Days of War and the Cultural Era of Abdullah Al-Tayyib

If the late scholar Abdullah Al-Tayyib does not speak now, who then will speak?

For my generation, past generations, and those to come, this eminent figure remains a compass that guides us when ignorance prevails, confusion abounds, and truths are obscured—especially as the turmoil of war turns our lives upside down.

It is time to be guided by Al-Tayyib’s writings, ideas, and analyses about a homeland that was meant to forget its history, thus losing its present and future, and to lose sight of its geography, thus wandering off course.

As for the longing for Abdullah Al-Tayyib’s cultural era, after nearly twenty years since his departure, has time faded this yearning, or does it still dwell within, peering through our hearts and eyes in search of a unified Sudanese culture? This culture is resilient and will not be weakened by the killings, thefts, and destruction carried out by militia and mercenaries.

Flow of Nostalgia

This nostalgia may flow like the murmur of a waterwheel on a tranquil night, nurturing fields and generations, or like the joyful chirping of birds in open skies, a constant reminder of the journey and the creative legacy led by the late scholar.

The era of Abdullah Al-Tayyib derives its significance from his insightful view that “the simple Sudanese community knows more than we do” and that “those with knowledge should contribute as much as they can to the progress of society.” If we wish to refine our knowledge, we should share it in discussions with the people, for a secluded intellectual is like a beautiful painting; one must approach it to see its beauty.

In Al-Tayyib’s view, the timing of Sudanese culture is not bound to natural, political, or social measures but has its own unique rhythm. This is a cultural era where historical figures move before us on its stage, binding us with profound emotional ties—a notion he explored extensively in his lectures and books: From the Train Window, Bag of Memories, In Memory of Two Friends, and The Changing Customs of the Riverine Sudan.

Cultural Clash

Without delving into lengthy details, Al-Tayyib offers an example from ancient history of the clash between ancient Meroe and Cambyses, the Persian king.

Al-Tayyib observed the historical landscape differently; he saw Sudanese culture as rooted in civilizational clashes between this region and others. He refrains from exhaustive details but references the confrontation between ancient Meroe and Cambyses, who sought to conquer this land. However, upon realizing the lengthy war required in a water-scarce land with unfamiliar terrain, Cambyses settled for Egypt instead.

Among the significant instances of cultural clash here were the Romans, the most powerful of ancient civilizations in military, organization, politics, and various endeavors. They paved roads, many of which remain in use. They conquered lands, but only the Persians and the people of this land resisted them. Al-Tayyib dismissed the idea that they fled Cambyses, clarifying that the Kushite rulers faced defeat a century prior against the Assyrians in the Levant, leading some to retreat westward into Africa, which may have contributed to the notion of fleeing Cambyses.

Foundations of Culture

A major aspect of Al-Tayyib’s cultural legacy is found in his lecture, The Origins of Sudanese Culture, presented at the National Strategy Conference in Khartoum in 1991.

In it, Al-Tayyib highlighted that superficial adoption of civilization’s outer aspects without engaging with its essence causes more harm than benefit. He cited the example of carpeting a traditional school, depriving students of the natural sand used for writing practice and error correction.

The era of Al-Tayyib’s culture encompasses the vast expanse of Sudanese culture, which requires careful definition. Since the 1980s, the political lexicon introduced the term “civilizational project,” but Al-Tayyib believed the essence of Sudanese culture lay in its ongoing civilizational clashes with other regions.

Military Industry

Another aspect closely associated with daily life was the military industry, exemplified by the production of weapons such as bows and arrows, used both in defense and local celebrations. Al-Tayyib corrected the misconception that archery was unfamiliar in Nile lands, citing historical instances such as the encounter of the Sudanese leader Mek Nimr, who feared facing tribes known for archery.

In the ancient Nile era, horses were another vital asset, long prized by Babylonian and Assyrian kings who esteemed the steeds imported from Kush.

Al-Tayyib stressed that Sudan’s ancient civilization laid foundational principles for European social and civil institutions. This history explains why the United States targets Sudan’s defense industries with sanctions, specifically imposing penalties on figures like Major General Mirghani Idris Suleiman.

How Do We View the National Scene Today?

Sudan now faces a critical moment, a web of interwoven internal and external issues, some recent and others long-standing, all coalescing into a challenging situation. Yet Al-Tayyib counters this pessimism, citing Sudan’s “third cultural shock” brought by Islam, marking a profound impact on this land.

He contested the common historical view that Islam arrived in Sudan in 630 CE, asserting instead that Islam reached Sudan before Medina, as the Prophet’s companions initially departed from Shuaiba, near Jeddah, a point not far from Sudan’s coast.

Arab and African Identity

When Al-Tayyib’s era approaches Sudan’s Arab and African identity, he reminds us of the late thinker Mohammed Ahmed Mahjoub, who spoke of a dual perspective: looking north to the Arabs and south to Africa. Sudanese often feel conflicted—are they African, or are they Arab?

This duality remains a poignant part of Al-Tayyib’s cultural legacy, symbolizing Sudan’s complex identity and rich heritage that bridges both African and Arab worlds.