Sudan

Welcome to Sudan

Posted January 30, 2020 by Jan
Sudan

Khartoum

The Republic of the Sudan

January 30, 2020

“I prefer civilization” said my cousin when I suggested that she and her husband accompany me to Sudan.

It’s true that in Khartoum, this capital city of five million, the streets are dusty or unpaved.  The sidewalks uneven.  Few signals control the traffic.  Cars are parked wherever they stop.  Buildings lie unfinished, in need of repair or just dilapidated. 

it appears that nothing of any value is discarded.   Men sit on the sidewalk or in small shops where they repair, mend or overhaul everything from watches to eyeglasses to telephones to irons to automotive parts.  

Sufi Spiritual Frenzy

Posted February 2, 2020 by Jan
Sudan

Omdurman

Sudan

Friday Evening

January 31, 2020

This report was filed by Ala Kheir, John Burns and Ibrahim Algrefwi for Brownbook part of the the Guardian Africa Network on February 5, 2016.

In Omdurman, the largest city in Sudan, the Qadiriyya Sufi order meets every Friday outside Sheikh Hammed Al Nil Mosque which houses the tomb of their 19th century Sufi leader. 

Sudan has one of the largest Sufi communities in the world. Sufism is a branch of Islam often seen as mystical due to its followers’ pursuit of a personal, inner path to G-d. What unites each Sufi order is the belief that a path to God can be found through dhikr – absolute absorption in worship during which prayers, dances and spins may be repeated with enough fervour to induce a trance.

Nubian Wrestling

Posted February 3, 2020 by Jan
Sudan

Omdurman

Sudan

February 1, 2020

Welcome to the Nubian Wrestling Arena in Omdurman, Sudan

The rules of Nubian Wrestling seem simple enough.

 

The object of the match is to throw your opponent to the ground to win the match.

A match can end quickly.

There is a time limit.  There may be no winner.

 

 

 

 

 

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