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awladhassan Says: The Camel Market is within walking distance of Omdurman market to the north . Here camels are bought and sold, as well as donkeys,goats and cattle.When buying a camel, note that light coloured or white camels are preferred. A camel can cost between $500 and $1200 depending...
The Municipality Building the Baladiya
uglyscot Says: This is one of the earliest buildings made after Independence in 1956.It is made of brick, and its clock tower was once a distinguishing mark .On the side of the main building was a huge crocodile shot in the 1960s, but it has now decayed and an advertising slogan has...
uglyscot Says: This modern mosque [1980s] was built from the design of a student at the Faculty of Architecture.Its aluminium dome was produced from aluminium from the smelter at Invergordon in Scotland, near from where I come from.The mosque lies almost at the junction of the Blue and...
uglyscot Says: Beside the Nile in Omdurman near what was the gate to Omdurman, can be seen the mud-brick fortifications where the Mahdi's troops fired on the British steamers coming down the Nile from Egypt with messages and supplies for the British forces. These are one of the few...
yurxlnc Says: Tje Nilain mosque is situated near the Nile just after the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile. It has an unusual dome. There are several outbuildings.Inside there is a wonderful view of the Nile and Omdurman bridge from the many windows inside the mosque.
Haja Zakia at Kandahar: sheep or camel?
uglyscot Says: This very traditional restaurant is two tented areas with web-strung metal beds, a few plastic chairs and tables. The place is full of flies, but an incense burner soon dispatches most of them. Water is available in a shiny stainless steel bucket.We waited for the food to be...
cafe at the Camel Market: camel liver
awladhassan Says: The camel market is north of the Omdurman Market, within walking distance.Camels and other animals are on sale, but we went to have a meal of camel liver. The liver is either eated raw or coated with peanut sauce and maybe fried for a few seconds. However it is prepared it...
maykal Says: The newest bridge linking Khartoum with Omdurman is the Chinese Bridge, an imposing structure which is amazingly steep and high. On the Omdurman side, there is a long walkway by the Nile which has now turned into a pleasant place to spend an evening...some enterprising...
maykal Says: Omdurman isn't exactly a hip and happening place at night, although there are a few things you can do at night. If you are male, you could go to a chicha "den" for a pipe, or watch a film at a cinema, but an alternative for the whole family is to walk the Shambat Bridge...
uglyscot Says: Because Omdurman is the largest town in Sudan, it is very crowded and the streets are frequently narrow lanes. In the market there is often congestion. Cars and pickups are parked beside the road while haorse and donkey cards, motorbikes, boys pushing wheelbarrows, cyclists...
The chaotic bus system in Omdurman
maykal Says: All buses heading to Omdurman from other parts of the tri-city usually go through Shuhada Square, so this has become the city's transport hub. Going from Omdurman to Khartoum, listen out for cries of "ArabiArabiArabiArabi", and if you hear "BahriBahriBahri", then that bus is...
any silver shop in Omdurman Market: old silver
uglyscot Says: All the merchants with silver to sell are much the same. Some are so trusting they even let my daughter take pieces home to see if she wanted them- she was collecting silver at the time. Once she made up her mind, she went back and paid for it. Old silver. Beads.The silver...
stalls in market: Spices and herbs
uglyscot Says: Spice and herbs are found congregated together in the market. They make a colourful display laid out in baskets or basins or jars.Those with allergies beware ;the smell can be pungent, and the fine powdery spices can be irritating to the nostrils.Lentils, haricot beans, fava...
Every year there are celebrations for the Birthday of the Prophet Mohamed. The actual date varies because the Islamic festivals are dated according to the lunar calendar. This year the holiday was 15 February 2011. We decided to take the grandchildren to the area beside the Mahdi’s tomb and the Khalifa’s mosque in Omdurman. Similar venues are held in Khartoum and Khartoum North.
The different religious sects erect tents and flags where their followers can sit and listen to the chanting and watch the dervishes as they get carried away by the songs of praise. This is very interesting to see as they sway and move to the beat.
