CHICAGO—Sudanese artists, educators and community organizers in Chicago will host a cultural event next month to celebrate Sudan’s heritage and raise funds for children’s education and families affected by the country’s ongoing war.
Dubbed A Night in Sudan, the event will take place on November 14 at For Real Therapy in Chicago, bringing together members of the Sudanese diaspora and other guests for an evening of cultural exhibitions, music, food and storytelling.
According to organisers, the event aims to showcase Sudanese traditions and everyday life beyond the headlines of war while raising money to support a school in Arbaji, a village in Sudan’s Al Gezira State, that also serves as a community center.
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has displaced millions, disrupted essential services and left large parts of the population facing acute food insecurity, according to the United Nations.
The crisis has prompted efforts by Sudanese communities abroad to maintain connections with their homeland and support people affected by the fighting.
A Night in Sudan will take the form of an interactive pop-up museum featuring Sudanese food, music, film, literature, wedding traditions, cultural heritage and histories of resistance. Guests will receive event passports to collect stamps as they explore exhibitions highlighting the country’s diverse communities and traditions.
The event will also feature raffles and opportunities to support Sudanese artists and community initiatives.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Azzah Nasraddin, a Sudanese American psychotherapist and founder of NeuroBloom Mental Health Collective, who is helping organize the event to support her home village of Arbaji.
Proceeds will support the village school’s educational activities and its role as a community center providing mutual aid to families affected by the crisis.
Organizers say the event will give Chicago residents an opportunity to learn about Sudan through its people, cultural practices and creative traditions while contributing to community-led support efforts back home.