HumanPhenotypes
Basic type / Sudanid

Sudanid

Basic type 10 varieties
Sudanid — ♂ male
♂ male
Sudanid — ♀ female
♀ female
Sudanid distribution
Distribution · c. 1500 CE
  • common
  • occasional
  • rare

Description

Widespread type, native to the savannah regions of North-Equatorial Africa. Skull long and high, nose very wide and rather low-rooted, lips bulging, chin small, forehead steep, face large, hair kinky, legs long, and body muscular. In contrast to Bantuids of the southern savannahs, features are more pronounced, skulls higher, and legs longer. Represents an adaption to humid savannah climate. The most typical variety is the Sudanid (proper) of West Africa. In East Africa (esp. Kurdufan), a similar East Sudanid is found. The Bobo type of Burkina Faso is characterised by shorter skulls, the Senegalid by more gracile features and darker skin. The Equatorial Sudanids of Central Africa show stronger Congolid influence like several other varieties, e.g. the Casamance type. Slavery brought Sudanids to other continents like the Americas, where they constitute an important element today. Recent migrations bring them to Europe and parts of Asia.

Names across authors

Sudanid (Eickstedt, 1934, 1952; Vogel, 1974; Lundman (1967, 1988); Knussmann, 1996), Sudanese (Coon et al., 1950; Biasutti, 1967; Debets, 1974), Soudanaise (Vallois, 1968), Sudanian (Alexeev, 1979), West African Negro (Cole, 1965), Homo sudanensis (Sergi, 1908).

Local varieties

Related basic types