Afroglobal History of Siyasa in the Central Sudan During the 19th Century

Abstract

The Afroglobal history of siyasa in the Central Sudan during the 19 the century provides a very concrete and living picture of another global history that was created, transformed, and/or adjusted by the Central Sudanic actors. That was a globality with its own epistemology and actors, with its own visions and aspirations, with its own ambivalences and achievements. The century commenced with overarching radical reforms in the system of governance, being the first meaning of siyasa. In the south, the ambitious jihadist movement of the Sokoto Fodiwa elites, who sought to establish a riasa system, intersected with the tadbir reforms of al-Amin al-Kanemi in Bornu and Abdulkadir Sabun in Wadai. In the north, Yusuf paşa was preoccupied with a similar tadbir reform, soon intersecting with the tadbir reforms of the Ottoman Empire. A notable attribute of these reform movements was their decentralized yet interconnected nature. The actors involved in these reforms were driven by distinct agendas and motivations to implement change. The latter half of the nineteenth century witnessed a change in the focal point of discourse, with the core debates shifting from the system of governance to political and economic affairs, representing the secondary aspect of siyasa. In the Central Sudan, the legacy of tadbir prevailed, with a few notable exceptions such as the sultanate of Air and the western region of the Uthmaniyya Caliphate, which retained their idara system. This legacy led to an unparalleled expansion. This globality was so profoundly and systematically dismantled and destroyed that it is very hard for many to imagine its existence today. Still, this history offers invaluable insights that persist in guiding contemporary thought.