Famous Sudanese People

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 1 
Alek Wek
(Model)
Alek Wek
41
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 16, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wau

Alek Wek is a South Sudanese-British designer and model. Since making her fashion debut at the age of 18, Alek has been an influential figure in the world of fashion; she has been praised for redefining beauty and altering the perception of beauty within the fashion industry. In 2015, she was included in the BBC's 100 Women list.

 2 
Alexander Siddig
(Actor)
Alexander Siddig
9
Birthdate: November 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wad Madani
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 3 
Luol Deng
(Basketball player)
Luol Deng
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wau
 4 
Salva Kiir Mayardit
(President of South Sudan)
Salva Kiir Mayardit
8
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 13, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bahr el Ghazal

Sudanese rebel leader Salva Kiir Mayardit became the first president of South Sudan. In 2020, he signed an agreement with opposition leader and current vice president Riek Machar to share power and create a unified government, putting an end to a brutal civil war that has seen mass rapes and murders.

 5 
Anusha Dandekar
(MTV VJ, Actress and Singer)
Anusha Dandekar
9
Birthdate: January 9, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Khartoum

Anusha Dandekar is an Indian-Australian VJ, actress, and singer. She is popularly known for hosting many TV shows. Beginning her career as a TV anchor and VJ, she branched out into acting as well, making her film debut with a role in the Bollywood film Mumbai Matinee. Since then, she has appeared in a few other movies.

 6 
Josephine Bakhita
(Saint)
Josephine Bakhita
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 10, 1869
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Darfur
Died: February 8, 1947
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 7 
John Garang
(Politician)
John Garang
16
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 23, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Twic East County
Died: July 30, 2005

Revolutionary leader and president of Southern Sudan John Garang was the man behind the term "Sudanism," which promoted cohesiveness among the people of Sudan. Orphaned at 10, he completed his education on scholarships but later rejected an offer from UCB to go to Tanzania. He died in a helicopter crash.

 8 
Peter Jok
(Basketball player)
Peter Jok
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 30, 1994
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Khartoum
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 9 
Tayeb Salih
(Sudanese Writer Best Known for His Novel 'Season of Migration to the North')
Tayeb Salih
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Al Dabbah
Died: February 19, 2009

One of the most influential Sudanese authors, Tayeb Salih was born into a farming community and had thus aspired to work in agriculture. However, he became a journalist later and worked with al Majalla and BBC. His works such as The Wedding of Zein mirror the intricacies of African life.

 10 
Piye
(Sudanese King)
Piye
2
Birthplace: Kerma
Died: 0714 BC
 11 
Andreas Voutsinas
(Sudanese-Greek Theater Director and Actor)
Andreas Voutsinas
0
Birthdate: August 22, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum
Died: June 8, 2010

Andreas Voutsinas was a Sudanese-Greek theater director and actor. He is remembered for playing important roles in films like The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, and History of the World, Part I. From 2002 to 2009, he worked as an acting teacher in Northern Greece’s State Theatre. Andreas Voutsinas is also credited with founding a drama school called Superior Drama School.

 12 
Omar al-Bashir
(Former President of Sudan)
Omar al-Bashir
32
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 1, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hosh Bannaga

Omar al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh president of Sudan. A former military officer, he is the founder of the National Congress Party that remained the dominant political party in the country until 2019. He was deposed in a coup d'état the same year and subsequently arrested and convicted on multiple corruption charges.

