Sultan Kigab Explained

Abd El Magid Sultan Kigab
Native Name:عبدالمجيد سلطان كيجاب
Native Name Lang:ar
Birth Name:Abd El Magid Sultan Kigab
Nickname:Sultan Kigab
Nationality:Sudanese / Canadian (since 1979)[1]
Birth Place:Al-Ghaba, Northern State, Sudan
Death Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Education:Neelain University
Years Active:1970s–1980s
Height:[2]
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Spouse:Mashair Suwar al-Dhahab
Country:Sudan
Sport:Marathon swimming
Long-distance swimming
Rank:32 (1973)
20 (1977)
11 (1981)
Children:4, including Abu Kigab

Abd El Magid Sultan Kigab (; 1955 – 17 October 2024), also known as Sultan Kigab, was a Sudanese-Canadian marathon swimmer and presidential candidate.

After studying law at Cairo University (Khartoum branch), Kigab embarked on a successful swimming career, representing Sudan internationally. He competed in the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli (Italy), Latakia International Swimming Race (Syria), and Canadian World Championships, among others. In 1974, he won Sudan's Jabal Awliya race, one of the world's longest, and continued participating in national and international events, winning numerous medals. Kigab later coached swimming in Canada and Saudi Arabia, and in 1996, he ran for Sudan's presidency, placing second to Omar al-Bashir. Kigab also worked as a representative at the International Olympic Committee.

Early life and education

Abd El Magid Sultan Muhammad Salih Kigab was born in 1955 in Al-Ghaba district, in the Northern State, Sudan to Sultan Muhammed Salih. He studied secondary school at and Evangelical schools. He studied law at Cairo University, Khartoum branch (today's Neelain University).[3] [4]

Swimming career

Kigab started his career as a percussionist and choir with, Ishag Karamallah and Zaki Abdul Karim in 1962.[5] But he was a swimmer from a young age. In 1967, he joined the Graduate Club and participated in the short-distance and water polo championship, then he went to long-distance swimming alongside Fathi Bayram, Huda Hamdi,, Mona Karrar, and Sara Gadalla Gubara, and has proven his worth in endurance and sprint races. In 1969, he was chosen to represent Sudan in the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli race (36 km) in Italy, along with his colleague Mohamud Mustafa and Fadel Suleiman.[6]

In 1970, he joined the Al-Merrikh swimming club and was the first swimming team in the club. In October of the same year, he represented Sudan in the Latakia International Swimming Race in Syria In 1971.[7]

He was chosen in 1972 to compete at the Flower Show in the Canadian town of Mestine. After that he was invited by Canada to represent Sudan in the Canadian World Championships. He continued to participate in all the next seven Canadian World Championships where he swam the 24-hour relay ace.[8] In 1973, he came 9th, swimming 46miles in the La Tuque, Quebec race and 32 (out of 35) overall in the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation (WPMSF) rankings.[9] In June 1974, he established and competed in the Jabal Awliya race (50 km), one of the world's longest races, which started from Jabal Awliya dam on the Blue Nile and ends at the TV Building in Omdurman.[10] [11] There, he came first, covering the distance in 13 hours, followed by Salim and Sara Gubara. In the Atbara race (30 km) and 1974 Wad Madani to Um-Sunat (30 km) race,, where 30 swimmers participated, he came first. In the 1978 race from Wad Nemari to Dongola (30 km), held during the Independence holidays, he also came in the first place.[12] He participated in most of the national swims, Al-Alefon to Khartoum race, Mount Olya, Al-Hudaybah to Atbara, Al-Qamar to Abu Rouf, and the Unity Festival races.

Kigab established the first swimming school for young people in 1975, and the number of those who graduated from swimming schools reached more than 40,000 young people.

