Face of Truth: Salah Al-Din Al-Fadel: Guardian of Memory and History
Ibrahim Shaqlawi
Professor Salah Al-Din Al-Fadel was not merely a radio director or university professor; he was a guardian of Sudanese memory and history. His intellectual project was not limited to programs or series but extended to reshaping society’s awareness and its understanding of its history and present. His works proved that media is not merely a tool for entertainment or leisure but a hammer that shapes collective consciousness.
As Bertolt Brecht said: “The theater is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.” Al-Fadel transformed radio and drama into effective critical and political tools. From the early 1970s until his passing, he produced around two hundred radio series, from short quadrilogy works like The Senegalese Othman Sambin to long projects like Al-Mandara, which extended to seventy-six episodes, each embodying a project that demonstrated the power of sound in reconstructing collective memory and shaping political and cultural understanding.
I first met him in 2009 when he was an external examiner for my master’s thesis on the impact of intellectual and political transformations on Sudanese theater. His analytical approach to research was more than academic evaluation; he connected culture, politics, and thought, engaging critically with the period in which the May regime aligned first with the leftists and then with Islamists. He emphasized that media is a responsibility before it is a function, and that theater and sound could be tools for societal change and awakening awareness. Since that day, our dialogue on thought, politics, and culture continued—not just an exchange of opinions but training in critical awareness linking Sudanese authenticity with the requirements of effective modern media.
His reformist project was a balanced blend of Sudanese values and heritage with modernity and social media mechanisms. He saw radio as a means of spreading values and ethics, drama as a tool for reconstructing collective awareness, and culture as a medium to strengthen the national fabric fractured by wars and political divisions. His vision was not theoretical; it was a daily practice visible in every work he produced, where each radio episode or play combined educational, intellectual, and political dimensions simultaneously.
Founding Radio Program Two in the early 1990s was a politically and culturally significant act. He restored the value of thought, dialogue, and plurality within an official institution prone to simplifications and unilateral approaches. He transformed listening into an analytical social and educational experience rather than mere reception of shallow messages.
Al-Fadel combined administrative expertise, academic thought, and creative passion, from managing drama and state radios to leading the Sudanese Radio as director, while remaining close to the studio. He adhered to a philosophy of live production linking artistic direction with real-world knowledge. Salah added an educational dimension to all content; every program and play became a practical experience in fostering critical awareness and enabling the listener to distinguish between reality and propaganda, truth and media noise.
In radio drama, Al-Fadel left an indelible mark. The series Life is My Profession was a fully integrated artistic experiment, using soundtrack scientifically, and it was the first Sudanese radio series to employ such techniques to awaken awareness. In Nadia’s Story, he utilized typewriter sounds and alarm clock ticks as dramatic tools to create psychological suspense, reflecting his deep understanding of sound’s capacity to shape consciousness.
All his works served as practical lessons in what he called “the art of vision through the ear,” making the listener a partner in creating meaning rather than a passive recipient. This aspect formed a core pillar of his media and academic experience.
His passing on January 23, 2026, in Cairo represents the loss of a national project. His role extended beyond art and media to shaping societal awareness and strengthening national cohesion, raising real political and cultural questions: Who will guard the nation’s memory when its guardians are gone? Who will preserve the ethics and values of sound in an era of chaos, divisions, and betrayal?
The state and the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism bear part of the responsibility for his reformist project, which went beyond the artistic dimension to become a genuine tool for protecting the nation’s memory and promoting dialogue and cultural plurality.
Honoring his legacy should not be limited to words or slogans but must include genuine investment in media and intellectual programs that continue his vision, ensuring the sustainability of his project in developing Sudanese awareness and elevating national consciousness.
Al-Fadel left behind thousands of programs and radio series, intellectual and media projects, such as the live Ramadan variety shows that still fill the auditory space for eight hours daily, in addition to research and books that have become essential references for studying Sudanese media.
All these works, according to #Face_of_Truth, confirm that Al-Fadel was not merely a director or administrator but a witness of an era and a universal creative mind, responsible for shaping national awareness through sound, rhythm, drama, and the classroom. His passing reminds us that a nation loses its voice when its creators depart and that guarding memory is an indispensable responsibility for leadership and creatives alike—it cannot be postponed.
We ask God to envelop Professor Salah Al-Din Al-Fadel in His vast mercy, grant him paradise, and let his lasting impact serve as a guiding light for future generations. Our heartfelt condolences go to his esteemed family, colleagues, and students who benefited from his knowledge.
Stay well and in good health
Monday, January 26, 2026
Shglawi55@gmail.com