Displaced Artists Ignite Civil Space Against War
Shendi - Al-Asmai Bashri
Translated by Moatinoon
Upon entering the Development Center camp in the city of Shendi, located 170 kilometers north of Khartoum, to shelter those displaced from the horrors of the Khartoum war, I noticed a gathering of youth and children of both genders in the centers courtyard. They were engaged in a diverse cultural program that included theater, singing, and music. I spoke to one of them, who seemed to be the main organizer of the event. He introduced himself as someone interested in organizing similar programs in the city of Omdurman, near Khartoum.
He told me that upon arriving here as war refugees, he found a large number of children, women, and youth. This prompted him to organize cultural, entertainment, and awareness programs aimed at absorbing the psychological shocks for these children and to carry on with our normal lives in the face of the wars memory.
Similar programs and events seem to have taken place in all displacement areas across Sudan. Many creators, artists, and writers have moved to these areas, contributing to the continuation of cultural civil activities against the disastrous effects of the war. Approximately 3 million Sudanese have been displaced from the capital, Khartoum. Reports from displacement areas indicate that the renowned musician Osman El Nour and musician Asim El Tayeb recently held a musical dialogue evening in El Gedaref, attracting a large audience.
In Damazin, the playwright Walid El Alfi organized a workshop for theater performance in the region, with impressive participation, according to participants.
In Kosti in White Nile State, the eighth edition of the Free Theater Festival concluded, attracting a large audience. The festival included contributions from critics and poets such as Salah El Neamaan and Abdullah El Zein.
In Madani and El Heisa Heisa, childrens workshops were organized in fields such as drawing, coloring, and theater. In Port Sudan, the Al-Raseef theater group presented three performances, and artists Atta Shams El Din, Mohamed Osman, Rayiha Mohamed Mahmoud, and others performed. Additionally, musician Safi Mahdi presented a seminar on the experience of the Music and Theater Institute at the Writers Union in Port Sudan.
Amid the battles in El Jereif West in Khartoum State, a cooperative kitchen was set up along with theater performances by artists Jassar Abu Al Qasim and Fatima Mohamed Al Tayeb. This was dedicated to children in the shelter centers. In El Gedaref, efforts are also underway at the Shorouk Cultural Forum to organize special events for the holiday.
Writer and critic Rashed Mustafa Bakheet, from his displacement location in El Gedaref, sent a message on his Facebook page celebrating this artistic and cultural momentum. He emphasized the importance of political figures and civil society taking initiative, considering that the continuous activity in the cultural and civil space is the only way to halt this war and counteract the calls for aggression and incitement.
The playwright Atta Shams El Din stated that they have presented performances to over two thousand children and students, and forty thousand displaced individuals in Port Sudan. He added, This program will continue for three consecutive weeks, using arts and theater to address the psychological problems caused by the Khartoum war. This involves the participation of several playwrights, visual artists, and psychologists. He emphasized the importance of maintaining such programs against the current catastrophic backdrop of the war.
The phenomenon of displaced writers, poets, and artists within Sudan is noteworthy, as it contrasts with what had happened previously. Many of them had sought refuge in distant exile during past eras and periods, for various reasons. Therefore, it seems that when this war ends, we will all return with different and new questions. Awareness about Sudan will be deeper and more comprehensive than what we left behind in Khartoum before the war, according to researchers and observers.
