Seeing Sudan: Politics Through Art – Hiwaraat

A three-day conference on Sudan, titled Seeing Sudan: Politics Through Art, will bring together academics, artists, journalists, and activists to generate critical insights and explore the role of art and creative expression during times of violence, war, and displacement.

Organised by Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, the conference is the 10th installment of GU-Q’s acclaimed Hiwaraat series. The Hiwaraat Conference Series offers timely and topical conferences that draw together experts, practitioners, scholars, policymakers, and youth to discuss some of the most pressing topics of our time.

A Keynote Panel: Eyes on Sudan, taking place on the first day, 18 September, will include Sudanese artist Khalid Albaih, Sudanese-British journalist Zeinab Badawi, Sudanese artist Rashid Diab, and Sudanese-British journalist Nesrine Malik, and will be moderated by GU-Q Dean Safwan Masri.

In addition, the conference’s programme includes live performances by Sudanese-American singer-songwriter, and ethnomusicologist Alsarah of Alsarah & The Nubatones and Palestinian composer, singer‑songwriter and engineer Huda Asfour on 18 September, as well as a special art exhibition and book launch for the new and updated version of Sudan Retold at Alhosh Gallery on 19 September. Put together and edited by Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann and Khalid Albaih, Sudan Retold: An Art Book About the History and Future of Sudan was originally published in 2019, consisting of 31 chapters each contributed by different Sudanese artists, writers, illustrators, designers, photographers and a chef.

The conference will reflect on Sudanese resilience, memory, and identity through panel discussions exploring Sudanese art, film, music, and diaspora life. Various panels discussions will be held under the themes: Collecting Sudan, Thinking Sudan, Living Sudan, Exhibiting Sudan, Reporting Sudan, Everyday Sudan, Sounds of Sudan, Designing Sudan, Screening Sudan, and Reimagining Sudan. The panel discussions will include notable speakers such as Sudanese-British journalist Yousra Elbagir, German ethnologist Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann, American film producer and director Bentley Brown, Sudanese-Russian filmmaker and researcher Suzannah Mirgani, Sudanese writer, engineer, researcher, and public speaker Muzan Alneel, and British-Sudanese journalist Nesrine Malik.

For more information, visit hiwaraat.qatar.georgetown.edu/seeing-sudan-politics-through-art