Author Archives: ajf5533

Blog 6: Beauty of Africa (Sudan)

Posted on December 14, 2014 | 3 comments

Although a majority of the media’s focus on Sudan revolves around the war between the north and south, there still remains a large amount of hidden, unappreciated beauty to the country of Africa.

Amongst the northeast region of Africa, Sudan is commonly characterized as the largest country of the continent, measuring 2,505,813 sq km, 853 km of it being composed of the Red Sea. Even with the Nile river running through the country, Sudan’s deserts are destined to periodic droughts and dust storms. The mountains of the north promise enjoyable weather, getting even better by traveling south to beautiful tropical climates. Sudan has almost any type of region one may want to visit. In the north lays the desert, trailed by mountains and valleys in the center areas. Swamps and rainforests compose the south, offering any type of desire setting of terrain. Traveling to Khartoum, the National Museum takes visitors to the monumental history of ancient Egypt.

Aside from it’s natural beauty, Sudan’s oil production promised large supply, becoming a direct source of oil to a majority of bordering countries. This helps maintain a healthy economy and increasing exchange rate. Other natural resources found in Sudan consist of copper, chromium ore, petroleum, zinc, iron, silver, and gold.

Unfortunately, the amount of visitors Sudan has had in the last few decades has decreased in relation to the war between the north and south. In contrast to the conflict between the people of the north and south of Sudan to one another, the people of Sudan are very well known as being extremely warm and hospitable to any and all visitors. Residents will often invite others into their homes for food and offer plenty of food, shelter, and kindness to any visiting.

Sudan impressingly has its very own currency. The Sudanese pound replaces the pound at an exchange rate of 1 dinar for 10 pounds. Aside from the separated south, the new Sudanese pound became the official currency of the country.

Since sports isn’t a huge part of Sudanese culture, no one is aware of several successful athletes to come out of the country. Manute Bol, who in his era was the tallest basketball player in the NBA, made a huge name for himself in basketball, along Deng Gai and Luol Deng. Gai went to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, while Deng joined the Chicago Bulls.

Amongst movements, between 1960 and 1970, Sudanese woman had one of the first and most active women’s movements in Arabic and African history. The first female parliamentarian took rise in 1965, followed by the first female minister of health in 1974, the Middle East’s first female judge, cinematographer, football referee, army, and police officer.

My initial assumption about Sudan came from the very obvious knowledge that they are in war and separated from south Sudan. I constantly came across articles, current events, and history records of wars and strife from Sudan. After researching the history and facts of the country, I’ve learned how beautiful and unique the country truly is, and how much it has to offer. Although Sudan faces many negative assumptions, it is a country that still offers itself to Africa and contributes as a huge historical source for themselves.

Images (Again):

http://www.newspatrolling.com/wp-content/uploads/Sudan-Darfur2008-_piramidi-_contesto-_COSV_7.jpg

http://www.ccbnational.net/KotW/img/scenic_photos/Sudan/Sudan%20-%20towers%20of%20sudan.jpg

http://gmsudan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Tourism-in-Sudan-1.jpg

 

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Blog 5: Revolutionary Figures

Posted on December 14, 2014 | 1 comment

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:

http://api.ning.com/files/0TyPLysMYmbh0nJx3b0naYAB*J7u2jf6kkT8-9q27K8Fz*yaPxy8RA0JbbNwdWF1YOF5a*VOK8gP7oySXIShbYFBuME3hZgu/TheMahdi1.jpg

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Blog 4: Colonization of Sudan vs. American

Posted on December 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

The colonial history of Sudan began with the Turk-Egyptian rule. The ruling lasted from 1820 until about 1885. This began when Muhammad Ali arranged for two military expeditions, one to the south and the other into the western section of Sudan. The main motivation for invasion was an attempt to obtain black men for his army and to find gold. From the start, the government was already set up for failure. Those in charge were terrible in public communication whether it be delivering speech, or simply reaching out to potential followers. Wherever they went, no one showed interest in associating with them and ultimately just wanted the armies to leave. A rebellion against the government by religious leader Mohamed Ahmed El Mahdi took place in 1881, for both religious and political reasons. His triumph was successful, although he passed away shortly following his reign a year later.