In 1975, Kigab claimed to participate in the 100th anniversary of the first English swimmer across the English Channel in 1875 in the English city of Folkestone. In 1978, Kigab was ordered by President Nimeiry to cross the English Channel, but he gave up 2miles from the French coast.[13] Kigab tried again and failed.[14] Yet, Kigab claimed crossing the Channel on a different attempt in 11 hours and half, which is not mentioned at the official full list of successful Channel swims, records, statistics and swimmer information.[15]

In 1977, Kigab was ranked 20 (out of 21) on WPMSF ranking[16] [17] after coming 13 (out of 14) on 10 July race in Chibougamau, Quebec which had a distance of 10miles, that he finished in 05:11:10.[18] [19]

On 12 August 1979, he did not finish the Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec, Canada.[20] Kigab became a Canadian citizen in 1979.[21]

In 1981, he was ranked 11 (out of 16) on the WPMSF ranking, after coming last in the Luxor, Egypt race which was on 10 May and Port Said race on 2 October, and 11 (out of 12) in La Tuque, Canada race (24 km) which was on 19 July.[22] The final race in Alexandria was cancelled due to the assassination of Anwar Sadat. James Kegley, an Honour Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, remembers Kigab running to him while screaming "Sadat has been shot!".[23] On 29 July 1984, he participated in the Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada,[24] but did not finish.[25]

Kigab claimed to cross the cold Sagni Lake in 15 hours 3 times. He participated in the Montreal International Swimming Championships 4 times, the Leg Sangan 3 times, the Chicago World Race in Lake Michigan, USA, the Loth Cabot World Race in Mexico, all Egypt's international races - the Nile Race - the Suez Canal Race - the Luxor Race. He crossed Lake Magog, which is located between America and Canada, a distance of 50 km 4 times. He participated in the Iraqi Championship for short distance swimming, which was held in 1994 with his fellow swimmer Majid Talaat Farid, heading the swimming expedition. Throughout his sports career, he won 126 awards, cups, medals, shields, and certificates.

After retirement

After his retirement, Kigab participated in the meetings of the International Olympic Committee in Montreal as a representative of Sudan. He worked as a secretary for the General Local Swimming Federation. He coached swimming in Canada in more than 10 Canadian clubs. He worked as a swimming coach at the Saudi Al-Nasr Swimming Club in 1982.According to Kigab, he persuaded Muhammad Ali, to visit Sudan in 1988,[26] during which Ali visited refugee camps[27] and to raise awareness about war-induced famine.[28] Islamic Dawa Organization, among others, also took credit for Ali's visit.

Kigab and his colleague, journalist Mirghani Abu Shana, prepared the program Nafhat Al-Sabah, which was presented by . He prepared a program to honour athletes, artists, poets and journalist with Lieutenant General Zubair Mohamed Salih, and they were honoured in the Republican Palace. Kigab, with Mirghani Abu Shana were credited with organizing and holding the to Khartoum bicycle race, in which a thousand riders participated.

Presidential candidacy

In 1996, according to Kigab, he was visiting a relative in Khartoum and while watching the Sudan TV, listening to an interview with Colonel Mohamed Al-Amin Khalifa, then president of the National Transitional Council (1992-1996),[29] talking about the requirements to run elections, for example being an adult, sane, and Sudanese citizen.. He found that the conditions apply to him so he went directly to the Elections Commission Headquarters, and met Lieutenant General Abbas Madani, who was in the Elections Committee.[30]

According to Kigab, Kigab told Madani of his desire to run for the presidency, to which Madani replied "Do you want to compete with Al Bashir?!". Kigab replied with "yes". Madani then gave him the candidacy form and asked Kigab to launch his electoral campaign. Kigab went to the leader of the Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, who agreed to support him. After that Kigab called former President Jaafar Nimeiri, who was in self-imposed exile in Cairo. Nimeiri told Kigab that he would stand with him along with all the Mayans.

Consequently, in the 1996 Sudanese general election, Kigab[31] and 39 other candidates ran against incumbent Omar al-Bashir who came after 1989 Sudanese coup d'état, and emerged victorious with 75.4% of the vote.[32] [33] Opposition groups boycotted the elections, claiming they were unfair. Due to the Second Sudanese Civil War, no voting took place in 11 Southern states.

