Points well taken Ed, and I agree your suggestion of this Sufi order being a good possibility of being the source, especially with the notable commonality which would support its diffusion from Tuareg to the Sudanese. I had not been aware of this, and now seeing it is compelling.
As I had admitted in my observations on the cross, it seemed to have a degree of plausibility because of the variations in these and notable stylizing of the enigma. However, this suggestion is markedly more on target both in general appearance and feasibility.
My only question would be, if this symbol in its stylized form as seen on these two or three blades, why would this interpretation exist only on these few examples if it was being reproduced over wide geographical area?
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