Digitization of Sudanese Manuscripts and Documents at the University of Bergen Library: The Khartoum Collection as a Case Study.

This study explores the cultural and historical significance of the copies of Sudanese manuscripts and documents housed in the Special Collections of the University of Bergen Library in Norway. It examines the contributions of Norwegian and other Western scholars to the collection and preservation of these documents as well as the University of Bergen’s efforts to digitize them in order to safeguard and expand, global access through a digital repository. The Sudan Collection of Bergen offers valuable insights into social developments over several centuries and serve as crucial resource for intellectual engagement with Sudan’s historical legacy. The article then focuses on a specific collection of manuscripts copied in Khartoum by the late Professor O’Fahey or collected by him and his colleagues during their research visits to Sudan when Khartoum was the basis of their activities. This so-called "Khartoum collection" encompasses a wide range of themes spans diverse geographical and temporal contexts and is already, accompanied by detailed metadata. Ultimately the study encourages Sudanese academic institutions and researchers to utilize these resources and advocates for further scholarly exploration of Sudanese heritage in international contexts.

The article is in Arabic