Kigab ran as an independent and came second, receiving 133,032 votes, a 2.41% of the total votes.[34] [35] His candidacy was described as a "charade"[36] which he denied.

Personal life and death

Kigab was married to Mashair Suwar al-Dhahab from, Northern State, Sudan.[37] She is the granddaughter of Satti Majid, who spread Islam in United States in 1904 and spent 30 years converting 250,000 people to Islam.[38] [39] Together they have 2 daughters and 2 sons, Abu Haef, Buthina, Nazek and Nawaf. Abu Haef, known as Abu Kigab, is a professional basketball player who was key in Canada winning the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2017.[40]

Kigab became a Canadian citizen in 1979 and lived between Canada and Sudan. He was known for being a "real showman".

Kigab died following a brief illness in New York City, on 17 October 2024.[41] [42]

References

  1. Web site: Ahmed . 30 November 2015 . صحيفة المجهر السياسي السودانية - "السلطان كيجاب" لــ(المجهر) : "نميري" كان راجل (كلس) وفي عهده السباحة اصبحت اللعبة الاولي في البلد . 9 July 2023 . صحيفة المجهر السياسي السودانية . ar . 9 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230709054037/https://elmeghar.com/archives/33185 . live .
  2. Book: Sudanow . 1978 . Ministry of Culture and Information . en . 8 July 2023 . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174018/https://books.google.com/books?id=dlfjAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Sultan+Kigab%22+-wikipedia . live .
  3. Web site: 11 July 2015 . السلطان كيجاب: ابنتي قائدة لمنتخب السلة الكندي.. و انضمام ابني للمنتخب الأمريكي كان أجمل خبر . Sultan Kejab: My daughter is the captain of the Canadian National Team. My son's joining the American national team was the most beautiful news . 8 July 2023 . ar . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192435/https://sudafax.com/20419/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84 . live .
  4. Web site: 11 July 2015 . السلطان كيجاب: انضمام ابني للمنتخب الأمريكي أجمل خبر.. وابنتي قائدة لمنتخب السلة الكندي . Sultan Kejab: My son's joining the American national team is the best news, and my daughter is the captain of the Canadian basketball team . 8 July 2023 . ar . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708193115/https://www.alnilin.com/12698438.htm . live .
  5. Web site: السباح العالمي سلطان كيجاب أشهر سباح سوداني . International swimmer Sultan Kejab, the most famous Sudanese swimmer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192434/https://www.sudaress.com/alintibaha/22365 . 8 July 2023 . 8 July 2023 . سودارس.
  6. Web site: السباح العالمي (كيجاب) يكشف عن معلومة مفاجئة في سيرة وزيرة المالية السودانية . The international swimmer (KiJAP) reveals surprising information in the biography of the Sudanese Minister of Finance . 8 July 2023 . Alnwrs . ar . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192434/https://alnwrs.com/2020/12/65332/ . live .
  7. Web site: السباح العالمي سلطان كيجاب أشهر سباح سوداني . International swimmer Sultan Kejab, the most famous Sudanese swimmer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192434/https://www.sudaress.com/alintibaha/22365 . 8 July 2023 . 8 July 2023 . سودارس.
  8. Web site: ذكريات من الزمن الجميل الحلقة (51) °السلطان كيجاب . Memories from the Beautiful Time Episode (51) °Sultan Kejab . 8 July 2023 . forum.kooora.com . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192435/https://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35257372 . live .
  9. Web site: 1973 . World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation . 10 July 2023 . 26 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626083727/https://nyadfactcheck.com/documents/wpmsf/bulletins/21-december-1973.pdf . live .
  10. Web site: سارة جاد الله المولودة في حلة حمد بتاريخ 23-4-1956 . Sara Gadalla, born in Hillat Hamad on 4/23/1956 . 4 February 2023 . forum.kooora.com . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204010637/https://forum.kooora.com/?t=24791823 . live .
  11. Web site: 31 May 2022 . أصبحت أيقونة للمرأة التي هزمت وتحدّت الصعاب سارة جاد الله.. السّبّاحة التي كادت أن تبتلع كيجاب!! - صحيفة الصيحة . Sara Gadalla, the swimmer who almost swallowed Kijab!! - Al-Sayha newspaper . 4 February 2023 . ar . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204005639/https://www.assayha.net/103857/ . live .
