In a time when it is important for Sudanese voices to be heard, Paris-based Sudanese singer, songwriter and oud player Sulaf released an album that sounds like Sudan and feels like Sudan. ABA is more than an album – it is a collection of stories told in song and it touches the heart of the listeners.
On 9 October 2026, Sulaf released her debut album ABA under the umbrella of global record label Real World Records. The album was created by Sulaf to honour her Sufi great-grandfather Abdelazim Sayed Ahmed, who is the namesake of the album, lovingly referred to as “Aba” by his family.
ABA is a 10- track album, and every song on the record is written by her great-grandfather himself. The songs are accompanied with short interludes between them, where Sulaf speaks of family, specifically her great-grandfather, and a love and longing for Sudan.
Sulaf, whose full name is Sulafa Elyas, gained popularity on social media around 2021 for singing and performing Sudanese classics, often accompanied by the oud. As her voice reached more and more people, it became clear that Sulaf was destined for great things in the Sudanese music industry, and she started showing us why from April 2026 when she released Naada, the first single from ABA. Following that release, Sulaf also released “Shogi Ana” and “Sameen” as the second and third singles respectively, slowly cementing her place in Sudan’s music scene.
Sulafa placed music at the forefront of her life from a young age. She dedicated her time in Ahfad University for Women (AUW) to studying music alongside her major in business administration. While AUW was known for its extracurricular activities, it was very clear that Sulaf never took music as a side hustle, dedicating her time after graduating to further study music in the Arab Oud House and the Global Music Academy in Khartoum, and even performing on stages alongside other musicians.
The production of the album is breathtaking, preserving and honouring Nubian sounds and Sufi rhythms in its distinct percussions and oud melodies, while at the same time remaining contemporary through the incorporation of synthetic melodies. Sulaf’s vocals and harmonies tie the songs together, breathing life and Sudanese soul into the record through her soft, almost buttery vocals.
The album itself is more than a project, but a melodious tale of home, exile, war, and legacy. From the songs to the interludes, ABA takes the listener on a journey, bringing them to Sudan through the rich melodies and Sulaf’s emotive performance. Through experiencing this album, a sense of longing and nostalgia is sure to be instilled in the listener, and the memories of a country that once was, a family that lived together, a home that was still home become touchable, and you almost feel like you are experiencing these memories firsthand.
Through the release of ABA, Sulaf is pushing the boundaries of traditional music, reimagining the authenticity of Sudanese sound amid modernisation and globalisation. Rooted in Sudanese heritage, but blended carefully with a contemporary feel, Sulaf bridges the past and the present with her music. ABA cements Sulaf’s place in today’s music scene, showing audiences that Sudan’s musical history can live in the melodies of the present, travelling past borders and taking Sudan with it.
Samar Bengawi is a medical student by day, and a literature and music enthusiast by night. She was born and raised in the UAE and is now based in Georgia. She is never without a cup of coffee in hand, and is always “on the go,” chasing after one hobby or another. Passion in Sudanese politics runs in her blood and she considers herself a patriot who hopes to leave a memorable mark in the world.
