This will be an evening of songs, spoken word and poetry with conversations about Sudanese protest art to raise awareness and support for displaced Sudanese people. This event is a call to action to connect with the innately peaceful people of Sudan who have been calling for Freedom, Peace and Justice through songs, poetry and murals in Khartoum for decades.
It has been initiated by Juanita Rea, founder of eduSOIL and Visiting Scholar at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Khartoum was her home from 2018 – 2020 and every single person she worked with there has had to flee from their homes with the clothes on their backs. They now need support to evacuate, rebuild their lives and stay hopeful.
Juanita will perform her recently released single ‘Home, a song for Sudan’ and will share a poem and photo and video footage of protest art in Sudan. She will present protest art that include poems, paintings, songs by Sudanese artists who recently lost their homes and jobs yet are still hoping that their messages of hope and liberty help bring a democratic Sudan into reality.
There will be music from local artists from the OTH Music Collective, from artists who sought sanctuary here in Belfast as well as contributions from other local artists and Queen’s students and staff in support of the Freedom, Peace and Justice that Sudan deserves. We will hear from the Sudanese community in Belfast as well as from a family who were recently evacuated from Khartoum to Derry and we will all be invited to make music with African drums and sing African freedom songs together, which will be dedicated to our Sudanese brothers in sisters.
This is a fundraiser and a number of in-person and online ticket options are available for the concert that will be live-streamed.
Venue: Sonic Lab, Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Cloreen Park, Belfast BT9 5HN
Date: 24th May
Time: 19:00 – 21:00
Cost: £10
