Muslim Women's Representation, Religious Identity, and Politics in Leila Aboulela's Novel, River Spirit

eila Aboulela's latest historical novel, River Spirit (2023), is a groundbreaking work, that represents a significant period in the modern history of Sudan.River Spirit is also a notable departure from Aboulela's preceding novels, which primarily dealt with intricate psychological dimensions of religion by depicting politically unaffiliated spiritual female protagonists.Aboulela's latest main characters have explicit perspectives (supporting or resisting) on the Mahdist revolt (1881-1899) and the concurrent religious and political challenges faced by the Mahdist Sudanese, led by Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah.The novel offers a valuable interrogation and subversion of conventional Western and Muslim depictions of Muslim women's marginalized and erased roles in the public sphere, highlighting their contributions to the political history of the region.Beginning in 1877, River Spirit reveals the poignant journey of Akuany and Bol, an orphaned girl and her younger brother, as they navigate the aftermath of their father's murder and the devastating impact on their village inflicted by slave traders.Rescued by a merchant from Khartoum named Yaseen, who later departs for Cairo to study at Al-Azhar University, Akuany and her brother are entrusted to Yaseen's sister, Halima.However, as Halima has only daughters, she becomes possessive over Bol, envisioning him as her future son-inlaw.Meanwhile, Akuany, who has developed deep affection for Yaseen and feels a strong connection to him, faces a harsh twist of fate when Halima sells her to Nazli Hanim, the wife of a Turkish governor.This marks a major turning point in Akuany's arduous journey, characterized by enslavement and humiliation in the household of the Turkish ruler.The narrative then takes another compelling turn as Akuany's journey continues with a Scottish painter named Robert until she eventually reunites with Yaseen, who is in hiding from the persecution of the Mahdi fighters due to his steadfast refusal to acknowledge the Mahdi's authority.Akuany's story involves diverse households that showcase the intricate social and political conflicts within both Sudanese Muslim society and a Western household.The narrative skillfully provides readers with a nuanced exploration of historical and cultural landscapes dur-