Shendi
شندى Shandi | |
---|---|
Town | |
![]() Pyramids of Meroë, near Shendi | |
Coordinates: 16°41′N 33°26′E / 16.683°N 33.433°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | River Nile State |
Population (2007) | |
• Total | 55,516 |
Shendi or Shandi (Arabic: شندي) is a town in northern Sudan, situated on the east bank of the Nile River 150 km northeast of Khartoum. Shandi is also about 45 km southwest of the ancient city of Meroë. Located in the River Nile wilayah, Shandi is the center of the Ja'aliin tribe and an important historic trading center. Its principal suburb on the west bank is Metemma. A major traditional trade route across the Bayuda Desert connects Metemma to Merowe and Napata, 250 km to the northwest. The town is the historical capital of the powerful Arabised Nubian Ja'alin tribe whom most of its denizens belong to. The village of Hosh Bannaga, where former President Omar al-Bashir's hometown is, is located on the outskirts of Shendi.[1][2][3]
History
The origins and early history of Shendi is unknown. It could have existed in the sixteenth century. It was once the main marketplace of Sudan during the Funj Sultanate until the establishment of Khartoum as Sudan's capital. It was also the center of the slave trade.[3][4] The growth of Metemma on the opposite bank of the Nile helped Shendi grow economically.[5]
Demographics
Year | Population (In Thousands) |
---|---|
1973 (Census) | 24.161 |
1983 (Census) | 34.505 |
2007 (Estimate) | 55.516 |
Economy
Very basic services and infrastructure mean that Shendi exists mainly as a center for trade in agricultural goods from nearby farms.
Communications
Roads have begun to be laid cross the city. The railway station in the city is no longer used for passenger travel, although freight trains continue to use the tracks. Shendi is home to an airport (ICAO code HSND).
Mobile telephone coverage exists within the city, the neighboring towns of Al-Misiktab and Al-Mattamah, the outlying villages, and at the ancient Meroitic pyramids to the north.
Institutions
Schools exist within the town and local villages
A UNESCO funded center exists within the town to promote education in foreign languages and Information Technology.
Shendi University is a public university that was established in 1994.[6] The university draws students from across Sudan to study there.
References
- ^ "Omar al-Bashir Fast Facts". CNN. C. N. N. Library. 10 December 2012.
- ^ "رووداو سەردانی گوندەکەی عومەر بەشیر دەکات". Rudaw (in Kurdish).
- ^ a b Moorcraft, Paul (April 30, 2015). Omar Al-Bashir and Africa's Longest War. United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 9781473854963.
- ^ Clammer, Paul (2005). Sudan. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841621142.
- ^ Bjørkelo, Anders (February 13, 2003). Prelude to the Mahdiyya Peasants and Traders in the Shendi Region, 1821-1885. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521534444.
- ^ "The emergence of the university". Shendi University. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
Coordinates: 16°41′N 33°26′E / 16.683°N 33.433°E