Berta Muslims take their religion quite seriously although it is mixed with indigenous beliefs and practices. There is no local group of Christian believers. Bible translation began with some Old Testament passages but unfortunately that work stopped two years ago when the Muslim translators were forbidden to help more on the project.

The war of Khartoum in the south of Sudan was a reaction to the government seeking to impose Islamic sharia law. Ironically, the result has been to bring Christians by the thousands to a once Islamic city. In 1997 there were officially 171 churches in Khartoum.

The Beja of Sudan only marry within their tribe, since they earnestly desire to preserve their cultural identity and their language (To-Bedawie). They love to recite poetry, and often celebrate the ancient stories and traditions of their tribe in village gatherings.