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An ancient Arab proverb states, "When Allah made the Sudan, he laughed." Had he known the country's future, he would have done better to cry. To most of the world, Sudan means Darfur and the tragedy of atrocities and ethnic cleansing that has occurred there.Canada's first involvement in Sudan was in 1884, when Canadian voyageurs were recruited to help rescue General Gordon, who was besieged in Khartoum by the Mahdi. Canada in Sudan introduces Canadians to this massive, troubled nation, telling the story from ancient times through to the modern era and the work of Canadian archaeologists, aid organizations, and Canadian Forces military observers deployed to Sudan as part of Operation Safari.

On March 30, 2007, Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay said, "Sudan is an almost perfect storm of conflict, dislocation, underdevelopment, and brutality." Perhaps he was confirming that Canada will be in Sudan for a very long time.

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Fieldwork has been combined with archival research conducted in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nigeria to explicate the manner in which the Sudan United Mission strove to create a Christian Northern Nigerian identity in order to combat a Muslim Hausa identity. To accomplish this transformation, the missionaries created a home for freed Nigerian slaves; it was named after Lucy Guinness Kumm, one of its founders. The story of the home and its use takes place in the midst of Lord Lugard's colonial ideal of indirect rule and the working misunderstanding in which local rulers presumably conducted local affairs in an independent manner free from direction from the colonial government. The reality was much different and each of the participants chose to _misunderstand_ the actions, motives, and histories of the others. These included indigenous Muslim rulers, so-called _pagans,_ colonial officials, and missionaries. In the midst of numerous intrigues, the Sudan United Mission took care of over 200 freed slave children and initiated significant educational reforms. The depiction of a plural society and its expatriates is a major contribution. The book has value for studies in education, colonial history, and cultural anthropology. ... Read more

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Much recent work on the history of colonial medicine argues that medicine was the handmaiden of colonial power and of capitalism.Dr Bell challenges this interpretation through careful investigation of the complicated relationship between medicine, politics, and capital in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. This book includes chapters on midwifery training and female circumcision, on health and racial ideology, and on the quest to find the yellow fever virus in East Africa. ... Read more

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unique and constantly updated
This book contains a list of publications which deal with the prehistory and early dynastic period of Egypt and Northern Sudan. The indexed books, articles and dissertations relate to history, art, geology, flora, faunaand many more subjects. Alphabetically listed by the author's name, thereader will find references written in English, German, French, Spanish andItalian, as well as Chinese, Arab, Russian, Japanese and Polish. Newadditions to the book can be found in the *Archeo-Nil* journal. Areincluded topographical and thematic indexes, as well as a map whichfacilitate finding the area of interest. This is an excellent book ofreferences both for the student and researcher to own. ... Read more

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An examination of the evolution of the colonial city of Port Sudan. ... Read more

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The region known as South Sudan is an area of the Sudan comprising former Bahr al-Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile provinces, which are now divided into ten states. This region has been the scene of some of the most devastating civil wars that Africa has ever witnessed. These civil wars have been fought between the successive governments of Khartoum and the marginalized citizens of the region and have resulted in the death of millions. South Sudan: A Legitimate Struggle chronicles the reasons why the South Sudanese have waged what they have come to call the “War of Liberation” and why they are not going to back down from their struggles. ... Read more

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The principle text translated in this volume is the "Ta'rikh Al-sudan" of the 17th-century scholar 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di. The 30 chapters deal with the history of Timbuktu and Jenne, their scholars and the political history of the Songhay empire from the reign of Sunni 'Ali (1464-1492) through Moroccan conquest of Songhay in 1591 and down to the year 1613 when the Pashalik of Timbuktu became an autonomous ruling institution in the Middle Niger region. The year 1613 also marked the effective end of Songhay resistance. Other contemporary documents included are an English translation of Leo Africanus's description of West Africa, some letters relating to Sa'dian diplomacy and conquests in the Sahara and Sahel, al-Ifrani's account of Sa'dian conquest of Songhay, and an account of this expedition by an anonymous Spaniard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Work - Well Worth the Price.
African History scholar John O. Hunwick deserves the utmost praise for this work. Do not let the price deter you, seriously, the volume is well worth the price and even more. Others familiar with the history of the Songhai Empire know that for the past hundred-plus years this 'golden' book could only be accessed by those who knew the original 16th-century classical Arabic, or the French and German translations from the 1800's. The Songhai Empire was amazing and here we as mankind are blessed to have Hunwick translate this all-important Songhai court document into English for the first time ever. Curious about the illustrious and powerful Askia dynasty, Songhai imperial orchestras, the unbeatable Songhai army, river navies, queens, and the never-ending trade of gold? This Songhai classic is a true work of art, an imperial court document that will astound the reader with its amazing detail of Songhai's legacy as the richest empire of Africa's Golden Age.

