Commissioned by  the Sudanese community of New Zealand for the exhibition “Sudan: a Confluence of Cultures” at the Te Taunga Community Hub of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which was ran from December 5th 2021 to January 23rd 2022. 30% of the procreeds from its sale was donated to aid the democratic revolution of Sudan.

This work is a tribute to sacrifices made by Sudan's revolutionaries, past and present. Those martyrs who were thrown into the Nile two years ago, and those who took to their small narrow fishing boats to haul them out. Those women who led chants passed on by their mothers and grandmothers, all wrapped in white thoub, and those in the crowds who joined them.

One particular incident, the Khartoum Massacre, gave special inspiration. On June 3rd, 2019, protestors calling for a democratic civilian-led transitional government to take over from the military were attacked by the armed forces of the transitionary military council. In the resulting massacre, over 100 people were killed, 650 more were injured, hundreds of others were arrested and at least 70 women were raped by the military. Further, 40 bodies were thrown into the Nile, some weighed down with stones to hide the complete death toll.

The Arabic text is taken from a version of a chant often used in Sudanese revolutions and protests. It was sung famously by the Kandaka, or Nubian Queen, Alaa Salah, in April 2019, with the crowd joining in the refrain:

“…The Junta digs away (revolution)
our blessings for themselves (revolution)
We watered the Nile (revolution)
With our boiling blood (revolution)
We won't stay quiet (revolution)
In front of our oppressors (revolution)…” 

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Yasser Saeed

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