Music played a vital role in Sudan’s 2019 revolution, serving not only as a form of protest but also as a force that united communities, challenged authoritarian rule, and imagined a more inclusive society. Research drawing on interviews with musicians and demonstrators reveals that music was central to building the networks that sustained the uprising against Omar al-Bashir’s regime. Notably, the revolution embraced women-led genres like tumtum, historically dismissed as artistically subordinate, alongside newer sounds like Zenig, born in Khartoum’s poorer neighborhoods. Their inclusion signaled growing openness toward gender and class equality, showing the movement sought broader societal transformation beyond simply changing the government. Although Sudan’s ongoing civil war has displaced many artists and disrupted these cultural movements, music continues to symbolize resilience and hope. Researchers argue it will remain central to rebuilding civic life and fostering reconciliation once the conflict eventually subsides.
The Conversation