Since it is a universally accepted norms that, any writer must allow critiques or concerns people to ask questions, before considering any writing as final. Today I have received a question from Mr Andrew who had his version of some small part of Mading-Aweil History, which I think is worthy to bring to your attention. However, Mr Andrew had a version that Awetdit was not the same as Magbula. Rather it was Aweng Malek (a relative of Dengdit) that was gifted to Mahadi. Read his e-mail below and fine underneath what I have to say in response. This, to allow the fairness.
Nice attempts at explaining the historical background of Dengdit & El Mahdi . Analysis of the relationship between the two is open to debate.Not being a Historian, I'ill comment from what I heard from oral history on what concerns the relationships between Dengdit & El Mahdi."Magbula" isn't Awit , the daughter of Dengdit, but "Aweng Malek",a young girl from Dengdit's jurisdiction,sacrefied on the altar for the "good" relationships of the neihbouring Souvereigns.Aweng's union with El Mahdi produced Sir Abdelderahman,father of El Sidig whose son is El Saagig ,former Primenster & Present Umma Leader.These are ,of course,are speculations. Serious neutral scientifc & Histoircal evidences are mandatory (If history is a science).
Thank you for sending your concern to me directly. First, I do not know whether you are Dr. Andrew Akon Akec in France or another Andrew – this is not a big issue, but in case you are, then please accept my seasonal greetings to you, for the Christmas and the new year. Though belated, I think it is worth conveying, as I didn’t see you for so long. Again, if you are other person, a Southern Sudanese who is concern, then also accept my greetings to you. I hope you have had a nice beginning of this new year – with peace signed, I hope we shall meet soon in our beloved land the South Sudan.
Coming back to your question, allow me to thank you again for the point you have made, in respect of Aweil’s history. In fact, the history of Aweil, like that of its other counterparts, remains largely oral. This, was not without any consequence – the Arab had wanted it to remain so, in order to imposed their history on the South, pretending the South had no history. Hence, in the course of the need to write the historical background of Mading Aweil, we had to rely on different tales from some senior Aweil citizens whose versions varied. Apart from what I had already have heard from my own elderly people in respect of which is which, I had in the course of publishing the final version of the history of Aweil, talked to Sultan Pio Tem Kuac in America to confirm some information, in which I was not sure.
Yes, someone who is related to Dengdit (Chak- Chak) who had no any biological child of his, had said Aweng Malek wasn’t the lady given to Mahadi as a gift, and therefore the mother of Sid Abdurrahman. The leady name was Awet Dengdit. Dengdit did not in fact had any biological children, for he had production problem. However, his many wives gave birth to many children that were fathered by parek folks who claim that Deng was their man, because of his strength. So, if it happen the real name of Dengdit’s daughter was Aweng Malek, then the error would be attributable to the fact that we had to rely on unwritten history. Historian on writing, do agree in one thing and disagree in another, but the reader have the discretion to choose from the information that vary in its facts. The example of this, is the modern history of Sudan. One version of the Sudan history was written by Ustaz Ibrahaim Ahamed of the university of Khartoum, who is himself a son of one of Ansar El Mahadi. Because the Khartoum intelligentsia are, either the sons/daughters of Ansar, who have since the independent of Sudan have dominated the governments, the version of Ibrahim Ahamed of the history of Sudan, is the most favourite. While another historian Dharar Saleh El Dharar had the best version of the history of the Sudan. However, because the Dharar’s version was too straightforward, the ministry of education controlled by those whose great grandfathers, may be betrayed if the Dharar’s version of the history was taken, consider it as “unedited history” – meaning some things should not be allowed to come to light. These will lead us to belief the history is political – and the right things defend to political acceptance.
The political aspect of the history, and especially when it is unwritten, make some people to play with some facts which one must regret. I met Sid Mubarek el Fadal El Mhadi in London, and he had accepted the relationship of his family with the people of Aweil is through Magbula (Awetdit in his own word). Whether this was shape to fit their political interest in Aweil, or not is open to debate. So, it is in my sincere belief that the version you have said, might be true, but again it may be subject to some debate. I made some contacts before I posted the history of Aweil into website, to find-out who between Awetdit and Aweng, was Magbula, and the answer was the former.
In conclusion, by the way I am not a historian ( I am Student of Law now on training to become Solicitor). But, in the meantime, as I have studied in Sudan, I have good knowledge of the history of Sudan, both written and oral. Thank you for your concern.
