Sudanese, South Sudanese artists to perform in Egypt

The concert is organised by Andariya – a digital and cultural platform in Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda – in collaboration with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, AfriCairo and the El Sawy Culture Wheel.

The performing artists include Barood Black (Sudan), Mohamed Hashim (Sudan), Kawaja Revolution (South Sudan), Dennis Denaya (South Sudan), Salma Palmer (Sudan) and Ade the Truth (South Sudan).

“We organised a similar concert in Kampala last year and the outcome was amazing,” Andariya founder Omnia Shawkat told Music In Africa.

“Apart from our original line up we ended up seeing live stage collaborations between musicians from Sudan, South Sudan, Congo and Uganda.”

Shawkat said the concert will be used as a platform to enlighten artists on their responsibility to balance between respecting and challenging society’s sensibilities in order to develop a character that can defend artistic freedom when challenged.

“I think in the entire continent we’re seeing more restrictions against art that is actively vocal against the status quo,” she said.

“Many African countries are reeling in political turmoil – Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and Egypt have made headlines for harassing or persecuting artists for saying or displaying anti-status quo sentiments. We hope to see more freedoms and continue to support the arts and culture scenes as our core mission.”

An Andariya workshop on digital branding and marketing for musicians will be held at AfriCairo Music Space on 24 January. In November, Andariya held a similar workshop in Kampala.

“The feedback from Kampala was very positive,” Shawkat said. “We found out that participating musicians were aware of social media and using it as marely a communication tool.”

“However, after the workshop we are seeing a change in social media use from our trained artists. These artists are now pushing foward content that presents them as music professionals. We hope to achieve the same in Egypt.”

For more information about the Andariya Road Show concert series, click here.