Art Against Hate: Rebuilding Sudan’s Social Spirit
Feel It
hafielyas@yahoo.com
In times of war and division, battles are not always fought with weapons alone. There is another, far more dangerous battle taking place in minds and hearts — a battle fueled by hate speech, racism, and social fragmentation. This is why the call by Ibrahim Jaber to expand the experience of the Global Space Center for Culture and Media across all Sudanese states represents more than a cultural initiative; it is a national project aimed at restoring the Sudanese collective spirit.
The event organized by the Global Space Center for Culture and Media, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism of Khartoum State, was not merely a musical evening or a cultural gathering. Rather, it served as a national platform carrying profound messages about the importance of restoring the Sudanese identity and confronting hate speech through art and creativity.
The scale of official and public participation reflected the significance of the occasion. It brought together Sovereignty Council member Ibrahim Jaber, Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza, alongside executive officials, media figures, artists, athletes, and a large audience that filled the Union of Musical Professions venue in Omdurman. The scene revived memories of a Sudan united around art and the beauty of words.
What stands out in this initiative is its choice of art as a unifying language — one that does not distinguish between tribes or regions. Sudanese music has long carried the people’s shared memory, expressing their emotions, dreams, and struggles. When music rises against hatred, it reminds everyone that Sudan is greater than the voices of war and deeper than calls for division.
The festival hosted in Omdurman was not merely celebratory; it carried political, social, and cultural messages all at once. Honoring icons such as Mohammed Al Amin, Mohamed Mirghani, and Sabt Othman held profound significance.
These figures were not simply artists, but symbols of a unified Sudanese identity that resisted division for decades.
What Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza said about addressing the consequences of war and restoring public services remains important. Yet rebuilding people is even more urgent than rebuilding infrastructure. Wars may end militarily, but their psychological and social scars remain unless addressed through culture, arts, education, and media.
The greatest danger facing Sudan today is not only destruction or displacement, but the normalization of hate speech until it becomes an ordinary part of daily life. This is where cultural and media institutions must play their role — not as marginal partners, but as the first line of defense for social unity.
Sudan, a nation that gave birth to such a rich artistic and cultural heritage, is capable of defeating hatred through song, defeating racism through words, and overcoming fragmentation through the spirit of a people who, despite everything, still believe that what unites them is greater than what divides them.