About Tuti the Island and the Village
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ABOUT TUTI THE ISLAND AND THE VILLAGE “ The house is more than just sheltering us from rain, sun, dust and other elemental affictions, it shelters us from the world. The house is a private world dependable, unchanging, and a constant kindly refuge in the cultural world that were pleased to call civilization.” Hassan Fathy 11 Tuti is described as a rural settlement Since their arrival they proceeded within an urban locality, a rural “ eye”, to develope irrigated agricultural but the provision of the public and lands. Over the centuries, various social services are quite enough to groups of Mahas continued to classify Tuti as an urban locality. arrive from the North and settle in The Island is linked to Khartoum city the Island and Khartoum. and Khartoum north by ferry Their dominance in Tuti began to transportation.The Island is 8 km sq; it decline following the growth of developed its shape as a result of the Khartoum and Omdurman in the 19 river bank erosion due to the fast flow Th. century, and Khartoum north of the Blue Nile, that turned the Eastern early this century( Lobbon,1980; part from a convex to a concave shape Ibu Sin and Davis, 1991). (Ibrahim and AL Burea, 1991). Ethnically, the population of the It has been formed as a result of the Island is very homogeneous, deposition of silt that has been taking although Mahas is the dominant place through the history of the Nile. ethnic group, the Island accommo- The natural rate of growth was very dates some other minorities of non- slow compared to the modern deposi- Mahas origin. tion rates which is enhanced by human Other ethnic groups inhabiting the activities, for instance, the transforma- Island are from Western and tion of the beaches to agricultural lands Southern Sudan, for its geographi- and the clear-follow to a residential cal location and its relatively good areas. The Island was accreted to provision of public and social Khartoum North and people used to services. cross on foot in the dry seasons. The Tutians major fear is the During that period the silt accumulation possibility of eviction from the continued below the confluence which Island. In 1944, the colonial admin- impeded the normal flow of water. The istration considered setting up an Island increased in its overall area by agricultural research station on the 30% due to the changes in the water Island, and planned to take 350 flow. The aggressive attack of the Blue acres for this purpose. Although Nile encouraged the separation and these plans were not carried out, widening between the Island and the inhabitants still live with the fear Khartoum North, while there is a great that one day they may be forced to deposition on the West side of the Tuti is a crescent shaped Island, leave their Island. Island. That will encourage the theory which lies in the heart of the National Tuti is described as a rural settle- of the emerging of Tuti Island and capital of the Sudan. The Island is ment within an urban locality, a Khartoum city in the coming 3-4 surrounded by Khartoum city in the rural “ eye”, but the provision of the decades. South, Khartoum North in the North public and social services are quite The surface of the Island is flat with a and Northeast and Omdurman city in enough to classify Tuti as an urban gentle slope that runs from the North the West. The Island is at the locality. The Island is linked to west towards the South east of the confluence of the White Nile and the Khartoum city and Khartoum north Island. Tuti fluctuates in height ranging Blue Nile. by ferry transportation. from 75.6 ft. to 78.7 ft. (Izzadin, Tuti’s The population of Tuti is considered The Island is 8 km sq; it developed settlement problems, 1975). The center one of the oldest settlements in the its shape as a result of the river of the Island where the houses rest is conurbation of Khartoum, dating back bank erosion due to the fast flow of elevated, and surrounded by low flood to the late 15th century. The Tutians the Blue Nile, that turned the plain. Tutians tried to solve that problem are descendents of the Mahas tribe Eastern part from a convex to a by elevating their walls and entrances from the Northern state. They origi- concave shape (Ibrahim and AL about 1.00 m high to prevent the water nally migrated Southwards and settled Burea, 1991). from penetrating into the houses, mainly in Tuti Island, some consider It has been formed as a result of fig (2). them as holy men whose main the deposition of silt that has been Most of the land on the Island is concern was to spread Islam in that taking place through the history of agricultural and is a source of supply of area. Being a religious center it the Nile. The natural rate of growth fruits and vegetables for Khartoum city, attracted many people who traveled was very slow compared to the although most of the lands were from different parts of Sudan to the modern deposition rates which is transformed to residential areas due to Island and other surrounding areas. enhanced by human activities, for the fortuitous growth of population. 12 The profile of the Island The walls maintain the same height Tuti follows the usual features of an and it my embody one door. The Arab urban settings of low, horizontal courtyard concept is maintained, and extended buildings. although it has changed in shape Tuti village is divided into two parts: according to the change in house The old village: which represents design, where the scattered rooms the core of the Island, is character- have been gathered within one block. ized by its crowded and compacted The roof of these houses is used as a houses, which is the main reason sleeping area to take the advantage of behind the absence of greenery in the cool breathe. For this reason the that specific area. The tremendous parapets are usually elevated up to need for housing was due to the high 1.50 m to prevent overlooking the growth of population. Most were eager neighbors especially if the surrounding to reside near and around the houses are one story. The houses in mosque, which was the first building in this area are less congested and scattered more widely towards South that area. This was probably one of the main and Southeast. Tuti has always faced an internal and reasons for the crowded nature of the external transportation constraints, area. The houses are arranged in a due to the fact that externally it is clustered form but in a indigenous totally separated from the three shape. This concentration of houses cities, Khartoum, Khartoum North generated narrow and tight roads, and Omdurman. The only link be- ranging from 2.00 to 3.50 m wide, and tween Khartoum and Tuti is the ferry 5.00 to 6.00 m wide, leading to the which travels regularly between both. 1- wider roads that lead to the peripheries of the Island mosque. The majority of houses in The functioning of the ferry is usually the old village part are one storey, influenced either by the changes in some are build of mud walls others are the Nile flood situation or by frequent from red brick or mud mixed with dried mechanical breakdowns. This makes grass. The roofs are mostly made of life inconvenient for commuters and animal dung mixed with mud, others supplies run short. As a result there are made of steel and brick (jack were a strong arguments in favor of a arch). The walls in some houses are bridge. On the other hand a bridge plastered internally and externally, would make it virtually impossible for others maintained the original texture the Island to retain its distinct charac- of the material used. ter as it would immediately be drawn The main characteristic of the houses into the daily life of the capital. is the courtyard that is surrounded by Most of the inhabitants own cars that 2- high entrance scattered rooms, some have a semi- are parked in Khartoum city because covered courtyard which is called the the internal roads of the Island are too verandah . tight and narrow to handle volume of The village suffers from the absence of traffic.Tutians find it easier to walk all open spaces, and the roads are around the Island, for example, shaded by the high walls which are distances range from 2-4 km from the 2.00 m high, emphasizing the concept edge of the Island, where the ferry of privacy that is essential in Islam. dock, to the center of the village.Some Each house has one to two doors that estimate the distance from the center lead to two different spaces for men to the farthest point in the Island to be and women. 3- front courtyard about 4 to 5 km. Around the old village: This The build up area ( the houses) area is less crowded and accommo- expanse Southwards and Eastwards dates wider roads. Most houses are on the sandy areas away from the modernly build, two to three stories, congestion, therefore, with more open constructed of brick and concrete, and wide spaces. Most of the residen- finished with plaster and ceramic tiles, tial areas are surrounded by agricul- and painted internally and sometimes tural lands which decreased with the externally. These houses areas ranges encroachment of residential areas.