The history of regional relations of the peoples of Jibal Nuba in the 16th–20th centuries

Abstract

The article is devoted to regional relations of the tribal groups of the Jibal Nuba region of the South Kordofan province in Sudan. The Islamization of these tribes, which lasted for a period of more than a century, seriously changed the traditional way of life, contributed to demographic transformations, and contributed to the integration of local residents into Sudanese society. At the same time, one can observe deformations in the political course of local leaders who are trying to achieve a weakening of ties with the center and oppose initiatives aimed at a compromise and a peaceful solution to all regional problems. It is traced from the complex and controversial history of relationships during both the pre-colonial period and the period of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium after 1898. Particular attention in the material provided is given to the contacts of the Jibal Nuba tribes with neighboring Arab tribes. They are ready for positive interaction at the clan and tribal level. The article also examines the history of relations between the Nuba and the state formations that arose after the consolidation of Islam as a state doctrine in the Sultanate of the Funj with its center in Sennar in the 16 th century. Along with this, there were active contacts with other Muslim states, primarily with the sultanate in Darfur and small state formations in Kordofan.