Meet Sudanese and South Sudanese Vegans and Vegetarians. Yes, They Exist.

Manar El Mugammar, 32, Marketing & Public Relations Consultant, residing in Canada. I struggled with eating meat since high school. I went vegetarian for the first time in 2003 but fell off the wagon in 2008. I again went vegan in 2011 but for a year. I finally went vegan in 2014 and haven’t looked back. My decision to become vegan was influenced by the Netflix documentary ‘Vegducated’ in 2011 which made me aware of the conditions of animals in modern day animal agriculture and I decided that I didn’t want to contribute to a life of misery for our animal friends. At first it was difficult, especially considering my partner at the time was not vegan. I didn’t know what ingredients to avoid, where to eat when dining out, and what recipes to prepare at home. I often found myself contemplating eating cheese ‘just this one-time’ or bargaining with myself while dining out to eat chicken wings etc. I began eating a lot of ‘vegan junk’ like mock-meats, Oreos, and chips. I was obsessed with what I couldn’t have and trying to recreate the taste and texture of the forbidden food. Eventually, my focus shifted to what I can have, and I became less interested in making vegan food taste like meat or dairy. At first, I hid my choice from my parents because I thought they wouldn’t understand, especially since they were less than supportive (to say the least) when I went vegetarian in high school. Finally, I told them about it which led to many discussions and arguments for the first year or so. Dining at my parent’s house became increasingly difficult since it always led to an argument with my dad. One day, I went prepared and discussed at length my reasons for veganism and after some arguments, we came to an agreement to disagree. Fast forward four years and my parents are eating less meat (my dad has actually cut out all meat except on his cheat day) and my mom prepares various vegan recipes for me when I visit. It’s actually quite heart-warming to see them evolve in this way. When I was younger I thought of my parents as old and stuck in their ways. My journey to veganism has shown me that anyone is capable of change and growth, and that you’re never too old for personal development. Most importantly, it helped me see my parents as ‘people’ and not just mama and baba. I find younger Sudanese people extremely accepting and accommodating of my food choices, close Sudanese friends will even prepare vegan options for me when I visit their homes. Older Sudanese people tend to have mixed reactions, everything from ‘Why are you doing this to yourself? Where do you get protein? A woman needs protein!’ to ‘Surely you can have eggs though! Fish isn’t an animal.’ More recently, I attended a wedding of a Sudanese acquaintance and the only vegan food available was rice and salad. I enjoyed both but definitely faced some criticism from my tablemates as to why I wouldn’t just make an exception this one time. I believe the future of humanity as a whole is vegan, it’s the only sustainable choice for our health, for the environment and of course from a moral perspective. I do believe that veganism is possible, affordable, and doable for everyone. That being said, I think people need to come to that conclusion themselves. If a person is not ready or open to the change, they will come up with a million excuses until something clicks. In my experience the ‘click’ usually happens when they are exposed to animal agriculture and can no longer avoid the truth about where their food comes from. I try to motivate people by living a good, healthy life and making food that is tasty and appealing for everyone. I also always jump at the opportunity to answer questions about veganism and provide support to anyone considering the transition. The challenges are lack of knowledge and understanding about what veganism actually is, as well as lack of interest in nutrition and exercise. While I cherish the way Sudanese people gather and build communities around food – I find myself critical of the types of food we eat and the diet-related health issues that are prevalent in our community. Misconceptions about nutrition is also a big challenge since they are difficult to change. Most people are unaware that plants have protein too. In fact there are many Sudanese dishes that are vegan, healthy, affordable and delicious. There are loads of readily vegan food in Sudan – lentils, Fava beans, peanut salad (salatat dakwa), falafel etc. Many versions of Sudanese food can also easily be veganised such as molokhiya, bamiya, and various potato-based dishes. With the help of my mother, I prepared a few vegan versions of Sudanese food that I often enjoy. What I don’t enjoy is probably the mentality that a meal isn’t complete without meat, and if you skip meat you’re just having ‘side dishes’. My diet consists mostly of grains (brown rice, brown breads, brown pasta), beans, and of course loads of fruits and vegetables. I mix it up and make vegan versions of various dishes from around the world like tacos, falafel, stir-fries, etc. A few vegan food myths I would like to dispel are:
1. It’s not expensive to eat a plant-based diet, vegetables are cheaper than dairy and meat.
2. You can get enough protein from a plant-based diet.
3. There’s nothing unnatural about veganism, as a matter of fact, it’s the way our ancestors ate.
4. Plants don’t have feelings.
5. Vegan food tastes great.