Babikr Bedri

Babikr Bedri (Arabic: بابكر بدري; 1 June 1856 – 1954; also spelled Babiker Badri) was a Mahdist Sudanese warrior and social activist who laid the foundations for women's education in Sudan.

Over time, the school moved to Omdurman and formed the basis for today's Ahfad University for Women in Sudan.

The school was inspected by Currie, the Condominium Director of Education, but he warned Bedri that the responsibility was entirely his, as would be the cost of running such a new establishment.

She was too disconcerted to reply.On his return to Khartoum Bedri was taken to task by John Crowfoot, the Director of Education for his remarks to Miss Evans.

In 1991 the Al Ahfad girls' school was transformed into a college and then into the University of that name by Yusuf Badri, Babikr Bedri's son.

[5] His granddaughter Balghis Badri is a feminist activist, and professor of social anthropology at Ahfad University for Women.

Despite the hostility from the British authorities and the Sudanese community, he established a school for his children in his own house.Babikr Bedri was "a pioneer of modern education in a traditional context" write the editors of his first volume of memoirs in English, "and a remarkable personality".

Street sign in downtown Khartoum (2018)