- published: 09 Mar 2014
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Khartoum (Arabic: الخرطوم al Ḫarṭūm) is the capital and second largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran", meaning the Confluence. The main Nile continues to flow north towards Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
Divided by the Niles, Khartoum is a tripartite metropolis with an estimated overall population of over five million people consisting of Khartoum proper[clarification needed], and linked by bridges to Khartoum North called (al-Khartūm Bahrī) and Omdurman (Umm Durmān) to the west.
The origin of the word is uncertain. One tradition is that khartoum derives from Arabic kartūm الخرطوم meaning 'end of an elephant’s trunk', probably referring to the narrow strip of land extending between the Blue and White Niles. Captain J. A. Grant, who reached Khartoum in 1863 with Captain Speke’s expedition, thought that the derivation was most probably from the Arabic qurtum, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), which was cultivated extensively in Egypt for its oil, used in burning.[citation needed]
Down, down, down 'cos the world is apart and we're back at the start I'm quite content to live through everyday like my life is okay Bang, bang, bang Now the warmth is gone and it's all gone along with it I want it back I know nothing is real I know people don't steal I know everything's okay 'till I wake the next day I know nothing Sing, sing, sing and we sing in time and the words have to rhyme I've gone numb, I can't think anymore and I've closed all the doors Kill, kill, kill 'cos it's plain to see that we'll all have to bleed to be I want it black While my heart is on fire I've burnt all the liars I have to be free to believe in me She is my heart and my soul and she wants to live More or less I have to be free to believe Bang, bang, bang, now the warmth is gone and it's all gone along with it I want it black