  12. Web site: بكباش . سليمان . Perishable . 17 June 2021 . الرياضة النسائية السودانية، تاريخ من الصراع السياسي . Sudanese women's sports, a history of political conflict . 4 February 2023 . TajaSport . en-US . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204011915/https://tajasport.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9/ . live .
  13. News: 12 August 1978 . Low sea temperatures foil Channel swimmers . 10 July 2023 . 29 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629195518/https://www.ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/DOC066.pdf . live .
  14. Book: Sudanow . 1978 . Ministry of Culture and Information . en . 8 July 2023 . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174018/https://books.google.com/books?id=dlfjAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Sultan+Kigab%22+-wikipedia . live .
  15. Web site: Successful Channel Swims . Dover.UK.
  16. Web site: Munatones . Steven . 21 June 2020 . When The Machine Dominated, A Look At The Pro Circuit In 1977 . 8 July 2023 . World Open Water Swimming Association . en-US . 7 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207232526/https://www.openwaterswimming.com/when-the-machine-dominated-in-1977-a-look-at-the-pro-circuit/ . live .
  17. Web site: Sultan Kigab - Open Water Swimming Wiki . 8 July 2023 . www.openwaterswimming.wiki . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708193640/https://www.openwaterswimming.wiki/index.php?title=Sultan_Kigab . live .
  18. Web site: World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation - 1977 LongSwims Database . 8 July 2023 . longswims.com . en . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174006/https://longswims.com/series/wpmsf/1977/ . live .
  19. Book: Swimming World and Junior Swimmer . 1977 . Swimming World and Junior Swimmer . en . 10 July 2023 . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174426/https://books.google.com/books?id=ln9YAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Sultan+Kigab%22+-wikipedia . live .
  20. Web site: Mohamed Gamie - Open Water Swimming Wiki . 10 July 2023 . openwaterswimming.wiki . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174016/https://openwaterswimming.wiki/wiki/Mohamed_Gamie . live .
  21. Web site: Ahmed . 30 November 2015 . صحيفة المجهر السياسي السودانية - "السلطان كيجاب" لــ(المجهر) : "نميري" كان راجل (كلس) وفي عهده السباحة اصبحت اللعبة الاولي في البلد . The Sudanese political microscope newspaper - "Sultan Kijab" by (the microscope): "Numeiri" was a man (Kels) and during his reign swimming became the first game in the country . 10 July 2023 . صحيفة المجهر السياسي السودانية . ar . 9 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230709054037/https://elmeghar.com/archives/33185 . live .
  22. Web site: 1981 . World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation . 10 July 2023 . 28 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528184516/https://nyadfactcheck.com/documents/wpmsf/bulletins/1981.10.wpmsf-bulletin.pdf . live .
  23. Web site: Munatones . Steven . 7 April 2014 . James Kegley's Amazing Aquatic Adventure . 8 July 2023 . World Open Water Swimming Association . en-US . 18 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818145040/https://www.openwaterswimming.com/james-kegleys-amazing-aquatic-adventure/ . live .
  24. Web site: Munatones . Steven . 9 July 2020 . Doug Northway, An Unexpected Triumph In The 1984 Traversée . 10 July 2023 . World Open Water Swimming Association . en-US . 5 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205184453/https://www.openwaterswimming.com/doug-northway-an-unexpected-triumph-in-the-1984-traversee/ . live .
  25. Web site: Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean results - 1984 LongSwims Database . 10 July 2023 . longswims.com . en . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174017/https://longswims.com/events/traversee-internationale-du-lac-st-jean/1984/ . live .
