Sultan Kigab

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 completed secondary school in at an Evangelical school. He studied Law at Cairo University, Khartoum branch (today's Neelain University). == Swimming career ==

Kigab started his career as a percussionist and choir member with , Ishag Karamallah and Zaki Abdul Karim in 1962. He was a swimmer from a young age. In 1967, he joined the Graduate Club and participated in the short-distance and water polo championships; 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 () in Italy, along with his colleague Mohamud Mustafa and Fadel Suleiman. In 1970, he joined the Al-Merrikh swimming club. In October of the same year, he represented Sudan in the Latakia International Swimming Race in Syria in 1971. handing over the winner cup in 1974 , Sara Gadalla Gubara is to his left, and Kigab is behind Sarah on the second rowIn June 1974, he established and competed in the Jabal Awliya race (), 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. There, he came first, covering the distance in 13 hours, followed by Salim and Sara Gubara. 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 tried again and failed. Kigab claimed to have crossed the Channel on a different attempt in 11 hours and half, In 1977, Kigab was ranked 20 (out of 21) on WPMSF rankings after coming 13 (out of 14) in Chibougamau race, Quebec, that was on 10 July. The race had a distance of and he finished in 05:11:10. On 12 August 1979, he did not finish the Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec. In 1981, he was ranked 11 (out of 16) on the WPMSF rankings, 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 () which was on 19 July. The final race in Alexandria was cancelled due to the assassination of Anwar Sadat. On 29 July 1984, Kigab participated in the Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada, but did not finish. Kigab claimed to have crossed the Saginas Lake in 15 hours 3 time, and 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, and the Luxor Race. He crossed the wide Lake Magog 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. Kigab claimed to have won 126 awards, cups, medals, shields, and certificates, throughout his sports career. == After retirement ==

and Kigab during Ali's visit to Sudan in 1988According to Kigab, he persuaded Muhammad Ali, to visit Sudan in 1988, and to raise awareness about the Second Sudanese Civil War-induced famine. Islamic Dawa Organization, among others, also took credit for organising Ali's visit. discussing election requirements. In the 1996 Sudanese general election, Kigab and 39 other candidates ran against incumbent Omar al-Bashir, who toppled the democratically elected government in the 1989 coup d'état. Al-Bashir and emerged victorious with 75.4% of the vote. Opposition parties boycotted the elections, and due to the Second Sudanese Civil War, no voting took place in 11 southern states. which he denied. == Personal life and death ==

Kigab was married to Mashair al-Gaide Suwar al-Dhahab from , Northern State, Sudan. for spreading Islam in United States during the interwar period. Together they have 2 daughters and 2 sons, Abu Haef, Buthina, Nazek and Nawaf. Kigab became a Canadian citizen in 1979, and lived between Canada and Sudan. His death was mourned by the Transitional Sovereignty Council. == References ==