The Story Of Our Artful Visit To The Displaced In Dar Fur.
It was an
informal gathering at my home at Khartoum North of a small number of
local and visiting members of the UNFPA in which our group started
talking about our Khartoum UNFPA office future plans. Madam Pamella
started talking about the vital importance of visiting the displaced
people of Dar Fur region to spare them the sorrowful and damaging
feelings of being forgotten. Dr. Rashid Diab, the renowned Sudanese
painter, Dr. Hassan Muhtashimi, the man in charge of Khartoum UNFPA
office and Ustaz Abu Bakr Wazeeri were enthusiastic to the idea. El
Kabli mentioned that he has been planning for such a tour but he was
confronted by many obstacles. For a fruitful and successful result
such a campaign would be in need of collective efforts. Excellency,
Mr. Ugar Tuncer, UNFPA Acting Representative was smiling and it was
clear that he has cherished and even blessed the idea. Two days
later Ustaz/ Waziri telephoned and conveyed to me how Mr. Ugar has
gone into another discussion with the two UNFPA visiting ladies (
Pamella and Dorian ) about the possibility of implementing such
artistic tours inside Dar Fur region. Ustaz Wazeeri added that
Thursday the 1st. of September, 2005 at 11:p.m. is fixed
for a meeting at the UNFPA offices in Khartoum to discuss the
suggestion of an artistic tour into Dar Fur.
Before
attending the above referred to meeting I thought it would be
reasonable to frame the following issues reflecting my views in
regard to the topic of our meeting:
A Practical View:
As a poet, music
composer and singer I profoundly feel the unfailing great influence
of arts upon human beings and that human life is not sustained by
bread alone. But in such a situation a helping tangible aid to the
displaced population would bring better results. Food and medicine
with arts shall add wonderfully to the value of entertainment.
Therefore, it shall be reasonable if we discuss the possibility of
providing food, medicine and blankets to the displaced people whom
we shall be visiting in Dar Fur.
The
Campain
It is in our hands to thing of a big, medium or small campaign. I
myself know the difficulty of raising such campaigns now and then.
Being the first, I believe it shall be a good chance for the UNFPA,
Central Government and Local Authorities in Dar Fur to accomplish an
unforgettable humanitarian work. Therefore, I am thinking of a
campaign that includes besides the artists a small group of UNFPA
members locally and internationally – those who are interested. In
addition to entertainment it shall be a suitable chance to aware and
enlighten the great numbers of the displaced people of the
disgraceful results of violence against women and the harmful
traditional practices that lead to the numerous deaths among mothers
and children. In the cradle of Islam, Mecca and Madina, the FGM is
not in practice. This should be shown clearly together with the fact
that such awful and obstinate tradition goes far back to the
Pharaohnic Era. A small group of a sarcastic joyful drama team like
Tairab group or the Holla Hob group shall be effective. They should
be guided to the purpose of the campaign so as to introduce new and
to the point shows. Of course it is necessary to consider that TV
camera people and journalists are an indispensable part of the
campaign for media work and documentation purposes.
The
Partnershi1p:
I believe our friends in the Central Government and Local
Authorities in many parts of Sudan, including Dar Fur, are well
aware of the unavoidable sense of partnership between their
authorities and the UNFPA. Dr. Nimal did a lot to deliver this
message. In all his meetings with the federal and regional
authorities he was keen to raise the issue of partnership. If such
a campaign is seriously agreed upon, I suggest that from now
official contacts should be made. Co-ordination among the three
parties ought to be reached under the eyes of the UNFPA headquarters
in New York. Suitable time for the tour, security, transportation,
accommodation in big towns and all the necessary details should be
reached before starting the campaign.
The
Workshop:
If the suggestion of an artful campaign to the displaced population
at Dar Fur region is agreed upon, a workshop consisting of a small
group of influential representatives of the different parties would
be of great importance. The first step ought to be knowing about the
capabilities and contributions of each party. Today (31/8/2005) I
talked to His Excellency the federal State Minister of the Interior,
the honourable Ahmed Mohammad Haroun about Dar Fur campaign telling
him that if our minds are set up I shall be in contact with him to
know about his ministry’s expected contribution and he answered, ( I
am whole heartedly with you and for you ).
On
the 1st. of September, 2005 the meeting was held at the UNFPA
Khartoum offices attended by Mr. Tuncer, Dr. Muhtashimi, Dr. El
Kabli, Ustaz Wazeeri, Ustaz Gamaal and Dr. Rashid Diaab. Dr.
