Manute Bol

Date of Birth: c. October 16, 1962

Place of Birth: Turalei, Sudan (now South Sudan)

Date of Death: June 19, 2010

Place of Death: Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.

Ethnicity: Sudanese

Manute Bol was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. Initially a star with the National Basketball Association (NBA), he played with the Rhode Island Gulls, the Washington Bullets, the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat, the Florida Beach Dogs, and the Fulgor Libertas Forlì. He was 7′6″ or 7′7″, and is tied with Gheorghe Mureșan for the tallest NBA player. He was known for his shot blocking skills.

Manute was the son of Madute and Okwok Bol, and was raised near Gogrial. His father was a Dinka tribal elder. The Dinka are part of the Nilotic people, known for their height; his father was 6′8″ and his mother was 6′10″. The name Manute means “special blessing.” Manute experienced prejudice from the northern Sudanese majority. He was recruited to play college basketball in the U.S. in 1982.

Manute had six children with his first wife Atong, and four children with his second wife Ajok. Among his children is Madut, who played college basketball, and professional basketball player Bol Bol.

He spoke Dinka and Arabic. Manute was Catholic.

Source: https://www.espn.com