It is this strength and ongoing cultural dialogue, visible in the society of Sudan and carried by its intellectuals, writers and artists that we present to the Netherlands.

The contacts between the Netherlands and Sudan have a long tradition that has been translated in the last few years into exchange-programs of academic, social and artistic character. A group of experts of these programs have taken the initiative to organize a large-scale festival which will bring Sudanese culture and artists to the Netherlands in the fall of 2009. They will represent an Other Sudan.

Starting point of THE OTHER SUDAN is to strengthen the cultural connections between the two countries by offering a platform to different generations of the Sudanese art community. There is a deep desire, especially in the younger generation already involved in the exchange program, to meet their counterparts in the Netherlands. The festival has realized alliances with Dutch art institutions in Rotterdam, Leiden, Amsterdam, The Hague and Enschede.

For a diverse audience, the artistic program and seminars will offer a broader perspective on the Sudanese society and present a more hopeful image of the vitality and energy of its people. Besides a series of presentations of theatre, dance, music and rituals the festival involves a cultural exhibition and seminars with experts from Sudan, The Netherlands and other countries. Two professional workshops will give artists and students from Sudan and the Netherlands the opportunity to experience artistic, ritualistic and performative aspects of Sudanese art.

Organisation:

THE OTHER SUDAN Festival Committee:
Dr Mieke Kolk, University of Amsterdam, Theatre Studies
Dr Pauline Burmann, Africa Visual Arts specialist
Mr Hans Klok, Business and Marketing advisor
Addis Ababa Othow, accountant
Dr Karin Willemse, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Mr Mohammed Abdulrahman, Wereldomroep, Arabic program
Paula van Zijl, Communication
Jamal Zaid, Contact with Sudan

ROUNDTABLE
Theatre in Sudan, Theatre in Conflict-zones
A diverse group of theatre practitioners, scholars and students will discuss the function of applied theatre in Sudanese communities and the validity of Augusto Boal’s methods. Participants come from Sudan, UK, Germany, Brasil and the Netherlands.

Sun. 27 Sept / 12:30-16:00 / Rotterdamse Schouwburg

Music

Khartoum Blues: Abdel Gadir Salim & his All Stars

Exhibition

Memories from Home
Moniem Ibrahim, Maartje Nevejan e.a.

There is a Sudanese community of around 8000 souls in The Netherlands.
They all have objects, photos, music and songs, dresses etc. that create a special memory of home, of Sudan.
A committee of Sudanese migrants will collect these memories in all sorts of shapes: the objects themselves, pictures and photos with texts. There will also be a video of young Sudanese migrants and their life in the Netherlands. These memories will comprise a small installation in the entry-hall of the Leids Museum van Oudheden, where an old temple form North Sudan will welcome them.

Thu. 1 Oct. / 16:00 - 18:00 / Opening of the exhibition Memories from Home / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden.




In 1967 The Season of Migration to the North by Sudanese writer Tayeb Salih (1936-2009) was instant success. In this seminar we ask why this novel about a young Sudanese immigrant in the north of England has had such a long lasting impact on generations of readers world wide. Recent immigrants from Sudan will add to the discussion with their own personal stories of migration.

Fri. 9 Oct. / 19:00-22:00 / Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden, Leiden.



2 Films from Maartje Nevejan on Youtube

Jonge Sudanezen luisteren naar muziek.
Part 1 - muziek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPWGdaNwNpY

Jonge Sudanezen vertellen over hun land.
Part 2 - de film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r_gLBZCDP8

Zar Mamas, Sheikha Layla Abbas Nasr


The Zar is a very old purification-rite presumably originated in Ethiopia and practiced both in North Africa and the Middle East. The most important characteristics of the Zar are theatricality, role-playing, spiritual identification techniques and purification, the making whole of the patient, usually a sick woman. We will see that the character of the Zar ceremonies is slowly shifting from ritual to performance.

Fri. 16 Oct. / Instituut voor Theaterwetenschap, Amsterdam:
12:00-15:00 / Seminar Zar: theory and practice (with Prof.Dr Khalid Mustafa Mubarak, (Sudan/London), Dr. Karin Willemse, and other specialists of purification-rituals all over the world.)
15:00-17:00 / Performance by the Zar Mamas

Sat. 17 Oct. / 14:00-18:00 / Podium Mozaïek, Amsterdam - West.
A performance and meet & greet with the Zar Mama's especially for Arabic / African and all other women.

RITUAL PERFORMANCE

Weddingsingers from Khartoum, Faiza ‘Issa

Sun. 18 Oct. / 14:00-17:00 / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden
Performance of the Wedding singers from Khartoum (Faiza 'Íssa).
The Dutch community of Nubians will present Wedding Rituals from Nubia.

DANCE

Music and dance group Orupaap, Stephen Ochalla (Khartoum/Juba, South Sudan)

Ochalla creates dance in-between Sudanese cultural heritage and forms of modern dance and expression. He has his studio in Khartoum. After studying in the Netherlands for a short period, he now travels Sudan from North to South with his dance- and music-programs for the different communities there.

Fri. 30 Oct. & Sat. 31 Oct. / 20:30 / De Melkweg, Amsterdam


WORKSHOP
Orupaap / Dance Studio Connie Janssen / 'Gravendijkwal 58b Rotterdam

Stephen Ochalla and his group will work for one week with dancers from Dance Academy Codarts in Rotterdam.

Workshop 19 – 26 Oct. Codarts.
Presentation Fri. 23 Oct /17.00 / Dance Studio Connie Janssen / 'Gravendijkwal 58b Rotterdam