Sudanese members of Anaka Women’s Collective and Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) gathered with more than a hundred people inside Redeemer Central on Thursday, 27 November, for an evening of solidarity, truth-telling, and community care. More than one hundred people filled the room — Sudanese families, migrant communities, neighbours, local activists, artists, politicians, and allies across Belfast — all coming together in solidarity, in grief, but also in defiant hope.

The evening began with reflections on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan — cities destroyed, communities uprooted, women facing horrific violations, and children forced to grow up under the shadow of war. Yet even in the darkest moments, Sudanese women have always stood at the frontlines of resilience and resistance.

Reflections, History, and the Strength of Sudanese Women

From the Sudanese Women’s Union in the 1950s — a movement that fought for education, equality, and an end to harmful practices — to trailblazers like Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, the first woman elected to Parliament in Africa and the Middle East, Sudanese women have shaped the struggle for justice across generations.

This legacy of strength echoed in the reflections shared about Anaka Women’s Collective and the work being done here in Belfast. The conversation connected the resilience of migrant women at home with the organising, community support, and solidarity-building happening in Belfast — showing how the fight for dignity continues across borders.

The evening then moved into a deeper understanding of the conflict itself. A powerful historical and political overview traced the roots of Sudan’s crisis — from the colonial legacy to the struggles that shaped post-colonial Sudan, to the rise of armed groups and the political fractures that led to the current war. It offered a clear and necessary timeline, grounding today’s suffering in decades of unresolved injustice.

Together, these reflections set the tone for the night: a blend of history and humanity, struggle and solidarity — all rooted in truth.

Echoes From Sudan’s Community Frontlines

The event shared videos sent directly from Sudan by volunteers working in Emergency Rooms, community kitchens, and women-led grassroots mutual-aid groups. Soon after the war began, schools, hospitals, water networks, and public services collapsed — leaving millions without support.

In these videos, volunteers described how they are keeping communities alive despite hunger, displacement, and constant danger. Many spoke quietly about risking their lives every day, often targeted by both the RSF and the army, simply for trying to help others. Recorded during brief moments of electricity or unstable internet, these testimonies travelled from Tawila Camp, Omdurman, and Wad Madani to Belfast — reminding everyone that Sudan’s survival depends on ordinary people who refuse to abandon one another.

Young Voices from Sudan and Palestine

Two young people — one from Sudan and one from Palestine — shared a powerful speech on how war reshapes identity, childhood, and dreams. Their voices connected two struggles, two griefs, and two peoples who understand each other’s pain deeply.

They reminded the room of the unbearable realities people in Sudan face today — and they said it in their own words:

“Sudan today is living through one of the worst humanitarian tragedies in its history.

A merciless war has destroyed cities and villages, forcing millions to flee.

The sound of explosions has replaced the call to prayer in mosques and the ringing of church bells…

The sound of war has become louder than everything else.”

Their words settled heavily in the room — honest, painful, and impossible to ignore.

Eyes on Sudan — The Silent Play

The centrepiece of the evening was a moving silent play performed by young people. Although the performance had no spoken dialogue, it was carried by an emotional voiceover recorded by a young member of the group. The play told the story of life before the war —tea, music, laughter, home. Then suddenly, everything changed: bombs, fear, chaos, loss.

Only half of the group returned in the second scene — clothes torn, bodies tired, faces hollowed by loss. They carried photographs of missing loved ones. They gathered the last items from their destroyed home. They lifted what remained of their lives in a bundle — and walked away.

Though silent, the play had a narrator whose voice guided the audience through the emotions and the reality millions in Sudan face.

The performance ended with five urgent messages held high: Talk About Sudan, Eyes on Sudan, Free Sudan, Talk About El-Fashir, and Remember Sudan.

At the close of the play, the audience rose together for one minute of silence for Sudan, followed by the Sudanese national anthem. It was a moment of unity, grief, and unbroken love for a country in pain.

Exhibition, Music, and Collective Action

The exhibition was created entirely through the efforts of the community. Every item displayed came from Sudanese families’ homes in Belfast and from the Nubian Association, who generously shared pieces of culture, memory, and history. A photo exhibition showcased Sudanese landscapes, resistance, people, and everyday life. Traditional Sudanese items were placed around the room, celebrating heritage, identity, and the beauty of Sudanese craftsmanship. The “Messages for Sudan” wall featured a large map where guests wrote words of peace, solidarity, and love — filling it with colour, grief, and hope.

The evening continued with music from the Tunes Translated band, who played Sudanese songs such as “Ya Watani” and “Lan Nansa Ayyaman Madat”, alongside Fairuz’s “Nassam Alayna al-Hawa.” Each of these songs carries deep meaning — love for homeland, longing for peace, and the ache of displacement. Their performance blended Sudanese, Irish, and international tunes, reminding everyone of the cultural connections that bring communities together and keep memory alive.

A Message from Belfast to Sudan

What happened on this night was more than an event — it was a reminder that Sudan is not forgotten. It was a statement that communities — even far from home — can honour their people, speak the truth, resist silence, and demand justice.

In Belfast, people stood together for Sudan — refusing silence, refusing forgetfulness, refusing indifference.

And as the final words carried through the room, a truth settled deep in everyone present:

No matter how long the night lasts… Sudan’s dawn will rise again.