Hiba Elhindi, the Co-Founder of Sudafest, shares the story of the festival which will be returning to Bristol on 22 October as part of our Platform festival.
(Photo by Hassan Abuzaid)
Working with Acta and the Sudanese community, combined with the knowledge I later gained through a Master’s degree in Arts Management from Bath Spa University, led to the birth of multiple arts projects involving youth and adults from the Sudanese community of Bristol. One of these projects was Sudafest, established to celebrate Sudan’s rich cultural heritage and provide a platform for individuals, artists, and communities to engage in Sudanese cultural and artistic experiences while also fostering connections between Sudanese culture and other cultures.
One of the most rewarding aspects of producing Sudafest is the profound connection I develop with my homeland when I engage with Sudanese artists, communities, and content. For instance, in 2022, Sudafest commenced with a captivating Sufi parade led by the Noba group from Bristol’s Sudanese community. They traversed the streets of Bedminster, filling the air with the rhythmic cadence of drums, chants, and dances that infused Bristol with the vibrant essence of Sudan.
Noba Sufi parade at Sudafest (2022) Photo by Hassan Abuzaid
I also take immense pride in sharing knowledge and experiences with audiences who may have limited exposure to the country, its rich culture, and its current issues.
Sudan and the UK have a historical relationship rooted in the colonial era. Sudan was under Anglo-Egyptian condominium rule between 1899 and 1956. Even after gaining independence, the UK and Sudan maintained diplomatic and economic relations. However, since gaining independence, Sudan has experienced political instability, including military coups, the civil war in South Sudan leading to its secession in 2011, conflict in the Darfur region, and most recently, the eruption of armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. Unfortunately, there is minimal awareness about Sudan’s current situation in the UK, and very little media coverage.
Therefore, I decided to use Sudafest as a platform to raise awareness and foster a sense of global citizenship and responsibility, which can lead to more informed and empathetic engagement. I strongly believe that arts and culture are powerful tools that can engage people emotionally, stimulate dialogue, challenge perspectives, and promote empathy.
Our last music event with Ebo Krdum and Mustafa Khogali was an example of this. The event happened shortly after the conflict erupted in Khartoum and Darfur. Normally in these kind of situations, a music event would probably be cancelled. However, our plan went ahead with Ebo and Mustafa (both known for their Artivistm) performing songs that promoted peace and engaged audiences with the suffering of Sudanese people.
Moreover, the event successfully blended celebration with raising awareness and engagement. We included multiple fundraising activities such as a charity auction, market stalls and proceeds from ticket sales. In total, we were able to contribute £1,200 to the Sudanese Doctors Union, providing support to those impacted by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The upcoming Hope and Healing event on October 22nd follows the same approach, and we are planning various methods of fundraising and engagement with Sudanese cultures and issues. Sudafest’s Hope and Healing event is open to everyone, free of charge, and welcomes people of all ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds.
My dream for Sudafest is to evolve into a worldwide organisation that raises the profile of arts and culture within Sudanese communities and engages the international community with Sudanese arts, culture, and the important issues facing our homeland.
Hiba is also taking part in a free panel and networking event Theatre of Migration alongside community artist Carlota Matos on 12 October, 6.30PM in Bristol.
