"Abu Ushar" Abu `Ushar by uglyscot

Abu `Ushar Travel Guide: 7 reviews and 35 photos

This large village/ small town lies on the Blue Nile in the Gezira area of Sudan.
Its history includes the railway, irrigation , sheikhs, religious schools and more recently the Chinese run hospital.
It is named after the ushar plant [Sodom's Apple, or Dead Sea Apple] which used to grow in profusion in the area. The fruit is empty and has fine fibres inside. The stalks and leaves produce a poisonous latex.
Most of the original village lies between the Wad Medani road and the Blue Nile, but the hospital and irrigation department are further to the west, beyond the main highway.

Beside the main road is the tomb of one of the Chinese who died while working in Abu Ushar. It is in completely different style, and the locals call it the grave of the Chinese fekki .

street scene

Abu Ushar is built on uneven ground on dunes, but probably because houses would be demolished and new ones erected in their place, the terrain has become even more uneven.
Traditionally houses were of mud brick,[note the bricks laid out to dry in the photo], and the roofs had a wooden ceiling and a concrete coating. Roads are not paved and there is no lighting except in the houses, though electricity has not been there very long.
It does have a number of schools and colleges, and a market..

The Blue Nile

To the south of the village is a run off canal from the main irrigation It flows through a dry khor..[see Things to Do] The water rushes down to enter the Blue Nile.
On the opposite bank of the Blue Nile is the town of Al Hilaliya, which can be reached by ferry boat.

The people of Abu Ushar are very hospitable and generous. They have very close family ties, and the different families are frequently linked by marriage.
When I first went to Abu Ushar in 1968 , foreigners were a rarity, so whenever we walked or drove through the village, children would shout 'The Egyptian Woman has come'. Perhaps they had seen Egyptian men or recognised a light skin from TV soaps. Later when Chinese doctors came to work in the hospital, my appearance changed my status. On arrival the chant would then be 'The Chinese woman has come'.
When I went to weddings, children would jostle to get near me for a look, though this is no longer as frequent; but babes in arms and toddlers still cling to their mothers for safety, or bawl their heads off when I approach.

Pros and Cons

Pros:friendly and generous people
Cons:not much to do though

Last visit to Abu `Ushar: Jan 2005
Intro Updated Aug 15, 2009
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (7)

visiting a beloved 's grave - Abu `Ushar

visit the graves at the Eid Local Customs (4)

At the Eid many people go and visit and say prayers at the graves of their loved ones, Because of the weather conditions... more travel advice

Hamdnalla Off The Beaten Path (1)

more travel advice

shrine of Sheikh Abdelnour Local Customs (4)

Shrines can be found throughout the Sudan, erected in memory of a holy man. They are usually a square building with a... more travel advice

communal life Local Customs (4)

Because several generations share a house, and whenever there is an Eid or family event, all family members come to the... more travel advice

Favorites (1)
when blue skies turn grey

Things to Do (1)
see the water escape

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (7)

rashid38 Aug 22, 2011 at 7:21 PM Report Abuse

im a kenyan medical student who has spent the last 21 days in abu ushar and definately it has left an impression on me
nassirabdelgabar Aug 17, 2009 at 9:22 AM Report Abuse

Thanks for bringing my village to the world. I grew there and so excited to the the pictures . It brought so beautiful memories . I still go there every year for the last 20 yrs living in UK. Dr Nassir
lynnehamman Aug 15, 2009 at 6:46 AM Report Abuse

Enjoyed this little page, Shane. I always find communal living practices interesting- different in most countries.Love the rainbow picture.
evaanna Dec 23, 2007 at 3:06 AM Report Abuse

I see that the Blue Nile is blue indeed. Never seen this kind of fruit. That celebrated man must be a relative of your husband's, he must be very proud of him. We can't see the stars in Warsaw either.
SLLiew Oct 9, 2007 at 8:10 PM Report Abuse

At first, your picture of Ushar fruits looks so delicious like "guavas". Then I read on and know that the latex is toxic! Where is the kitchen, where is the restroom.... life is difficult there.
sachara Dec 1, 2006 at 1:48 PM Report Abuse

Interesting travelogues and tips about daily life and local customs.
maykal Dec 16, 2005 at 5:10 AM Report Abuse

I'll have to quote that, when my dad moans about the inefficiency of the carving knife for the turkey next week! Khabar shinu? Kullu tamam? lissa gaa'ida fil-qahira? :@P