After the Turk-Egyptian ruling, the British-Egyptian Rule took place when General Kitchener invaded Sudan from 1896 to 1898. The British are one of the original reasons for the current Southern and Northern Sudan separation, from when they began requiring a passport to travel between the two countries and setting a ban on the slave trade. From 1951-1953, the British and Egyptians finally evacuated Sudan. Unfortunately, in November of 1955, Sudan redeclared total independence from southern Sudan, initiating a Civil War between the north and south.

During the colonial time period of America, Europeans were arriving in America to become wealthier and spread their influences across the world. The Spanish arrived first among the Europeans. Colonies began to establish amongst the northeast, contracting approximately 2 million colonists by 1770. Towards the end of the colonial American era, most profit was arriving through food products, stores amongst the ships, rum, and slaves. A common misunderstanding is the origin of these slaves during the colonial period. A majority were coming from the Caribbean, not Africa.

(The post would not let me upload pictures so I will attach the websites I found the pictures off of that I would have liked to use, sorry!)

Colonial Sudan:
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/images/midsize/1998.204.11.20_O.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb176fDtbe1rqkjy0o2_1280.gif

Colonial America:

http://my-ecoach.com/online/resources/6767/colonists.jpg

 

 

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reupload

Posted on December 11, 2014 | Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTNHa_ApRDs&feature=youtu.be

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The Kingdom of Kush

Posted on September 24, 2014 | Leave a comment

Looking back into the history of Sudan and it’s great people, one can’t truly appreciate the realm and privileges of the country’s being and existence without comprehending it’s establishments and rises.. The name of the country alone represents it’s beings who inhabited the land.

Unknown-1“Sudan” translated to the Arabic meaning of land of the black people. By the 6th century, the country was Christianized, then with existence dating back to c. 650, Islamization of the land arose between the eight and nineteenth century. During this time, men lived in political unity among the four-thousand mile “Valley of the Nile.” Prehistorically speaking, many evolutions of the land began extraordinarily before such era.

The Neolithic people first inhibited the land and survived on prehistoric materials. Living in villages of huts composed of mud and brick, conditions were less luxurious than expected. Food resulted from anything collected during hunting or fishing along the river. Grain was collected and agriculture rose for the people of the Nile river valley.

imagesTrade was a large aspect of the developing years of Sudan. The Egyptians would compose deals of agriculture material, such as grains, with the land of Kush for stones, incense, etc. When Egyptians began seeking a more permanent trading area, they decided for travel forts protecting the trade of gold, which was very valued to the mines in Wawat. Gold and slave trades were amongst the pharaoh’s control.

Mansa_MusaEgypt then felt more power over the area and pharaoh Ahmose arose the New Kingdom from c. 1570-1100 BC. During which time the extent of control contained Kush until the fourth cataract. The Egyptian soldiers expected devotion is exchange for respect and commitment from chiefs and kids over the pharaoh’s people.

A language was established within the community which was used in all aspects of work, socializing, and living for the people once settled into the area. The temples of hard work and time were used for the religious worship of Christianity until diminishing after the 6th century.

Although generic information concerning the history and evolution of Sudan exist amongst the Internet in scatters, there isn’t much online or physical history to the land. I strongly believe because the history of Egypt and the Nile is so widely known and recognized, the country sitting on the other side isn’t taken into consideration or mentioned. The history was never a violent once, aside from the assumed slavery and pharaoh ruling that existed in a majority of the surrounding countries at such time. I believe although somewhat generic and peaceful, the land of Sudan be more recognized for it’s beauty and graciousness to surrounding countries and rise than be left in the dust as such.

