Azza Mohamed Abdullah: The First Sudanese Woman To Engage In Political Activism Against Colonial Rule

Khartoum (Sudanow)

“O bearer of braids, guide the reins and cry out: Long live the Homeland.
Azza, in your love...”

Everyone sings of“Azza,” and many assume the name is merely a poetic symbol of Sudan and الوطن. Yet the truth is deeper and more human. So who was Azza?

Azza Mohamed Abdullah was the wife of the national hero Ali Abdel Latif, whom she married in 1916. She became widely known as the first Sudanese woman to participate in political activity in its modern sense.

The ninth of August 1924 stands as a day worthy of remembrance. On that day, Azza Mohamed Abdullah, wife of the hero Ali Abdel Latif, inscribed her name in letters of light and fire, becoming the first Sudanese woman in history to lead a military demonstration.

On that day, students of the Khartoum Military School-then located west of the mosque at the University of Khartoum-marched under the leadership of Mohamed Fadlallah Al-Shannawi. The group, numbering 51 students, staged a peaceful military demonstration calling for the release of their colleagues who were members of the White Flag League.

The route of the march was carefully planned: it would pass through the military barracks, then the railway area, and proceed to the home of Ali Abdel Latif (north of today's College of Health at the University of Khartoum). There, the military school students performed a formal salute to Ali Abdel Latif's family. In response, Hajjah Fatima, Azza's mother, ululated in celebration. Azza then led the demonstration onward through Abbas Square (now the site of the Green Dome), continuing toward Kober Prison in Khartoum North.

Historian Mohamed Abdel Rahim estimated the number of demonstrators at approximately 20,000.

During the imprisonment of her husband, the hero Ali Abdel Latif, Azza assumed responsibility for safeguarding the secret files of the White Flag League and maintaining communication with its other members. She endured repeated searches and continuous harassment by the British colonial administration, including the cutting off of electricity and water to her home. Despite being illiterate, she was meticulous in preserving every scrap of paper, fearing it might be linked to her husband's political activities.

Azza accompanied her husband throughout his military postings across much of Sudan, remaining a steadfast companion on the long and arduous path of struggle and national resistance.

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