Brilliant Black African History!!!!
The Tarikh Al-Sudan,is one of the many compilations of Black African History. Written by a Black African scholar in the Arabic language, (which was much more widely used in that era than now), the author has done a good job.

The Dynasties, Scholars of the area, African ethnic groups, etc., are well covered.I think the "Tarikh Al-Fettah", should also be translated into English.

For those people in the world who still refuse to aknowledge Black African Civilizations, initiatives, and accomplishments, this is a good read.

Currently in Mali today there are 15 families that have preserved over 50,000 volumes of African History in that area.There is a current project underway to save these priceless materials. Contact info@Timbuktufoundation.org

$147!
My God! $147 dollars. I would love to read this book, but without even reading some sample pages I can't take the chance that it's the book I'm looking for. Author/publisher: please include sample pages or reduce the price. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

Explains Well What the Genocide in Darfur is all about
I bought this book because, having worked as a U.S. delegate to the UN during the Rwandan genocide, I wanted to better understand the background to the genocide in Darfur.

In the case of the Rwandan genocide, it has been argued that the international community did nothing, allowing the genocide to unfold unchecked, which basically is true. However, it must be remembered that of those who did make a feeble attempt to do something about the genocide, it was the U.S. that authored and sponsored the first UN Security Council resolution condemning the genocide and calling for collective action by the international community to stop it. However feeble subsequent actions that followed may have been, it still was the U.S. that got the ball rolling. As I recall, it was the French that stymied more robust efforts to make headway in stopping the genocide in Rwanda. And rather oddly too, the Secretary General also quickly caved in to French pressure, and thus was not anxious to exert his leadership in overcoming French attempts to prevent robust international action. I was unhappy to see that Samatha Powell, in her otherwise fine book on America's reaction to genocide in general (called "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide"), did not get these facts correct and in particular did not underscore the important role the U.S. played in trying to galvanize a collective international response. As well, rather egregiously, she failed to mention, except in passing, the genocide against Native Americans committed by our colonial forefathers. (See my review of this book on Amazon.com)

Regarding the present book, the authors tell us about the background and history of the events in Darfur. And as usual, the genesis of the conflict that led to genocide had social, economic and especially ethnic and tribal roots that can best be laid at the foot of British colonial policies. The cause is not, as is usually mistakenly assumed, due to religious persecution, for both sides of this (basically racial, tribal and ethnic conflict), are Muslims. The pattern of neglect of this vast southern region of Sudan (which also included black Christian and Amist factions) began during British rule, where because it suited colonial needs, the British deliberately restricted education in the whole region to one school. Its only purpose was to educate the sons of chiefs being groomed to become colonial surrogate leaders.

In 1956, when independence was declared and the Arabs took over, this pattern of neglect previously established by the British was simply continued and morphed into national policy by the new Arab rulers. Over time, and after a number of border skirmishes with its neighbor, Chad, ethnic cleansing by the Arab rulers in Khartoum became national policy. Famine, and especially competition for water were used as a political tools to push three key African tribes (the Zaghawa, Fur, and Masalit) out of Sudan altogether. Those that did not leave willingly, or would not leave under duress, were simply raped, tortured and otherwise massacred with their land and crops scorched and destroyed. Following a pattern also established by Westerners during slavery, the Arabs of Sudan eventually adopted an ideology of racial supremacy as a way of justifying the ethnic cleansing of what they considered their often less educated black African Muslim brothers.

The Janjeweed, made up mostly of the Masalit tribe of nomads, served as the vanguard of this racial ideology and continues to be used by Khartoum like a vigilante group that raids and strikes terror in the hearts and minds of the black tribes that settle along the edges of the Sahara desert. Predictably, the black tribes responded by establishing their own army of resistance, which attempts to defend its people and occasionally engages in uprisings and even counter raids and attacks. Khartoum continues to support and hide behind the Janjeweed because the international community allows them to get away with it.

The book also recounts efforts made by American evangelical groups to draw attention to the plight of the small number of Christian in the same region of Sudan. These Christians have also been persecuted and subjected to raids involving rape and murders. However, given the much larger problem of Muslim-on-Muslim genocide, little attention is being paid to the Christians concern. There is much more here, but for my purposes, this book answers my basic concerns about the history and causes of the genocide. Three stars.

very informative!
It is great to be aware what is going on in the world. This book is helpful!

Best Comprehesive Book on Darfur!!
I purchased this book for my class on Conflict and Conflict Resolution at San Diego State.
This book is very detailed giving all the background on Sudan the country, its different tribes and groups as well as all of the individuals who have held or are seeking power in Sudan.

The book also highlights the regional players and their modivations such as Libya, Chad, Eriteria who are seeking to keep Sudan destablized for their own personal gain.

The authors do an excellent job of also bring to light the international aspects as well as the local and national issues the helped to create the circumstances of the first civil war/ conflict of north vs south Sudan and then Darfur.Not to mention the problems that stem from the international communties poor foresight when it came to resolving the North vs. South Sudanissues and the treaty that has made it impossible to truly resolve the Darfur conflict.Also how the international community and aid agencies shot themselves in the foot by labeling Darfur a genocide - spending more time documenting the genocide than helping people get food and water in that barren land.