Muhtashimi suggested that the occasion ought to be celebrated here
in Khartoum because of the availability of the media. Dr. Diaab
suggested that the visit of a group of six or seven artists
representing the different branches of arts to Dar Fur would be
quite enough. Dr. El Kabli insisted that a big campaign consisting
of musicians, singers, drama group, UNFPA members, journalists and
TV team should visit the displaced people at their camps in Dar Fur.
On
the 25th. Of November, 2005 our group which consisted of 63 members
left Khartoum Air Port towards Nyala Air Port. Between our meeting
on the 1st. of November, 2005 and date of our departure to Dar Fur
Ustaz Gamaal Al Amin has done thundering pieces of work. He made too
many journeys and visits to Jordan and to Dar Fur for organization
and financing purposes. Ustaz Gamaal encouraged by His Excellency
Mr. Ugor Tuncer, has been the talented maestro and director who led
to the success of our visit to the displaced in Dar Fur region. Our
extended group consisted of media people from Sudan TV, UN TV and
Radio, Sudan Vision newspaper, Middle East newspaper represented by
lady journalist Madam Sanaa Al Jack, MBC TV, Al Hayat and Al Dar
newspapers and the B.B.C. radio station. Dr. El Kabli, lady singer
Sameera Dunia, Abdel Gader Salim, Salah Kosti and the small girls of
(I the Sudan) group as singers together with about twelve musicians
and Tairab sarcastic drama group were present. We were met at Nyala
Air Port by the Governor and members of his government with great
hospitality. And according to our programme in the evening we held a
meeting with the ( Hakkaamaat ) – the influential female poets who
possessed the gift of stirring the people of Dar Fur. This group of
Hakkaamaat came from all parts of Dar Fur region. We explained to
them the purpose of our visit and how it is important to have their
backing in our continuous campaign against violence and harmful
practices against their own gender. They promised to compose lyrics
and songs condemning such awful practices.
On the morning of
the 26th. Of November, 2005 our group visited (Diraig Camp) for the
displaced where we mingled with those poor, innocent and unfortunate
people. We entered the tents and argued with the small pupils who
were receiving their primary schooling. I noticed that their
drawings were full of weaponry. That was saddening. And seeing the
wonderfully skillful hand work by the women of the camp I suggested
that an exhibition for these works ought to be held in Khartoum for
sale purposes. Undoubtedly they were in much need for any source of
income.
From (Diraig Camp)
we moved to (Otaash Camp) where we found the loud speakers well set
and thousands of our displaced people waiting eagerly for our music
and singing. Abdel Gadir Salim started the singing and thousands of
people started the dancing. Lady singer – Sameera Dunia followed and
the people rejoiced. Then I sang accompanied by the small girls of
(I the Sudan) group and while I was singing my jolly song titled (Sukkar)
a small and very poor girl with her clothes torn apart who was
almost rubbing her body with me, was looking upwards and smiling at
me while she was dancing and not far from her a good looking young
lady in the uniform of the African UN Security forces was
delightfully dancing. Up to now I can see the two images clearly in
my mind.
In the evening we
gave our big concert at Nyala foot ball stadium and the Walli
(Governor) and the members of his regional government besides
thousands of the people of Nyala and the neibouring camps attended
the concert. Singer Salah Kosti also sang and the people danced and
enjoyed themselves. I was greatly moved when a seventeen years old
young man from Dar Fur recited correctly the introduction which I
have recorded in English on a disc in my first visit to the States
in 1974. It was the last thing on earth I could expect.
At 10:a.m. on the
27th. Of November, 2005 the big meeting was held at the main hall of
the regional Government of southern Dar Fur. The meeting was
attended by the acting Governor Sayed/ Adam Al Sulaik and a group of
his regional Government and Dr. Hassan Muhtashimi and all the
representatives of the different media agencies. Dr. Muhtashimi
addressed the conference explaining the motives and message of the
UNFPA and the target of our visit. The Acting Governor spoke
eloquently expressing his feelings of gratitude and the feelings of
his assistants and of all the people in the camps that we have
visited and the people of Nyala town for the joy we have given to
their souls and bodies. For not less than four hours discussions
took place in regard to violence against women and the harmful
practices like the FGM, early marriages and undue pregnancies.
At
Nyala Air Port, too many people headed by the Acting Governor were
wishing us good wishes. Still the words of the Acting Governor are
ringing in my ears: (During your artful visit I was able to see for
the first time the smiles of the displaced people inside their
camps. Thank you).
Ustaz Gamaal Al
Amin succeeded in producing a film showing all the stages of our
visit to Dar Fur. A big salute for him.
29/11/2005.
Abdel Karim A. El Kabli,
Good Will Ambassador UNFPA
Khartoum.
