adopt the jibba and maintained their traditional appearances. Riverine forces recruited from the Ja'alin tribe and the Danagla mostly wore simple white robes (tobe). The Beja also did not adopt the jibba until 1885. As time went on and the Mahdist State became better organized under Khalifa Abdallahi ibn Muhammad's leadership, its armies became more and more professional. By the 1890s factories in Omdurman and provincial centers were mass-producing jibba to provide the troops with clothing. Although the jibba still varied in their style, with certain tribes and armies favoring certain patterns and colors, the Mahdist forces became increasingly professional in appearance. The jibba also indicated a fighter's rank within the Mahdist armies. Lower-ranking commanders (emirs) wore more colorful and elaborate jibba. The most senior military leadership preferred the most simple designs, however, to indicate their piety. The Khalifa wore plain white. Some Mahdist troops possessed mail armour, helmets, and quilted coats, although these were more often used in parades than in combat. One unit within the Mahdist armies, the Mulazimiyya, adopted a full uniform, as all their members wore identical white-red-blue jibba. Flags The Mahdist State and its armies had no uniform flags, but still used certain designs repeatedly. Most flags carried four lines of Arabic texts which signified allegiance to God, Muhammad, and the Mahdi. The flags were usually white with colored borders, and the text displayed in varying colors. Most military units had their own individual flags. See also History of Sudan Mahdist War In Desert and Wilderness (novel) Millennarianism in colonial societies Notes References Works cited Further reading Fadlalla, Mohamed H. Short History of Sudan, iUniverse, 30 April 2004, Holt, P. M. "The Mahdia in the Sudan, 1881-1898" History Today (Mar 1958) 8#3 pp 187–195. Mahdist Sudan Mahdist Sudan Mahdist Islamic states Mahdist War 1885 establishments in Africa 1899 disestablishments in Africa States and territories established in 1885 States and territories disestablished in 1899 Former countries Former theocracies sw:Dola la Mahdi pl:Powstanie Mahdiego w Sudanie