Crowds of people- men , women and children congregate to watch the world go by- the men in white jellabias, dervishes in green, police in blue and women and children in their best clothes together make the scene bright and colourful. Some of the tents have fairy lights or tinsel. Salesmen have spread their ways on the ground- prayers beads, religious books, inflateable plastic toys and balloons.
On the perimeter outside are stalls selling the traditional Mulid sweets : garish pink sugar brides, knights on horseback, tanks, cats, some decorated with paper frills. The sweets are made of sesame seed, coconut, candy with peanuts or chickpeas, and Turkish delight. These activities begin some time before the actual day, so on the eve of the holiday it becomes very crowded indeed. We made sure we arrived early and left at sunset.
Updated Feb 15, 2011
Helpfulness
Because Omdurman was not planned as a city, it is difficult to find your way around. To me it is like a rabbit warren- little areas walled off yet hiding a complex of houses. Streets have features known in Middle Ages Europe- runnels down the streets to take off waste water from washing courtyards, washing clothes etc. Building materials make the narrow roads even narrower and dangerous.
Walking can be hazard especially at night and if there has been rain.
I went one morning after there had been rain. The streets were uneven and slippery from the mud. Luckily I had taken a crutch with me, or might have fallen and broken my not-yet mended leg again.
Written Aug 6, 2009
uglyscot Says: North of Omdurman is a range of hills where the Mahdist army met the British army in September 1898. The area is a flat plain at the foothills of the mountain. The Battle of Kerrari takes its name from a small outcrop at the east of the hills. Some years ago I went to...
Bayt al-Maal ("House of Money")
maykal Says: Another obscure historical building now used for a different purpose is Bayt al-Maal, which is where the Mahdi's money used to be kept safe...something like a bank. Nowadays, it has cleverly been incorporated into a football stadium where you can watch local rivals Hilal and...
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Football is the most popular sport among Sudanese men.
There are two main rival clubs, both based in Omdurman: Hilal and Mereikh.
Hilal’s colours are blue and white : a white crescent moon [hilal] on a blue background.
Mereikh has a red star [Mars] on a yellow background.
Both stadiums are in Arda district, central Omdurman, and divided by Arda road. The stadiums were built in the 1960s but have undergone renovation since then. Matches are very popular and tickets vary in price according to where the spectator sits .
The other Omdurman teams are Muwrada and Tahrir.
International matches are usually held in the National Stadium in west Khartoum near the Sudan University.
A new Sports Centre has been built in south Khartoum near Africa University.
When there is a match between the two rival clubs, the supporters of the winning side take to the streets shouting, blowing whistles , and drive through the streets proclaiming their victory. Normally this is all very peaceful.
Updated Oct 3, 2008
Address: El Arda ,Omdurman
uglyscot Says: Women's education was started when Sheikh Babiker Bedri. open the first girls' school in 1907. There was so much hostility to the idea at first that it was populated by his own family The Bedri family opened a school for girls in Omdurman, and now have a University, Ahfad...
maykal Says: The best place for internet is the Faster Net Cafe in the corner of Shuhada Square. They have 30 computers, all fairly fast, and they charge S£3000 (SD300) an hour. It is very popular with Omdurman's young and trendy, so you may have to wait a while listening to Mariah Carey...
Omdurman along with Khartoum and Khartoum North make up the capital of The Sudan.It was established at the time of the Mahdiya when the follows of the Mahdi settled there. It has a more native flavour...
Across the White Nile from Khartoum lies the more traditional and historic Omdurman. Originally founded by the Mahdi and his troops as a suitable location from where to attack to British in Khartoum,...
Omdurman... my home for most of my time in Sudan. Fans of British history will of course have heard of the famous Battle of Omdurman (Kitchener avenging the decapitation of General Gordon by...
Omdurman was the capital at the time of the Mahdiya, and still is the most native in character of the Three Towns making up the capital. It has extended much in the last 50 years since Independence......
Omdurman is a traditional Sudanese town. The streets in the older areas are narrow and twisting. The town is built on an old site . Neolithic people lived in the area that is Khor Abu Anga. It was......
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