Tag Archives: anti-colonialism

Blog 5: Revolutionary Figures

Although not many positive leaders have been apart of the history of Sudan, Abdullah Ibn-Mohammed, a Sudanese Ansae ruler, obtained a large following and took over a more or less powerful movement, although his motives remain questionable amongst the history of Sudan. Abdullah was always meant to be a leader and people person, being raised and practicing his reign as a preacher in his early years. He was named a chief lieutenant under the following of Mohammed Ahmed in 1880, and in charge of the Mahdist army. As a mahdist leader following the death of Mahdi in 1885, Abdullah arose as a single leader in 1891. He maintained a traditional administration, going against the courts that strongly enforced Sharia law.

As a part of his leadership, he wanted to expand any issues occurring within Sudan to Ethiopia and Egypt, refusing any attempt anyone may have made to keep peace between Abdullah and the bordering countries. With 60,000 Ansar troops at his side, his attempt to invade Ethiopia worked, killing Ethiopian emperor Yohannes IV. Abdullah spent four years making the military strategies and financial growth of Sudan grow, simultaneously attempting to put an end to the crop failures and economic issues he was facing. The Italians, French, and British forces surrounded Sudan in 1896 under Anglo-Egyptian general Herbert Kitchener, retrieving the rights of stability for Sudan. Abdullah’s army was defeated on April 8 of 1898, leading to his going MIA in the south of Sudan. An Egyptian column under Sir Reginald Wingate found and killed Abdullah in November of 1899. His army was forced to hand over responsibilities to Egyptian administrators and technicians to restore to failed attempt to unify Sudan.

The effect this had on the country, although not positive, did influence African literature in a positive way. His written literature still influences the Arabic population. His attempt to purify Islam caused people of Sudan to fight their Egyptian rulers for almost a decade, freeing Sudan from foreign rule.

(Picture upload again 🙁 )

Abdullah:

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The Dark &The Light

For this blog it’s been very difficult trying to find anticolonial revolutionary figures that hands are not stained in blood. When I started my search I typed in anticolonial revolutionary figures in Somalia, and my search led me to Hassan, and an essay by John P. Slight. The opening paragraph of this essay was very devastating, and explains the monstrosities that were committed. I felt that it was best to quote John P. Slight to give the readers a better understanding of the way I felt while reading.

“Since the start of Hassan’s jihad against unbelievers and insufficiently pious Muslims in 1899, the “Cinderella of the Empire” had suffered terribly. Hassan’s jihad caused “universal perdition”, with an estimated 200,000 deaths over twenty years in a territory of three million people. An estimated 30,000 alone died in three years as the result of internecine warfare after the British decided the cost of keeping the “Mad Mullah” in check was too burdensome, and withdrew to the coast in 1909. The withdrawal led Hassan to resume raiding Somali tribes in the protectorate. This, coupled with the British policy of arming these tribes to fend for them selves, contributed to the death toll. Hassan was condemned by the British, but a few of the same observers also grudgingly admired his determination and sustained resistance to imperial power.”

This information led me to seek out information on individuals in Somalia who had a positive influence on the country without it resulting in blood shed. Most of Somalia is still beginning to fix itself after their civil war, and they are currently divided, Somaliland to the north and Somalia to the south. Throughout my search I found many civil rights activists that have influenced Somalia in a positive way. However one of these individuals stood out among the rest was Asha Haji Elmi, a politician and peace activist. There are five major clans in Somalia the Rahanweyn, Darod, Dir, Hawiye and Isaaq. However in 2000 Ashe formed the Sixth clan, “the pan-Somali women’s movement”.

This individual strength intrigued me the more I read about her. During my reading I discovered this statement, “I was divided in two. My birth clan rejected me, because my husband was from a clan they were fighting. My husband’s clan considered me a spy and a stranger. Where do I belong? I realized the only identity no one could take away from me was being a woman. My only clan is womanhood.” Asha Haji Elmi and her husband tossed aside the cultural norm and started a powerful influential force. During the first Somali Peace and Reconciliation conference in 2002, the women were denied a seat at the table because men from the five clans were only recognized as officials. However a small cross-clan group of women led by Asha Haji Elmi demanded a place in the negotiations as representatives of Somalia’s sixth clan. The sixth clan was recognized for the first time in Somalia history showing women had representation in government. There are currently 22 women in Parliament.

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Liberia’s Fight: A Desire Orchestrated By Whom?

For the second time in as many weeks, I found this topic quite difficult. Now don’t get me wrong, I was excited to dig up more information on the figures that helped make Liberia what it is today. In America, citizens are constantly reminded of who deserves our admiration for positively affecting our society whether it is Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln or Susan B. Anthony. However, after doing extensive research trying to find the elusive anti-colonial figures that helped Liberia remain free from external pressures and influences I discovered two things. One, there was no one (or multiple) person who fought colonization in Liberia; it was a communion of differing groups of people stemming from North America and Africa. Two, America had a much larger and overbearing role in the internal political and economical infrastructure in Liberia than I ever thought possible. So while I was unable to unearth distinct revolutionary figures in the history of anti-colonialism and subsequent declaration of independence in Liberia, I do believe that I provide a more unique look into the different groups of people that came together and contributed to the Liberia we know today.

During the 1800s, we saw an increase in the number of freed slaves in North America as well as in Liberia. These were people who had seen toil, death and injustice. In America, the slave states that were or had participated in slave trading were most interested in sending the free African-Americans and newly freed slaves away from their developing societies with one of the most appealing options being Liberia. Liberia I’m sure represented a place that not only was far way almost contributing to the idea “out of sight, out of mind” but also a way to save their reputation. What could be a more progressive action than assisting Liberia in becoming more colonized through the migration of the people themselves? The Africans themselves wanted an outlet to express their freedom and independence. A life in Liberia would sure be an upgrade from the life of hardship and discrimination in America, right?

The United States was a huge factor in the aid for independence in Liberia. Many societies were formed to aid in the transportation and settling of newly freed slaves and other African-Americans. Societies such as The Maryland State Colonization Society and The American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour of the United States (2) are just two of organizations that contributed to the migration of people to Liberia. This might appear to some as controversial; Liberia and Ethiopia were the only two countries that escaped colonialism! From a different perspective, the way I see it is the returning of displaced human beings, regardless of generation, back to their rightful land. This does not spell the idea of forming colonies; it was the actions of men and women returning home.

Politics and involvement throughout America and Africa allowed the magnificently independent country of Liberia the opportunity to strengthen its shallow roots. Freed African Americans made the treacherous journey back to a place where their ancestors had been taken out of in fear and in shackles. These men and women not only argued for freedom but also for the chance to reclaim their home.

1.) http://www.conservapedia.com/Liberia

2.) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/libhtml/liberia.html