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The Big Heart of Africa

Posted on September 10, 2014 | 1 comment

The vision of dreadful, unbearable heat, poverty filled villages, and dry everlasting lands overflow the visions of anyone who hasn’t first hand experienced a trip to the surprisingly stunning lands of Sudan, Africa. Amongst it’s 47 bordering countries, Sudan is the largest, yet least visited country of Africa. With a population of 38 million people as of 2013, the difference in personality and hospitality surpasses the other countries and makes Sudan stand out for its reputable, welcoming people who treat visitors as one of their own. While the middle eastern areas contain the majority of residents, a walk through their town will prove actions over words when it comes to how above and beyond the hospitality exists.

images Although the common misconception of any area in Africa is how desert styled it may be viewed, visitors may be surprised to find a surprising alternative to the geographic. While the east and western regions are mountainous amongst the majority of Sudan’s savannahs, a historical beauty flows. A trip down the legendary, majestic Nile river will take you through the diverse, northern area of the Nubian desert, known as the Ancient Kingdoms of Cush Meroe. Composed near Khartoum, the Nile river is one of the most famous streams of water. Two natural harbors, Port Sudan and Suakin also rest on the Red Sea, another product of Sudan.

imagesAnother composure to Sudan’s topography would be the plains of mainly desert accompanied by an embracing warmth of just under a hundred degrees. With mainly the North consisting of beautiful, neutral sandy hills of desert, the highest  mountain of Kinteti rises 3,187 miles along the Uganda border.

1272566818-khartoum-Sudan-Africa-KhartoumIn the heart of Khartoum is Sudan’s national museum where ancient artifacts, antiques, and Buhen and Semna Egyptian temples can be explained and exhibited  in true custom to Sudan’s history. Rather than  vouch for the wonderful beauty of the “friendliest” tourist country of Sudan, come visit it for yourself and experience the true beauty of Africa’s heart. 

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Viruses inhabiting Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea causing deathly incidents

Posted on September 3, 2014 | 1 comment

Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/south-africa-issues-travel-ban-for-countries-hit-by-ebola-virus-outbreak-1408638457

Date: August 21, 2014

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Almost directly following a ban in bordering countries Zambia and Kenya, residents of select countries in Southern Africa aren’t allowing travel outside of themselves regarding the serious, dangerous spreading of deadly diseases. Currently, the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are restricting access due to a spread of an Ebola outbreak that has resulted in over 13,000 deaths as of the month of September 2014.

Although members outside of the mentioning countries may return to their home country from external travels, their returns will consist of extreme analyzed medical tests. While travel from outer countries is currently banned indefinitely, The World Health Organization is against restriction of airborne travel of the countries. According to research within the countries, distancing these countries would be unreasonable due to the study that the diseases affecting Ebola wouldn’t spread through direct contact, airborne travel, etc. Body fluid contact has been the only discovered way of travel for the mentioned disease. The residents of these countries are for whatever reason not acquiring quarantine areas, so the doctors and researches  of the infected countries have taken it upon themselves to arrange protective equipment themselves for the basic physical protection through glove protection. The African Union has composed a mission consisting of around $3 million to help the area of Sierra Leone with a mobile lab in effort to find a cure and put an end to whatever contact has created spread in this country.

The tone in this article is more centered on the concern and pain of the residents of these countries and what will happen to them. As many know, there are severe, deadly diseases spread throughout many select areas of South Africa and beyond that are going untreated and resulting in the lives of residents young and old. The impression I received was one of concern and hope that certain governments and organizations would continue to impose regulations for the safety and bettering of theses countries, and are taking the time, money, and research to put an end to the spreading of these deadly causes for the future of Southern Africa, although when this may take place is unknown. The source, Wall Street Journal, showed general and legitimate representation and research of the progression and effects of where the issues of travel were coming from and how it is planning on diminishing and resulting in hopeful termination of the issue. For an article coming from within another country to show such interest and hope in saving these countries from isolation and termination shows unbiased, sincere care. We haven’t discussed this particular area of issue in class, although I feel our involvement in knowing about these types of issues will be presented and respected the way it should for the obvious care and concern of such countries.

My personal thoughts are based on the concern that Africa in general, although I’m unfortunately terribly uninformed, is always under extreme, deadly health and poverty issues making the country suffer extreme struggle within all areas of living that we never come close to in America. Although I’m aware other areas are well off and very wealthy, I understand the villages and diseased areas and countries like the ones mentioned in the article that struggle day to day. I hope to keep up with the progression and future hopeful safety of efforts being made to save the struggling areas of the beloved continent.

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