Book Review: "The City of Gold in Sudan – A Critical Reading of Modern and Contemporary History"| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan, Sudanow – Sudanese people have long been skilled in urban development, excelling in selecting prime locations for their cities and leaving distinct architectural imprints on their structures throughout history. Over time, Sudanese cities have developed unique features and architectural styles that set them apart from cities worldwide. Various social, economic, and security factors have contributed to the emergence of new Sudanese cities while leading to the decline of others across different historical periods.

During the rule of the Khedivate of Egypt over Sudan (1821–1885), several cities emerged, including Khartoum, Kassala, Al-Kamlin, and Famaka, which lies on the eastern bank of the Blue Nile. The name "Famaka" comes from the language of the Burta tribe, the area's indigenous inhabitants, and means "People of Mecca." Other significant cities from this era include Al-Masalamia in the Gezira region. Among these, Muhammad Ali Pasha’s City, historically known as The City of Gold, stands out. This city is the focus of Dr. Hatim Al-Siddiq Mohammed Ahmed’s book, published by Aretheria Publishing and Distribution in its first edition in 2023.

This city, located in the southern Blue Nile region (south of Fazogli), was founded during Muhammad Ali Pasha’s historic expedition to Sudan between October 15, 1838, and March 14, 1839. His primary objective was to search for and extract gold through various means. Unlike other cities established during the Khedivate’s rule, this city was unique because of its direct association with the precious metal. Muhammad Ali Pasha devoted significant attention to its development, constructing important facilities such as his palace, a garden, a hospital, barracks for soldiers, and warehouses for weapons. Additionally, accommodations were built for 1,000 families from the local community, who were selected to work in gold mining. The city was fortified with a great wall to ensure its security.

Muhammad Ali Pasha made extensive efforts to complete the city, hoping it would serve as a secure refuge for himself and his family should security conditions deteriorate in Egypt. He envisioned his city on the Blue Nile as a stronghold. However, events did not unfold as he had planned. The city gradually fell into neglect due to its lack of economic viability, as the extracted gold quantities were insufficient. Consequently, its inhabitants abandoned it.

Despite natural and human factors contributing to its decline, remnants of this historic city still stand, waiting for someone to restore its former glory.

Dr. Azza Mohammed Mousa, a lecturer in the Department of Geography and History at the University of Gezira, commented on the book: "The City of Gold follows the tradition of historical writings about cities, reviving their memory. This is a well-established historical approach. The book sheds light on a city that played a significant role in Sudan’s history during the Turkish-Egyptian presence in the country."

She further noted: "Gold shines through every word and sentence in this book, as the author details its presence across Sudanese lands, starting from the ancient Nubian kingdoms. Evidence includes the offering of 20 kilograms of pure gold by King Taharqa of the Napatan Kingdom to the deity Amun, and the gold of Queen Amanishakheto, now housed in the Munich Museum in Germany. Historical sources confirm that gold was abundant in the Funj Sultanate and the Blue Nile, Sennar, eastern Sudan, and Kordofan. Its fame spread far and wide, attracting invaders, migrants, and travelers alike."

Gold has been present in Sudan since the dawn of its earliest ruling periods and continues to exist today, often hidden beneath the land. Sometimes, it appears openly; other times, it remains elusive, as was the case for Muhammad Ali Pasha. He invaded Sudan hoping to find wealth and manpower to support his ambitions in Egypt. He dispatched prospectors and researchers to return with tons of gold bars, but when they failed to meet his expectations, he personally embarked on his famous five-month journey. He returned to Egypt with far less gold than he had hoped for but gained a wealth of information about Sudan and its people, which significantly influenced his governance and administrative policies toward the region.

As the book highlights, Sudanese gold was a rare and highly valuable commodity, varying in quality from good in Sennar to excellent in Fazogli. It played a crucial role in both domestic and international trade and was under the firm control of rulers, particularly those of the Funj Sultanate.

The City of Gold, located in Fazogli near Khor Al-Dahab, faced the village of Kashankar. Muhammad Ali Pasha intended it to be a settlement for gold prospectors working in his favor. He sought to organize the city by constructing his grand palace, housing for engineers and workers, military barracks, and facilities for mining expeditions. To promote stability, he also distributed agricultural lands to the local population, fostering self-sufficiency and production.

The book also explores the European perspective on Muhammad Ali Pasha’s Sudanese expedition and its primary objective of acquiring gold. It details his interactions with European powers and how he entrusted the European-Russian-Egyptian mission with gold exploration. However, despite their extensive efforts and costly expeditions, their findings disappointed him.

The book employs a rigorous analytical approach, thoroughly examining causes and consequences. It also includes numerous historical photographs of The City of Gold (Muhammad Ali Pasha’s city), images of Sudanese gold from the Napatan and Meroitic eras, and maps illustrating the cities and regions mentioned.

This book serves as a rich historical resource and an essential reference for researchers and history students in Sudanese and global universities. The author, Dr. Hatim Al-Siddiq Mohammed Ahmed, is a professor of modern and contemporary history at Al-Zaeem Al-Azhari University’s Faculty of Education. He holds a professorship in modern and contemporary history and specializes in linking historical events to their present-day implications.

Dr. Hatim has been recognized for his scholarly contributions and was awarded the Arab Historian Medal for Excellence in History and Arab Heritage by the Arab Historians Union in Baghdad in 2020.

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