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Studios destroyed, traditions saved: Artists fight to save Sudan’s culture

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Since conflict erupted in April 2023, displaced practitioners have lost their residences and creative materials but continue operating out of temporary shelters. Figures like Awad Haroun and Asim Abdelaziz are spearheading local groups to teach traditional arts and counter rising hate speech through collaborative music. Meanwhile, institutional hubs such as the Artists and Writers Union have provided essential sanctuary for over 112 cultural professionals. UNESCO initiatives have further assisted hundreds of artists and displaced workers to sustain their livelihoods and promote coexistence.

Key points

  • Displaced Sudanese creatives are actively using community-based arts to foster social coh…: Displaced Sudanese creatives are actively using community-based arts to foster social cohesion and educate youth amid war.
  • Local shelters and institutional unions serve as vital operational hubs despite severe re…: Local shelters and institutional unions serve as vital operational hubs despite severe resource shortages and threats of eviction.
  • Targeted international programs have helped hundreds of cultural workers sustain their ar…: Targeted international programs have helped hundreds of cultural workers sustain their artistic practices and advocate for peace.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Artists in Sudan are working to save culture and traditions amid the country’s war.

Port Sudan, Sudan – Awad Haroun, 45, a visual artist and theatre director, fled his home in Al-Halfaya, Khartoum North, after war destroyed a life he had worked hard to build in the capital.

He moved to Port Sudan with his wife and son, leaving behind his home, artistic workspace and the tools he needed to work, shortly after fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary in April 2023.

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When he fled, he carried little: Two shirts, two pairs of trousers, two books and a few torn drawing papers, expecting to return soon. Instead, he has been forced to rebuild his life far from home.

He lost not only his home but also the…

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