  26. Web site: 7 April 2019 . أسرار زيارة الملاكم العالمي محمد علي كلاي للسودان . Secrets of the visit of world-class boxer Muhammad Ali Clay to Sudan . 8 July 2023 . صحيفة العريشة نت . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708203826/https://azsuragalnaeem.blogspot.com/2019/04/blog-post_93.html . live .
  27. Web site: Muhammad Ali visits Sudanese refugee camps - UPI Archives . 10 July 2023 . UPI . en.
  28. Web site: 4 June 2016 . How Muhammad Ali became a sporting hero to the Arab world . 10 July 2023 . Al Arabiya English . en . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406180845/https://english.alarabiya.net/sports/2016/06/04/How-Muhammad-Ali-became-a-sporting-hero-to-the-Arab-world . live .
  29. Web site: 23 April 2015 . Mohamed Al-Amin Khalifa . 10 July 2023 . Al Jazeera Forum . en . 9 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109050132/http://forum.aljazeera.net/speakers/mohamed-al-amin-khalifa . live .
  30. Web site: 27 March 2018 . السباح كيجاب ل "كوش نيوز": الأمة والإتحادي والمايويون أيدوا ترشيحي لرئاسة الجمهورية . Swimmer Kijab to "Kush News": The nation, the unionists and the Mayans supported my candidacy for the presidency of the republic . 8 July 2023 . النيلين . ar . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192434/https://www.alnilin.com/12928545.htm . live .
  31. Book: Nahost Jahrbuch 1996: Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft in Nordafrika und dem Nahen und Mittleren Osten . 9 March 2013 . Springer-Verlag . 978-3-322-95824-2 . de . 8 July 2023 . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174428/https://books.google.com/books?id=OSLMBgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Abd+al-Majid+Sultan+Kijab%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA145 . live .
  32. [Dieter Nohlen]
  33. Encyclopedia: Elections . Sudan : a country study . . Washington, D.C. . Shinn . David H. . 2015 . Berry . LaVerle . 5th . 232–234 . 978-0-8444-0750-0 . . .
  34. Web site: espac.org - PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN SUDAN . 9 July 2023 . www.espac.org . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603014108/http://espac.org/presidential_pages/presidential_parliamentary.asp . live .
  35. Encyclopedia: Elections . Sudan : a country study . . Washington, D.C. . Shinn . David H. . 2015 . Berry . LaVerle . 5th . 232–234 . 978-0-8444-0750-0 . . .
  36. News: Jr . James C. McKinley . 11 March 1996 . Sudan Holding Election That Some Call a Charade . en-US . The New York Times . 10 July 2023 . 0362-4331 . 16 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221116020012/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/11/world/sudan-holding-election-that-some-call-a-charade.html . live .
  37. Web site: Abu Kigab - Men's Basketball . 8 July 2023 . University of Oregon Athletics . en . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708193630/https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/abu-kigab/8102 . live .
  38. Shouk . Ahmed I. Abu . Hunwick . J.O. . O'Fahey . R.S. . 1997 . A Sudanese Missionary to the United States: Sāttī Mājid, 'Shaykh Al-Islām in North America', and His Encounter with Noble Drew Ali, Prophet of the Moorish Science Temple Movement . Sudanic Africa . 8 . 137–191 . 25653301 . 0803-0685 . 10 July 2023 . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710174446/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25653301 . live .
  39. Web site: 3.2 Imam Satti Majid Muhammad 1883 -1963 . 10 July 2023 . www.islam101.com . 17 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417224440/https://www.islam101.com/index.php/history/124-islam-in-america/128-section3/1360-3-2-imam-satti-majid-muhammad-1883-1963 . live .
  40. Web site: Abu KIGAB at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 . 8 July 2023 . FIBA.basketball . en . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708192434/https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2017/player/Abu-Kigab . live .
  41. Web site: رحيل أسطورة السباحة سلطان كيجاب يُفجع السودانيين . Al Arabiya . ar . 17 October 2024 .
  42. Web site: وفاة السباح الدولي السلطان كيجاب . wat24an.net . ar . 17 October 2024 .

External links

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