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Map of South Sudan and Sudan. Photo by Jackson, Nicholas A –

10 Most Famous Sudanese People

Sudan, the third largest country in Africa, was home to numerous ancient civilizations, such as the Kingdom of Kush, Kerma, Nobatia, Alodia, Makuria, Meroë, and others, and thus has a long tradition of cultural diversity.

The culture of the country is the amalgamation of the behaviors, practices, and beliefs of about 578 ethnic groups, communicating in 145 different languages.

With such a vast literary tradition, it is no surprise that the nation produced Ibrahim ‘Ali Salman, regarded as the most famous contemporary poet of the Arab Manasir and is simply referred to as “Ibrahim the poet”.

Sudanese music is also very diverse though years of political instability and chaos have deeply affected the country’s rich musical legacy.

1. Alek Wek is a South Sudanese-British designer and model

Alek Wek modeling in the 2007 Red Dress Collection for the Heart Truth campaign. Photo by The Heart Truth –

 Alek Wek is a model. She was born on 16^th April 1977 in Wau, South Sudan. She is a South Sudanese-British designer and model.

Since making her fashion debut at 18, Alek has been an influential figure in the world of fashion; she has been praised for redefining beauty and altering the perception of beauty within the fashion industry.

 In 2015, she was included in the BBC’s 100 Women list.

2. Luo Deng is a basketball player

Basket player in the basketball pitch. Photo by August Phlieger on

  Luo Deng is a basketball player who was born on 16^th April 1985 in Wau, South Sudan.

3. Anusha Dandekar is an MTV VJ, Actress and Singer

Anousha Dandekar unveils MTV The ONE. Photo by BollywoodHungama –

 Anusha Dandekar is an MTV VJ, Actress and Singer. She was born on 9^th January 1982 in Khartoum, Sudan. Anusha Dandekar is an Indian-Australian VJ, actress, and singer.

She is popularly known for hosting many TV shows. Beginning her career as a TV anchor and VJ, she branched out into acting as well, making her film debut with a role in the Bollywood film Mumbai Matinee. Since then, she has appeared in a few other movies.

4. Omar al-Bashir is the former President of Sudan

President of Sudan, Mr. Omar al-Bashir, in New Delhi on October 30, 2015. Photo by Prime Minister’s, Shri Narendra Modi Office –

Omar al-Bashir is the former President of Sudan. He was born on 1^st January 1944 in Hosh Bannaga, Sudan.

Omar al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh president of Sudan. A former military officer, he is the founder of the National Congress Party which remained the dominant political party in the country until 2019.

He was deposed in a coup d’état the same year and subsequently arrested and convicted on multiple corruption charges.

5. Salva Kiir Matardit is the current President of South Sudan

Salva Kiir Mayardit at the White House. Photo by U.S Department of State –

Salva Kiir Matardit is the President of South Sudan. He was born on 13^th September 1951 in Bahr el Ghazal.

 Sudanese rebel leader Salva Kiir Mayardit became the first president of South Sudan. In 2020, he signed an agreement with opposition leader and current vice president Riek Machar to share power and create a unified government, putting an end to a brutal civil war that has seen mass rapes and murders.

6. Muhammed Ahmad was the ruler of Sudan from 1881-1885

Medieval Persian manuscript depicting Muhammad leading Abraham, Moses, and Jesus in prayer. Photo unattributed –

Muhammed Ahmad was the ruler of Sudan from 1881-1885. He was born on 12^th August 1844 in Dongola, Sudan.

Born to a Sudanese shipbuilder, Muhammad Ahmad grew up to become a Sufi religious leader. His war against Ottoman-Egyptian rule and his capture of Khartoum led him to establish a vast Islamic state.

Named the first Mahdi, he was one of the rare African rulers to defeat the British. Muhammad died on 22^nd June 1885.

7. Josephine Bakhita was a saint

Portrait of Josephine Bakhita. photo unattributed –

Josephine Bakhita was a saint. Josephine was born on 10^th June 1869 in Darfur, Sudan. He passed on 8^th February 1947.

8. Ismail al-Azhari was a Sudanese political figure and nationalist. 

A photograph image of Ismail al-Azhari. Photo by Sudanese Government photographer –

Ismail al-Azhari was the third President of Sudan. He was born on 20^th October 1900 in Omdurman, Sudan.

Ismail al-Azhari was a Sudanese political figure and nationalist. He is best remembered for his service as the third President of Sudan from 10 June 1965 to 25 May 1969.

An important politician, Ismail al-Azhari also served as the second Prime Minister of Sudan from 6 January 1954 to 5 July 1956. He died on 26^th August 1969.

9. Zeinab Badawi is a journalist

crop of Zeinab Badawi from the photo showing the international TV personality of the year award from AIBs 2009. Photo by AIB London –

Zeinab Badawi is a journalist. She was born on 24^th November 1959 in Juba, South Sudan.

10. Tayeb Salih was one of the most influential Sudanese authors

An Image of the late Sudanese Novelist Tayeb Saleh. Photo by Engfrompalestine –

Tayeb Salih is a Sudanese writer best known for his novel ‘Season of Migration to the North. He was born on 12^th July 1929 in Al Dabbah, Sudan.

He was one of the most influential Sudanese authors, Tayeb Salih was born into a farming community and had thus aspired to work in agriculture. However, he became a journalist later and worked with al Majalla and BBC.

His works such as The Wedding of Zein mirror the intricacies of African life.