 13 
Hassan Al-Turabi
(Sudanese Political Leader Who Organized the 1989 Coup that Brought Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir to Power.)
Hassan Al-Turabi
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: February 1, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kassala
Died: March 5, 2016
Hassan Al-Turabi was a Sudanese politician who served as the Attorney General of Sudan from 1978 to 1982. He then served as the Foreign Minister in 1989. Hassan Al-Turabi also served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from 1996 to 1999. He is credited with organizing the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état that brought Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir to power.
 14 
Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag
(Physician)
Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Al Qadarif
 15 
Ismail al-Azhari
(Third President of Sudan)
Ismail al-Azhari
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 20, 1900
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Omdurman
Died: August 26, 1969
Ismail al-Azhari was a Sudanese political figure and nationalist. He is best remembered for his service as the third President of Sudan from 10 June 1965 to 25 May 1969. An important politician, Ismail al-Azhari also served as the second Prime Minister of Sudan from 6 January 1954 to 5 July 1956.
 16 
Mahmoud Mohammed Taha
(Sudanese Political Leader and Religious Thinker)
Mahmoud Mohammed Taha
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1909 AD
Birthplace: Rufaa
Died: January 18, 1985
Mahmoud Mohammed Taha was a Sudanese political leader, religious thinker, and trained engineer. He is best remembered for developing the Second Message of Islam, for which he was arrested and executed by the Jaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry government; Mahmoud Mohammed Taha was found guilty for apostasy.
 17 
Alaa Salah
(Sudanese Activist)
Alaa Salah
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthplace: Khartoum
 18 
Nesrine Malik
(Sudanese-Born Journalist)
Nesrine Malik
1
Birthplace: Khartoum
 19 
Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
(Vice President of South Sudan)
Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 15, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bor
Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior is a South Sudanese politician and the current Vice President of South Sudan. Best known as the wife of John Garang, Rebecca served as the Second Lady of Sudan as well as the First Lady of Southern Sudan in 2005. From 2005 to 2007, she served as the Minister of Roads and Transport of Southern Sudan.
 20 
Khalil Ibrahim
(Sudanese Insurgent Leader and Founder of the 'Justice and Equality Movement')
Khalil Ibrahim
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1957 AD
Birthplace: Darfur
Died: December 23, 2011
Khalil Ibrahim was a Sudanese insurgent leader best remembered for founding the Justice and Equality Movement. He served as the leader of the movement from 2000 until his death on 23 December 2011. Khalil Ibrahim was killed by the Sudan Armed Forces with an air strike.
 21 
Abdalelah Haroun
(Qatari Track and Field Sprinter)
Abdalelah Haroun
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 1, 1997
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Al-Soki
Died: June 26, 2021
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 22 
Leila Aboulela
(Novelist, Writer)
Leila Aboulela
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1964 AD
Birthplace: Cairo
 23 
Musab Kheder
(Qatari Professional Footballer Plays as a Right-Back)
Musab Kheder
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 26, 1993
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sudan
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 24 
Muhammad Ahmad
(Ruler of Sudan from 1881 to 1885)
Muhammad Ahmad
13
Birthdate: August 12, 1844
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dongola
Died: June 22, 1885

Born to a Sudanese shipbuilder, Muhammad Ahmad grew up to become a Sufi religious leader. His war against the Ottoman-Egyptian rule and his capture of Khartoum led him to establish a vast Islamic state. Named the first Mahdi, he was one of the rare African rulers to defeat the British.

 25 
Alsarah
(Ethnomusicologist, Musicologist)
Alsarah
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 1982 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum
 26 
Ahmed al-Mirghani
(Sixth President of Sudan)
Ahmed al-Mirghani
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 16, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum
Died: November 2, 2008
Ahmed al-Mirghani was a Sudanese politician best remembered for his service as the sixth President of Sudan from 6 May 1986 to 30 June 1989. His term as president came to an end when his government was toppled by the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état, which was led by Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir.
 27 
Zeinab Badawi
(Journalist)
Zeinab Badawi
12
Birthdate: November 24, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Juba
 28 
Jaafar Nimeiry
(4th President of Sudan)
Jaafar Nimeiry
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Omdurman
Died: May 30, 2009
Jaafar Nimeiry was a Sudanese politician best remembered for his service as the President of Sudan from 1971 to 1985. A military officer, Nimeiry came to power after leading a successful coup in 1969. A prominent politician, he also served as the Prime Minister of Sudan on two separate occasions; from 1969 to 1976 and again from 1977 to 1985.
 29 
Safia Elhillo
(Poet)
Safia Elhillo
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 16, 1990
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rockville
 30 
Yousra Elbagir
(Journalist)
Yousra Elbagir
0
Birthdate: 1992 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum
 31 
Osman Digna
(Sudanese Military Commander)
Osman Digna
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1840 AD
Birthplace: Sawākin
Died: 1926 AD
Osman Digna was a Sudanese military commander who served under Muhammad Ahmad during the Mahdist War. One of Ahmad's best commanders, Digna played a key role in several battles, including the Battle of Tamai and the Battle of Umm Diwaykarat. Osman Digna was respected for his skills at the battlefield by many British statesmen including Winston Churchill. 
 32 
Amin Mekki Medani
(Sudanese Diplomat, Lawyer and Politician)
Amin Mekki Medani
0
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: February 2, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wad Madani
Died: August 31, 2018
Amin Mekki Medani was a Sudanese diplomat, lawyer, political and human rights activist. He is remembered for his service as the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 1985 to 1986. In 1991, he won the Human Rights Watch Award and the American Bar Association Human Rights Award. In 2013, Amin Mekki Medani received the European Union Human Rights Award.
 33 
Emtithal Mahmoud
(Poet, Writer)
Emtithal Mahmoud
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1990 AD
Birthplace: Darfur
 34 
Rasha
(Singer-songwriter)
Rasha
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 1971 AD
Birthplace: Omdurman
 35 
Asma Mohamed Abdalla
(First Female Who Served as Sudan’s Foreign Minister During Ongoing Democratic Transition in Sudan)
Asma Mohamed Abdalla
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum

