Historic Gathering of Sudanese Artists and Thinkers Sheds Light on Crisis, Offers Hope
As war rages on in Sudan, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) convened a landmark Sudanese intellectual and cultural gathering on “Seeing Sudan” to shed light on the urgent crisis. Together acclaimed scholars and creatives used the safety of the diaspora to bring attention to the thousands dead and millions displaced, and offered a roadmap to post-war recovery that ensures the preservation of the country’s rich legacy of being a center of knowledge and culture.
Acclaimed journalist and GU-Q Practitioner-in-Residence Nesrine Malik captured the essence of the gathering, saying: “The challenge has been to think not only about what is the war in Sudan, but what is Sudan itself. With the erasure of cultural memories, physical artifacts, and history, the only way to hold on to it has been through storytelling, narrative, music, literature, and art.”
Over the course of three days, conference participants highlighted how creativity and resistance are intertwined, collectively imagining a future based on reinvesting in education and cultural production, welcoming home displaced citizens, advancing scientific and industrial capacity, and drawing together politicians, civil society organizations, and grassroots movements to rebuild the country together.
For conference co-organizer Suzi Mirgani, Sudanese-Russian filmmaker and Assistant Director for Publications at GU-Q, the opportunity to focus on preserving culture and belonging in times of war offered an important antidote to despair. “This conference was a chance to reaffirm our cultural identity rooted in collectivity, political activism, and intellectual and creative vibrancy that has defined Sudanese people for generations.”
The packed opening of the Sudan Retold art exhibition and book launch at Alhosh Gallery poignantly depicted the complex relationship between a nation and its people, and highlighted the devastation of war. “Who is missing right now are the artists in this room, barely any of them are here, and I want to dedicate this moment to them. While their art can travel, the artists can’t, they are trapped,” said Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann, researcher at Peace Research Institute, and exhibition co-curator.
By tapping into cultural narratives, the conference shed light on universal themes of love, belonging, and loss in a time of uncertainty.
“War does not define our art. Our mission is to investigate the modes of expression that spill out of our consciousness into the world,” said Yafil Mubarak, curator, and director of Dara Art Gallery in Khartoum, adding: “Sudanese art is an essential part of the narrative of the country, we are stabalizing this world that barely sees us.”
Part of GU-Q’s Hiwaraat conference series drawing attention to the most pressing topics of our day, the event became an essential platform for Sudanese cultural solidarity during a critical moment in history.
The Hiwaraat series continues at GU-Q on October 4, 2025, on the topic of “Decolonizing Energy.” Participants are invited to join in shaping the dialogue on sustainable energy transition with a focus on the Global South.
More About “Seeing Sudan”
Arts Generate Action When Politics Fail: How GU-Q Drew Attention to Sudan
Georgetown University in Qatar opened its Hiwaraat conference season with an urgent reminder: See Sudan Now.
Suzi Mirgani, Boundary-Breaking Filmmaker Representing Sudanese Women
With Cotton Queen winning international attention at the Venice Film Festival, the GU-Q scholar-artist shines a spotlight on Sudan’s stories—on screen and in Academia.