Most young people in Sudan's greater Bahr El-Ghazal region are increasingly shunning traditional games, song and dance as their preferred means of relaxation.

Like Mathiang Beny Til, they spend a large chunk of their leisure time fixated on a computer screen or speaking into their mobile phone.

"Today, I can enjoy life by communicating with friends around the world during my leisure time through cell phones, internet and other means of modern communications, which were not there during the time of traditional society," said the 25-year-old resident of the Western Bahr El-Ghazal state capital of Wau.

A report entitled The Lonely Society? that was published in May by the London-based Mental Health Foundation concluded that the same technology that was originally supposed to facilitate more communication between people is rapidly replacing normal human interaction, especially among the youth.

The study, which was conducted only inside the United Kingdom, also found that loneliness is more prevalent among the young today than among pensioners.

The septuagenarian Kornelio Ucalla agrees.

"Now, the young people are not intimate friends," said the native of the Western Bahr El-Ghazal village of Mbili. "(They) do not help their families compared to the young people during our time."

Wol Deng Ajou has a similar perspective on today's teenagers and twentysomethings.

"Unlike the current generation who hang out at bars and other places inside the town, we enjoyed life out of the town during leisure time," said the 67-year-old resident of the Northern Bahr El-Ghazal state capital of Aweil.

Playing volleyball and listening to music were among Colleta Aku's favourite pastimes as a young girl. "When I heard music, I felt relaxed," she said.

Much of her leisure time was spent with family members and friends in the vicinity of her home and school because the country's armed conflicts discouraged long trips around Southern Sudan.

"The war and precariousness of our time forced us to spend our leisure time around our residence area," she said.

The 53-year-old Aku acquired an interest in singing during her studies at a Roman Catholic school in Wau. She soon joined the choir in the city's St. Mary Catholic Church, where she still sings to this day.

Even the dating scene was quite different. Recalling his own halcyon days, Mr. Ucalla said he was 21 years old when he fell in love with the teenaged Treza Cugo.

Every evening after work, he would go to her home to woo her with song and dance.

"We used to explain our love and affections by singing and dancing in front of our would-be love partner during leisure time," said Mr. Ucalla, now 73. "I sang and danced in front of Treza to show her my feelings and affections."

But changing times spawn changing attitudes and customs. Mr. Ajou for his part acknowledges that every generation has its own way of having fun.

"I can see that people are playing football, watching movies and enjoying life around cafeterias and bars during their leisure time," he said.

Ms. Aku, who served as Deputy Team Leader of the Western Bahr El-Ghazal State High Committee during Sudan's recently concluded general election, noted that improved security conditions in the wake of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement have enabled young Sudanese to sally forth from hearth and home with greater confidence.