Studios destroyed, traditions saved: Artists fight to save Sudan’s culture

What the report says

Artists displaced by Sudan’s war are trying to keep the country’s cultural life going despite destroyed studios, lost materials and separation from family. In an Al Jazeera feature published from Port Sudan on Oct. 31, 2026, visual artist and theatre director Awad Haroun described leaving Khartoum North after fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023. He and his family fled with only a few belongings and later joined cultural work in Port Sudan, including performances, workshops and child-focused activities.

The report says Awad and other artists have used theatre, drawing, storytelling and puppetry to help children express themselves and to support community healing. It also notes that some displaced artists found shelter in an old school that was prepared for families uprooted by the conflict, though future eviction concerns remain. Awad’s group, Ahalina, has focused on youth engagement, peacebuilding and social cohesion through the arts.

Al Jazeera also profiles musician and filmmaker Asim Abdelaziz, who left North Kordofan and now works in Port Sudan to document traditional music and address hate speech and racism through cultural programming. He and other artists have collaborated with local unions, UNESCO and government bodies. The article says Sudan’s cultural sector has suffered major damage during the war, including losses to heritage sites and livelihoods, and cites UNESCO estimates of a significant funding gap. Cultural groups in Port Sudan have continued to provide shelter, training and public programming for displaced artists and children.