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The Islamic Kingdom of Tegali: A Stronghold of Learning and Da‘wah in the Mountains of Sudan

By Prof. Dr. Faid Mohammed Said

Series: Islamic Kingdoms in Africa – Humanity, Knowledge, and Forgotten History

Introduction: Islamic Kingdoms in Africa and Their Historical Context

The Islamic kingdoms of the African continent represented some of the most striking manifestations of the civilisational interaction between Islam and the continent’s richly diverse ethnic, geographical and cultural environments. Across West, East and Central Africa, Islamic states and kingdoms emerged that played significant roles in spreading da‘wah (the call to Islam), entrenching justice, and strengthening both religious and customary systems of education. Among these kingdoms, the Islamic Kingdom of Tegali stands out as a stronghold of learning and da‘wah in Sudan’s mountainous regions, combining political power with cultural dynamism, and offering a distinctive example of Islam merging with the culture of the Sudanese highlands.

Origins and Reasons for Establishment

The Islamic Kingdom of Tegali arose in the eighteenth century CE (circa 1753) in the Nuba Mountains region of South Kordofan, Sudan. It was established in response to religious and political challenges, including resistance to the spread of paganism on the one hand, and the need to assert Islamic religious and cultural influence on the other—particularly after the relative decline of the Funj Sultanate of Sennar.

Who Were the Founders?

The actual founder of the Kingdom of Tegali was Shaykh ‘Adlan ibn Nimr, a Muslim Arab descendant belonging to the mountain tribe of “al-Numur”. He was known to be a jurist and a memoriser of the Qur’an, influenced by Sufi traditions. He established the kingdom upon a strong religious foundation, making Islam the cornerstone of its political and social system.

Key Leaders and Rulers of Tegali

Among the kingdom’s most prominent figures:

  • Shaykh Nimr ibn ‘Adlan, who consolidated rule and expanded the kingdom’s influence.
  • Shaykh Adam Dabbalu, who led major scholarly and religious reforms and was instrumental in establishing centres of education and da‘wah.
  • Sultan Hamid ibn Nimr, who courageously resisted Ottoman and Mahdist incursions despite military challenges.

Geographical Boundaries of the Kingdom

The Kingdom of Tegali extended over a wide area in the southern Nuba Mountains, primarily within what is today South Kordofan State. It included regions such as Abbasiya Tegali and Kalogi, and its natural borders consisted of mountain chains and valleys, which provided effective protection against invasions.

Major Achievements of the Islamic Kingdom of Tegali

  • Establishing a network of khalawi (Qur’anic schools) to teach children and memorise the Qur’an.
  • The widespread dissemination of Sufi orders, especially the Qadiriyya and Shadhiliyya.
  • Consolidating the principle of shura (consultative governance) and maintaining religious and administrative independence from neighbouring powers.
  • Creating a local justice system grounded in Maliki jurisprudence and Islamic custom.
  • Forming astute alliances with mountain and plains tribes to ensure stability.

Decline and Causes of the Fall

The Kingdom of Tegali effectively fell in the late nineteenth century during the rise of the Mahdist State (1881–1898) led by Imam Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi. The rulers of Tegali refused to pledge allegiance to the Mahdi, prompting Mahdist forces to attack and overthrow the kingdom after fierce resistance. Key reasons for the fall included:

  • Relative geographical isolation.
  • A profound shift in the balance of Islamic power across Sudan.
  • Tensions between traditional religious loyalties and the new Mahdist leadership.

Islamic and African Memory: Tegali in Collective Awareness

Tegali remains alive in Sudanese popular and scholarly memory, particularly in the oral histories of the people of Abbasiya Tegali and among scholars of southern Sudan. It is remembered as a symbol of sincere piety and as a centre for Qur’anic scholars and preachers in the mountains.

Tegali in African Historiography

Some African historians, such as Abdullah al-Tayyib and Abdallah Ali Ibrahim, regard the Kingdom of Tegali as an example of independent Islamic governance in a complex mountainous environment. They assert that Tegali helped preserve Islamic identity in the face of foreign domination. They stress that Tegali was not merely a political kingdom but also a cultural and spiritual school.

Tegali in Orientalist Writings: Perspectives and Analysis

Orientalists discussed the Kingdom of Tegali within broader studies on Islam in Sudan. Some, like Spaulding and Holt, described it as a “model of cultural resistance”, although their accounts were largely descriptive and lacked deeper analysis of the kingdom’s social and religious structures.

Tegali in Documents and Narratives

There are numerous references to Tegali in European travellers’ records, such as those of Faty and Lane, in Mahdist archives, and in certain Sudanese manuscripts such as Tabaqat Wad Dayf Allah, albeit often without much detail. Oral accounts remain an essential source for reconstructing its local history.

Tegali’s Legacy Today

Archaeological remains still exist in the Abbasiya Tegali area, including old mosques, traditional khalawi, manuscripts and hand-written Qur’ans. Some families also continue to preserve lines of scholarship and religious leadership inherited from the kingdom’s figures.

Position of Western Research Centres

Although Western scholarship has paid Tegali far less attention than kingdoms like Songhai and Mali, some recent studies at African and Middle Eastern universities have begun to reconsider its significance, particularly amid renewed interest in the history of popular Islam in the Sudanese highlands. Notable among these are research works published by the University of Khartoum and the University of Bergen in Norway.

Conclusion

The Islamic Kingdom of Tegali is a unique example of local Islamic governance in Africa, blending Sharia and custom, knowledge and da‘wah, mountain and plain. Reclaiming its history is an act of restoring part of the Islamic African memory and an invitation to read peoples’ histories from within, rather than solely through the lens of colonial or orientalist perspectives.


Notes and Scholarly References

  1. Abdullah al-Tayyib, Popular Heritage in Sudan, University of Khartoum Press.
  2. Muhammad Sa‘id al-Qashat, Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  3. Spaulding, R.C., Islamic Kingdoms of the Sudan, London: Oxford Press.
  4. Holt, P., A Modern History of the Sudan, Longman.
  5. Oral accounts from elders of Abbasiya Tegali – Sudan.
  6. Mahdist documents, University of Khartoum Archives.
  7. African History Research Centre, University of Bergen.
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