BRITISH POLICY AND THE ACCENTUATION OF INTER-ETHNIC DIVISIONS: THE CASE OF THE NUBA MOUNTAINS REGION OF SUDAN, 1920–1940

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE FOCUSES mainly on the British imperial policy which was pursued in the Nuba Mountain region of the Sudan during the period 1929-1940. The policy was widely known as the 'Nuba Policy' and it followed almost the same line as that of the better known 'Southern Policy'. The main ob jective of this policy was 'to preserve an authentic Nuba civilization and culture as against a bastard type of Arabization'; and this article will examine the main obstacles to its achievement, and consider its feasibility in an environment where ethnic loyalties were rapidly changing. Gillan's memorandum, 'Some Aspects of Nuba Administration', which gives a general outline of the 'Nuba Policy', will be the principal starting point for this article.l Initially, British policy is discussed in relation to inter-group divisions, using some former territories in Africa, the Middle East and Asia as examples. How and why did the British accentuate inter-ethnic divisions in these countries? This discussion will help in understanding the general framework in which the Nuba case was dealt with and whether it was echoing the same policy. Throughout their different territories, the British followed a consistent policy aimed at preserving native culture. '. . . Native customs, beliefs and behaviour, being manifestations of innate qualities, should, where possible, be preserved . . .a2 In multi-ethnic colonies the preservation of different indigenous cultures necessitated the differentiation of the peoples along ethnic, linguistic and often religious lines. This in turn culminated in the strengthening of identification within each ethnic group and in the sharpening of divisions between them. The above processes of accentuating and politicising communal distinctions was clearly evident in Nigeria where Northerners were contrasted with