Sudanese artists display exhibitions in Nairobi to rally for peace

The war in Sudan appears to have been forgotten, at least on the international stage. Yet a group of exiled Sudanese artists and journalists are refusing to relent in their quest for peace in a country plagued by crimes of genocidal proportions.

At the Alliance Française in Nairobi, a powerful exhibition speaks of resilience, hope and the determination that peace will one day return to Sudan.

A striking photographic display showcases the culture of Sudanese communities, highlighting how the seeds of greed, discord and anarchy have destroyed a nation once woven together by harmony.

Mohammed Adam, known as We’d Abbo, is a Sudanese songwriter, composer and cultural activist from Nyala, Darfur. For over a decade, he has championed Sudan’s diverse musical traditions, blending indigenous rhythms, languages and instruments with contemporary styles to reflect the richness of his culture and inspire unity.

In 2016, he co-founded the Nogara Project, a cultural initiative created by Sudanese artists to preserve, document and share Sudan’s heritage in the face of war and displacement. Before the war erupted in April 2023, Nogara worked across Sudan through festivals, exhibitions and documentaries, collecting songs, histories and traditions from villages and communities nationwide.

Exiled Sudanese journalist and human rights defender Khalid Mohammed told the Eastleigh Voice that the exhibition is significant because it tells the story of a Sudan no longer in the news.

“Sudan has beautiful cultures and traditions. Its people are warm and welcoming. Watching war destroy all this is heartbreaking,” said Khalid.

Khalid has been in exile for more than six years. He hopes that one day there will be peace in Sudan so that he can return and reunite with friends and family.

“The exhibition in Nairobi shows what the Sudanese people yearn to bring back: harmony, diversity, resilience and nation-building free of war, hatred and ethnic cleansing,” he added.

Today, Nogara continues this mission of promoting Sudan’s diversity even in exile, reimagining connections fractured by conflict and displacement. Its work brings Sudanese people together to rediscover their shared identity, preserve their heritage and carry their memories forward.

“Sudan: Exile and Hope” is the latest chapter in this journey. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Nogara Project and Sudanese photographers, presenting a visual story of Sudan’s diversity — the beauty of its people, the depth of its traditions, the rhythm of communal dances and the resilience of communities amidst war.

Every photograph in the exhibition has been captured by the Nogara team in partnership with Sudanese photographers, making it both an archive of memory and an act of resilience.

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Exiled Sudanese journalists, artists and human rights activists see the exhibition as more than preservation. It is also a statement of unity and vision — a reminder that Sudan’s story is one of endurance, creativity and the dream of peace.

The Nairobi exhibition is taking place even as civilians continue to bear the brunt of a vicious civil war. Only a day ago, dozens were killed in an attack in Darfur.

More than 70 people were killed when paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a drone strike on a mosque in El Fasher on Friday, Sudan’s army and local rescuers said.

The paramilitary group has laid siege to the city, the capital of North Darfur State, since the early days of the conflict.