Tagali Islamic Kingdom in Nuba Mountains
02 May, 2016KHARTOUM (Sudanow.info.sd) - Tagali area is located at AL Rashad locality of eastern Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan. It is surrounded with series of Mountains the highest of is 3800 ft above sea level.
It has diversified nature particularly in autumn where those majestic mountains with breathtaking nature are covered in green. Abdel Aziz Khalid wrote a book about this region entitled ‘Nuba Mountains: Ethnology and Heritage’’ and here I shall review one of its sections which is on Tagali Islamic kingdom.
He said Tagali was one of the kingdoms and Sultanates that have contributed to Islamic Dawa and promotion of ruling system in Sudan. Tagali Islamic kingdom was established by the Islamic cleric Jaili Abujarida in 1560. Abujarida took power from his grandfathers. The author said Islamic cleric Mohamed AL Gaali al-Rubatabi (Rubatabi is a nickname given to person who belongs to Rubatab tribe in northern Sudan) moved to Tagali area accompanied by another man named Abu Huiyama. Mohamed al-Gaali was a pious man. Whilst he and his companion were moving around the area they arrived at ‘’Tiglaro ‘’the capital of the pagan king of Tagali named Kibir Kibir. The king welcomed the two visitors and received them with warm hospitality. He was impressed by their peaceful and respectable behaviour. The two men felt in peace, admired the place and people so they decided to stay there preaching Islam amongst the pagans of the Kingdom. The two Islamic clerics had succeeded to approach the pagans and convinced them to embrace Islam.
The Islamic cleric Mohamed al-Gaali had married to one of King Kibir’s daughters and their son was named"Abugarida’’. Abugarida had shared his father the honour of preaching Islamic Dawa. Later on Abugarida was crowned as grandfather lamech --- and nicknamed Gaili because he was not from Royal family tree. Tagali Islamic kingdom which was established by Gaili Abugarida started in 1560 and his descendants continued to inherit the kingdom since then. Mosques and Khalawas (Holy Quran schools) got special concern in the kingdom. A number of Khalwas were inaugurated in the era of Islamic cleric Adam Abu Hiyama. The numbers of khalwas were increased and spread all over suburbs and villages for memorizing Quran. Over 90 mosques and 149 khlawas were established at Abasieya rural council. The largest Khalwas in the kingdom were established at Abasiya, Um Margi, Tasi and Sheik Birar Village.
The ruling system in Tagali Islamic Kingdom was based on consultancy and compliance with will of the majority. Based on consultancy principle kings of Tagali had no right to rule alone or taking unilateral decisions. For example monarchs were to leave the throne three times every year. They used to go out in trips to give their aides free hands in reviewing performance of the kingdom based on consultancy principle. The monarch leaves accompanied by his close men in the royal house. During his absence one of the local chiefs (locally known as al-Arbab) sits in as caretaker until the return of the monarch. After the monarch comes back he stays for a short period then travels again westward to attend the harvest festivals. The third trip which is relatively longer compared to previous ones organizes to various parts of the kingdom where the monarch associates with his people and solves their problems. During monarch absence consultation councils are held. If the assessment recommended that the Monarch performance is prefect they send group of Arbabs to assure to him that things are okay and he could come back to resume office. Bur if things are worse he will be ousted and another monarch crowned in his place. The new monarch sends him envoys to threaten him not to return. If he requested his personal effects, envoys go back and bring them to him and leave him go wherever he wants to go. If the ousted monarch disobeys the Shura decision the tribe will fight him.
Tagali Kingdom Consultancy Council Formed as Follows:
1-Monarch private affairs minister
2-A minister for exchanging views and monitor implementation of decisions
3-House Folks Council
4-The Nine Arbabs’ council which represents the state security
The Judiciary:
The judiciary in Islamic Tagali kingdom was based on Islamic Sharia and customs. Some issues like marriages, inheritance, Zakat, theft crimes and pagans Islamization were decided based on Islamic Sharia whilst some other issues were determined based on customary. Each monarch had a judge to determine on legal issues.
Tagali people have a military service and are professional in war tactics. They had semi regular army. Neighbouring tribes used to ask help for controlling their internal conflicts because they knew about military strength of Tagali kingdom. Tagali kingdom had huge military hardware of swords, guns and spears besides artillery they had gained in war against the Turks. Tagali had authentic rare swords such as al-Sahabi sword (the Companion Sword) which was offered to late President Nemeri as a gift from Monarch Adam Gaili. There were seventeen stamps engraved on the sword.
Tagali kingdom had good relations with their neighbours and engaged in flourishing trade of gold, tusk and ostrich feathers. The kingdom imported goods such as clothes made of flax for monarchs, carpets, households and decorations. Tagali monarchs had not neglected their contribution in the cloth that covers the holy Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Tagali Islamic Kingdom established its foreign relations of good neighbouring and tolerance in comply with principle of Islamic religion. Tageli Islamic kingdom and their founders played big role in the spread of Islam in the Nuba Mountains. Basically the founders of the kingdom came to Nuba Mountains as Islamic clerics. They associated with grassroots and married from them, respected their culture and traditions. So they gained love and confidence of people in the area. After establishing the kingdom they ruled on the principles of Islamic Sharia (the holy Koran and prophet Mohamed (PBUH) traditions).
They gave special care for non-Muslims and pagans until they embraced Islam. The founders’ efforts were not limited to Tagali boundaries. They extended efforts beyond the boundaries of the Nuba mountains to south Sudan tribes particularly Shuluk tribe where many of them have embraced Islam.
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