By
Ben Schock
March 7, 2008
Despite the continued discussion about Darfur and Sudan in the media, few people understand the complex aspects of the region.
Tonight the Evans School of Public Affairs will be hosting a Sudanese cultural event from bring to light several issues students and staff should be aware of, including the economic, geopolitical and environmental concerns that Sudan has experienced over the last few decades.
“The events in Sudan are unfortunate and have subdued the cultural and economic progress that is occurring in Sudan,” said Mihyar Alnifaidy, a student presenter in the event who is working on his masters in public health. “It is my intention to use this event to dispel the myths and [get] rid of the misconceptions about the Darfur Conflict and the North/South conflict.”
Alnifaidy and Fatima Babiker, a master’s student in public and global health, will present their own perspectives on Sudan. Their presentations will focus on teaching the audience in an interactive manner.
Attendees will be exposed to a wide variety of food, music and traditional Sudanese fabrics.
“The event’s overall mission is to dispel the myths in the air about Sudan, its people and culture,” Alnifaidy said. “There will be traditional food, music, textiles, [and] incense. There will be many opportunities for attendees to develop and engage in interactive networking.”
Babiker hopes to correct misconceptions about Sudan and highlight the mixture of African and Arabic influences on everyday life.
“What we’re trying to do is expose certain aspects of culture [that] aren’t very known, which are very beautiful,” Babiker said. “Sudan is a country where African and Arabic culture meet, making it a very rich culture and [creating] a rich heritage.”
This is the first event Alnifaidy has coordinated.
“My grand vision was to simply share my experiences and start dialogues amongst our generation, because we have too much to say but no one is taking the lead,” he said.
[Reach reporter Ben Schock at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]
4 Comments
#1 Mohamed Mansour
on March 7, 2008 at 7:58 a.m.(None, Sudan | Unverified Name)
Mihyar & Fatima ...
So good to see you intiatiate such an event.
It had became so sad to see how things turned out tp be in terms of the general image and perception of Sudan in the eyes of the non-Sudanese whom aren't exposed to Sudan but through the eyes of the media.
Media never managed to reflect the spirit of the Sudan.
It managed to make the normal Sudanese face a question of "Are you from Darfur" as soon as he sets foot in any city of the world, this question replaced the question of " are you from the North or the South? " which prevailed before signing the CPA.
It's the spirit of the Sudan that is missed and never is addressed nor mentioned.
Good Luck guies, though you are Medical Doctors but you are to take the role of Diplomats, Social Scientists and Community Leaders in your efforts to give a glimpse of what we call our "Creative Sudanese Co-Exiastance within our Colourful Diversities".
Yours,
M Mansour
P.S
Sir Douglas Newbold a once British man whom was amongst the colonising adminstration was wondering once and said: "Where is the soul, the spirit of the Sudan? It is not to be found in any one place, or institution or Province. It is not caged in any one mudiria, or in the Gordon College, or Arab encampments or Nuba hills ,or Omdurman suk. It is in all these places. It is scattered like dust, and of many colours. No individual, no party, no tribe can claim it as their monopoly. All who love the Sudan can share it "
#2 Hind A.
on March 8, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Fatima Mihyar,
I am glad that the two of you are hosting such an event. I think its important that people know that Sudan is beyond what western Media is showing it to be. I am also glad that you will be speaking about our Arabic-African culture which is a fundamental part of our Sudanese identity.
I can also imagine how difficult it will be to address "The Sudan" in a country like the USA! Where biast western media has obscured everything!
Good luck & we need more people who are willing to speak about our country abroad!
Thank you.
Hind A.
London UK
#3 Sumeya
on March 8, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.(Beltsville, MD | Unverified Name)
Hi Mihyar and Fatima,
I'm so proud of you guys coordinating this event about Sudan. It's a good thing that our kids are thinking about our home country. I hope that this event may encourage other young people to present something similar in their institutions, in order to show the more positive, cultural aspect of Sudan.
Love,
Mom
#4 Jenny
on March 9, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.(Wakefield, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
Well done Fatima, Good to know you are flying the flag and spreading positive vibes about the Sudan. Everyone who has ever lived in the Sudan knows about the generous, friendly spirit of the Sudanese. I'm sure it was a successful event and hope that more Sudanese get involved around the world and counteract the negative news that prevails in the media.
Well done to you both Jenny, London
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