Sudanese
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Sudan, the third largest country in Africa, was home to numerous ancient civilizations, such as the Kingdom of Kush, Kerma, Nobatia, Alodia, Makuria, Meroë and others, and thus has a long tradition of cultural diversity. The culture of the country is the amalgamation of the behaviors, practices, and beliefs of about 578 ethnic groups, communicating in 145 different languages. With such a vast literary tradition, it comes as no surprise that the nation produced Ibrahim 'Ali Salman who is regarded as the most famous contemporary poet of the Arab Manasir and is simple referred to as "Ibrahim the poet". Sudanese music is also very diverse though years of political instability and chaos has deeply affected the country’s rich musical legacy. In the late 20th century, many of the country's most prominent poets, like Mahjoub Sharif, were imprisoned while others, like Mohammed el Amin and Mohammed Wardi fled the country. Well-built, strong and athletic, the Sudanese are known for their love for sports, especially athletics (track and field) and football. Sportsmen like Haitham Mustafa, Hassan El Kashief, and Ismail Ahmed Ismail have made the country proud on a pan-African basis. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Sudanese people.
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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.
Birthdate: April 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wau
Birthdate: January 9, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: January 1, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hosh Bannaga, Sudan
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.
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.
Birthdate: August 12, 1844
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dongola, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: June 10, 1869
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Darfur, Sudan
Died: February 8, 1947
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.
Birthdate: November 24, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Juba, South Sudan
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Tayeb Salih(Sudanese Writer Best Known for His Novel 'Season of Migration to the North')
Birthdate: July 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Al Dabbah, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: March 30, 1994
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Birthdate: August 22, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Died: June 8, 2010
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Birthdate: November 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Al Qadarif, Sudan
Birthdate: October 20, 1900
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Omdurman, Sudan
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.
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Hassan Al-Turabi(Sudanese Political Leader Who Organized the 1989 Coup that Brought Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir to Power.)
Birthdate: February 1, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kassala, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: 1909 AD
Birthplace: Rufaa, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: August 16, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: 1964 AD
Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
Birthdate: January 1, 1997
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sudan
Died: June 26, 2021
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Rābiḥ az-Zubayr(Sudanese Slave Trader and Warlord Who Founded a Powerful Empire in Today's Chad)
Birthdate: 1842 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: November 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wad Madani, Gezira, Sudan
Birthdate: July 15, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bor, Republic of the Sudan
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.
Birthdate: April 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Omdurman, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: 1998 AD
Birthplace: Sudan
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Khalil Ibrahim(Sudanese Insurgent Leader and Founder of the 'Justice and Equality Movement')
Birthdate: 1957 AD
Birthplace: Darfur, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: December 16, 1990
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rockville, Maryland, United States
Birthdate: 1840 AD
Birthplace: Sawākin, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: November 9, 1875
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
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.
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Alsarah(Ethnomusicologist, Musicologist)
Birthdate: 1982 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
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Asma Mohamed Abdalla(First Female Who Served as Sudan’s Foreign Minister During Ongoing Democratic Transition in Sudan )
Birthdate: August 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Khartoum, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Birthplace: Kerma
Died: 0714 AD
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Raja Nicola(Sudanese Judge Who Served as a Member of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan )
Birthdate: 1950 AD
Birthplace: Omdurman, Sudan
Birthdate: February 2, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wad Madani, Sudan
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.
Birthdate: February 20, 1901
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Khartoum
Died: August 29, 1984
Egyptian revolutionary Muhammad Naguib was one of the pillars of the 1952 Egyptian Revolution and had a major role in the ouster of King Farouk I. A military man, he was the country’s war and navy minister. He also served as the 1st president of Egypt and its prime minister.
Birthdate: 1994 AD
Birthplace: United Arab Emirates
Birthdate: 1990 AD
Birthplace: Darfur, Sudan
Birthdate: March 3, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Omdurman, Sudan
Birthdate: 1992 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Birthplace: El-Obeid, North Kordofan, Sudan
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.
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Birthdate: 1933 AD
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Died: August 12, 2017
Birthdate: August 14, 1972
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Birthdate: November 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Darfur, Sudan
Birthdate: 1969 AD
Birthplace: Port Sudan, Sudan
Birthdate: 1938 AD
Birthplace: Gulu, Uganda
Birthdate: November 1, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Khartoum, Sudan
Birthdate: June 21, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Muglad, Sudan
Birthdate: 1973 AD
Birthplace: Sudan
Birthdate: January 1, 1922
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kassala, Sudan
Died: February 24, 1974
