The Nile Still Flows: A Sudanese Book Reflecting the Strength of Egypt-Sudan Relations

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Musa

“The Nile Still Flows” is the title of a Sudanese book that examines the historical relationships between the peoples of the Nile Valley, Egypt, and Sudan in various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts.
The book, written by Sudanese author Moataz Abdel Rahman Sharaf El Din, is in its final stages of publication in Cairo and spans 544 pages. In it, the author discusses several key topics, including the unity of the Nile Valley and the course of history, the journey of the Nile between abundance and thirst, and the Senariya Hall at Al-Azhar University, highlighting prominent Sudanese graduates such as Professor Ali Shamo, Sheikh Mohamed Noor Al-Hassan (who served as the Deputy Grand Imam of Al-Azhar twice and was appointed as the National Guidance Minister of Egypt), and Sheikh Abu Al-Qasim Ahmed Hashim, who established the Omdurman Scientific Institute following the same system as Al-Azhar.
The book also covers the literary ties between Egypt and Sudan, including the late leader Gamal Abdel Nasser’s visits to Sudan and the literary creativity they sparked, as well as the visit of the renowned singer Umm Kulthum to Sudan. Additionally, it discusses visits by Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad and Ali Al-Jarem and Sudanese poets who graduated from Egyptian universities, such as Al-Fitouri, Jilly Abdel Rahman, Dr. Taj Al-Sir Hassan, Mohamed Said Al-Abbasi, and Ismail Hassan.
The book highlights actor Ibrahim Khan in drama, director Saeed Hamid in cinema, and artists Stouna and Jawahir in music.
Sudanese author Moataz Abdel Rahman Sharaf El Din told Al-Muhaqqiq: “I wanted to send a message about the strength of the relations between the two countries. I highlighted the deep-rooted relations in various fields, hoping my book would respond to the discordant voices attempting to disrupt the relationship between Egypt and Sudan. I highlighted that Sudanese creatives have significantly contributed to Egypt’s history, and similarly, Egyptian figures have made a lasting impact on Sudan.”
He added, “The idea for the book came to me during my first visit to Cairo when I launched my first literary work, ‘Hum and Their Mothers’, in 2021. This work discusses the influence of mothers on the lives of creators.”
It is worth noting that Moataz Abdel Rahman Sharaf El Din is a Sudanese author born in the town of Al-Suki in the Sinnar State. He graduated in 2004 from the Faculty of Commerce and Economic Studies at Nilein University. After graduation, he worked at the state Ministry of Finance. His notable literary works include ‘Hum and Their Mothers’, ‘Rivers of Beautiful Ink’, ‘Farewell to the Lout’, ‘Let You Find Peace’, ‘Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, the Only Voice That Remains’, and ‘Nun of the Song: A Study in the Creativity of Sudanese Women’.