Dr Fergus Nicoll is a well-known journalist and broadcaster who has a long-standing interest in African affairs, in particular in the history of Sudan. After 24 years with the BBC, he now works for the Rift Valley Institute. His publications include The Sword of the Prophet: The Mahdi of Sudan and the Death of General Gordon, Shah Jahan: The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Emperor, and An Index to the Complete Works of al-Imam al-Mahdi.