ABSTRACT
Darfur has existed as an independent entity for much of its history, in a process that includes the entire region and its people. This history has contributed to the formation of an independent Darfurian identity with a unique culture, and has set it apart in relation to its neighbors in eastern Sudan or westwards in Wadai/Chad. Darfur, like the rest of Sudan, is diverse in terms of environments, cultures, and ethnicities. But, within this diversity, elements of unity did prevail: the traditional hierarchical system of administration, adherence to one faith, the prevalence of Arabic as a lingua franca, and a sense of being citizens of a multi-ethnic independent state. The existence of Darfurian identity, in contrast to others, and the longing of its citizens for independence were evident in a series of revolts against colonial and national rule.
