Kobbei
Encyclopedia
Kobbei is a former town in North Darfur
of western Sudan
, west of Al-Fashir
. It is now deserted. At its peak in the 19th century it was a thriving town, the largest in Darfur, with a population of up to 8,000. It declined as the wells at the oasis dried up, and the caravans first slowed, due to conflicts with al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur to the south, and then stopped with the fall of the Darfur Sultanate
in 1874. The ruins are located west of Jabal Kobbei (Mount Kobbei) along the Wadi Kobbei (Kobbei Arroyo) for approximately two miles.
Kobbei was the major trading center of the Darfur Sultanate, but was dependent on long-distance trade both north-south, and to a slightly lesser extent east-west. Slaves from the south were a major component of the trade, as were ostrich feathers, camels, ivory
and acacia tree gum
. When al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur acquired holdings in the Bahr el Ghazal
, he diverted to Khartoum
significant portions of the goods coming from the south. These diversions began in 1856 and the decline in trade was significant by 1860.
North Darfur
North Darfur is one of the 15 wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the three states composing the Darfur region. It has an area of 296,420 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,583,000 . Al-Fashir is the capital of the state...
of western Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, west of Al-Fashir
Al-Fashir
Al Fashir or Al-Fashir is the capital city of North Darfur, Sudan. It is a large town in the Darfur region of northwestern Sudan, 120 miles northeast of Nyala, Sudan....
. It is now deserted. At its peak in the 19th century it was a thriving town, the largest in Darfur, with a population of up to 8,000. It declined as the wells at the oasis dried up, and the caravans first slowed, due to conflicts with al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur to the south, and then stopped with the fall of the Darfur Sultanate
Sultanate of Darfur
The Sultanate of Darfur was a pre-colonial East African state in what is today Sudan. It functioned independently from 1603 to October 24, 1874.-Origins:...
in 1874. The ruins are located west of Jabal Kobbei (Mount Kobbei) along the Wadi Kobbei (Kobbei Arroyo) for approximately two miles.
Kobbei was the major trading center of the Darfur Sultanate, but was dependent on long-distance trade both north-south, and to a slightly lesser extent east-west. Slaves from the south were a major component of the trade, as were ostrich feathers, camels, ivory
Ivory trade
The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, mammoth, and most commonly, Asian and African elephants....
and acacia tree gum
Gum arabic
220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
. When al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur acquired holdings in the Bahr el Ghazal
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
, he diverted to Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
significant portions of the goods coming from the south. These diversions began in 1856 and the decline in trade was significant by 1860.