However the one criticism I have of this book is the amount of shifting between different eras in history, players (wait till you get to the part about SLA vs SPLA vs SLA W vs SLA M) essentially you need a felt board like they use in military strategies to keep track of the players and their movements around Sudan.

I however despite my critisims highly recommend this book as a primer for anyone interested in Sudan and the root issues of Darfur.

Essential reading
The 2008 edition of Darfur: A New History of a Long War, by Julie Flint and Alex de Waal, is an essential reading about the current conflict in Darfur. The book gives a short overview of the history of Darfur and its people - from independent sultanate, annexation by the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, colonial times, to Sudan's independence.

Authors blame the British colonialists and Sudanese governments after independence for the lack of development in Darfur. They assert that Arab supremacy and racism, preached from Libya and the Sudanese capital, have caused divisions and animosity between "Arabs" and "Africans" in Darfur in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating with the conflict that began in 2003.

Flint and de Waal closely look at the links between the Sudanese government and "Arab" militias, called Janjaweed, claiming that there is enough evidence that proves that the government of Sudan is using the militias as a proxy in the Darfur conflict. They write about the Darfur rebel movements and their leaders, noting tribal divisions among the rebels and the crimes committed by the "African" rebels against "Arab" civilians.

Authors examine the international community's reaction to the conflict and the Abuja peace talks that culminated in 2006 with the Darfur Peace Agreement that was signed by the Sudanese government and only one rebel faction, but did not bring peace. They end the book with a chapter titled Endless Chaos, having little hope that the Darfur conflict could be ended any time soon.

It is important to note that the authors, for whatever reason, have not mentioned China once in the entire book. As a major world player that has oil interests in Sudan and is preventing any sanctions or condemnation of the Khartoum regime, China must be mentioned in a book about the current conflict in Darfur.

Short and excellent
People professionally concerned with genocide prevention and Darfur recommended this short but outstanding book (there are quite a few others on the crisis) when I needed to supplement my knowledge quickly. Its 134 pages of condensed information are based on prolonged and detailed work in the region and with people who know it well. The complexity of Darfur and its crisis as well as its relationship to other regions of Sudan emerge with balance, but with a clear picture of the horrors being committed. It enlarged my knowledge greatly beyond what I had gleaned from the media and a few days spent with some refugees from Darfur. It discusses events up to early 2005, its publication year, so is not quite up to date. The experts recommended it despite pointing this out, and I'm glad they did. ... Read more

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Dr. Kibreab's pioneering work is both a detailed contemporary and a historically informed analysis of the institutions and practices surrounding common property, the role of the colonial and independent state and how these have impacted on the environment in Sudan over the last century. He writes in a clear and accessible manner that will make this book a significant contribution to our understanding of the relations between communal property rights, the state and sustainable development in Africa. ... Read more

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Land, Literacy and the State in Sudanic Africa re-conceptualizes Sudanic Africa—“the land of the Blacks” to classical Arab geographers—to include the Ethiopian Highlands in the East. It notes the prevalence of states across this belt of the continent and argues that to fully understand them, we must understand the relations between their rulers and their primary producers, who were either herders or farmers. It further argues that, while to some extent, these states were concerned to articulate the relations between farmers, herders, relations with the former were more essential to their on-going functioning. Thus, the book explores the role of agricultural land in these states—who owned it? Under what circumstances? How was it taxed? To whom did rulers grant special privileges over agricultural land? For what purposes? This exploration is based on a rich tradition of written documents, which particularly characterizes the Middle Nile Valley and the Ethiopian Highlands, but which extends as far west as Dar Fur and Bornu.These documents reach as far back as the thirteenth century, in the case of Ethiopia, and detail the granting of land to individuals and to institutions (principally churches) and the subsequent private transfers of those lands. The book, thus, draws attention to the role of the state in African history. Previous interest in the state has focused on external relations and long-distance trade. Land Literacy and the State argues that such a focus distorts both the origin and the continuing basis of these states—which lay much more with the relations between the rulers and the ruled, than it did with exogenous forces. Finally, the book calls attention to one of the important uses of literacy in historic Africa—the control and manipulation of land in the interests of political and social domination ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

THE TITLE DOES NOT MATCH THE BOOK REVIEWED!
AMAZON has confused two entirely different books here.

I am a contributor to Donald Crummey's fine volume, and obviously I think it is a very fine piece of scholarship.

However, I was unhappy to find IT when I attempted to purchase an entirely different book, __Land, Ethnicity and Political Legitimacy in Eastern Sudan__ published in Cairo, Egypt by CEDJ and Khartoum, Sudan by DSRC.

I hope someone at Amazon will correct this error.

Jay Spaulding
Professor of History
Kean University

... Read more