Sudanese diplomat Asma Mohamed Abdalla served as the first female Foreign Minister of Sudan in the ongoing democratic transition in Sudan that started in July 2019. She held office from September 2019 to July 9, 2020 in the Transitional Cabinet of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. She earlier served as a Sudanese ambassador and was dismissed after 1989 Sudanese coup d'état.

 36 
Yamilé Aldama
(Cuban-Born Triple Jumper)
Yamilé Aldama
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 14, 1972
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Havana
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 37 
Kola Boof
(Novelist)
Kola Boof
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 3, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Omdurman
 38 
Halima Bashir
(Writer)
Halima Bashir
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Darfur
 39 
Abubaker Kaki Khamis
(Sudanese Runner)
Abubaker Kaki Khamis
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 21, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Muglad
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 40 
Lubna al-Hussein
(Journalist)
Lubna al-Hussein
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: 1973 AD
Birthplace: Sudan
 41 
Rābiḥ az-Zubayr
(Sudanese Slave Trader and Warlord Who Founded a Powerful Empire in Today's Chad)
Rābiḥ az-Zubayr
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1842 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum
Died: April 22, 1900
Rabih az-Zubayr was a Sudanese slave trader and warlord. He is credited with founding a powerful empire in today's Chad. Rabih az-Zubayr is also credited with conquering the Sultanate of Darfur and the Borno Empire. He also came in conflict with the French, which ultimately led to his downfall.
 42 
Ismail Ahmed Ismail
(Sudanese Middle-Distance Runner)
Ismail Ahmed Ismail
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 1, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Khartoum
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 43 
Maha Jaafar
(Influencer, YouTuber)
Maha Jaafar
0
Listed In: YouTubers
Birthdate: November 22, 1993
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: United Arab Emirates
 44 
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
(Writer)
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: 1933 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum
Died: August 12, 2017
 45 
Taban lo Liyong
(Poet)
Taban lo Liyong
0
Birthdate: 1938 AD
Birthplace: Gulu
 46 
Mohammed Ali Tewfik
(He was a member of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty)
Mohammed Ali Tewfik
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 9, 1875
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cairo
Died: March 18, 1955

The son of Tewfik I of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, Mohammed Ali Tewfik was the uncle of Farouk I and his regent. After the declaration of Egypt as a republic, he spent the rest of his life in exile. He loved horse breeding and also penned a book on the subject.

 47 
Nahla Mahmoud
(Writer)
Nahla Mahmoud
0
Birthdate: March 2, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wau
 48 
Aisha Musa el-Said
(Sudan's Collective Head of State from 21 August 2019 to 12 May 2021)
Aisha Musa el-Said
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthplace: El-Obeid
Aisha Musa el-Said is a Sudanese politician, women's rights activist, and translator. She served as Sudan's collective head of state from 21 August 2019 to 12 May 2021. Apart from her political career, Aisha Musa el-Said has also served as a professor in a couple of Saudi universities.
 49 
Raja Nicola
(Sudanese Judge Who Served as a Member of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan)
Raja Nicola
0
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: 1950 AD
Birthplace: Omdurman

Sudanese judge Raja Nicola was chosen by the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Transitional Military Council (TMC) as their mutually agreed-on sixth civilian member of the eleven-member Sovereignty Council of Sudan that remained Sudan’s collective head of state from August 20, 2019 till October 25, 2021. Nicola was one of the two female members of the council.

 50 
Aisha Musa Ahmad
(Singer)
Aisha Musa Ahmad
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: January 1, 1922
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kassala
Died: February 24, 1974