Sudanese Band Plays On Through War
Monday, 2026/04/20214 words3 minutes224 reads
Members of Aswat Almadina, one of Sudan's most influential bands, are now scattered across the world. They left Sudan two months after the conflict began in 2023, traumatized by what they witnessed in Khartoum.
"It was like something out of a zombie movie," says Timon, a founding member. The war has killed more than 150,000 people and forced 12 million to flee their homes. The United Nations calls it the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
Founded in 2014, Aswat Almadina means "Sounds of the City." Their music blends Middle Eastern folk with urban pop and jazz, creating a distinctive sound. They quickly gained a devoted following among young Sudanese and became the first band to tour the country. Their lyrics about social justice and corruption earned them recognition as UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors in 2017.
Lead vocalist Ibrahem Mahmoud was arrested several times before the 2019 uprising that removed longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. "I got arrested a lot for singing the truth," he recalls. Now he lives in Saudi Arabia, while Timon is in Egypt, separated from his family for two years and missing his second child's birth.
Despite the distance, the band continues collaborating remotely on a new song titled "Sudan." "There's always hope," says Timon. "Speaking about peace and love will make things better."
