Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music

The Sudanese refugee community gathers in south Tel Aviv to remember their homeland, celebrate their culture, music and dances and share them local Israelis. 

Text by: Adam Bashar
Photos by: Activestills.org

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
Members of a Sudanese refugee dance group from the Darfur region dressed with traditional costumes dance on stage as part of a cultural festival of the Sudanese community at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv on February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

The idea behind The Cultural Day of the Sudanese refugees community, held at the Goren Goldstein Country Club in south Tel Aviv, was to expose local Israelis to the tradition of our uprooted community. We worked jointly with representatives from the different tribes living in Israel to create an event that will tell the story of the harsh situation we as refugees experience, while sharing our culture through dance, music and comedy.

I can say, on behalf of all those who took part, that it was overwhelming to see the community come together and celebrate its culture side by side with many local Israelis. It was heartwarming to see the Israelis rejoice in our music and share our pain in the more difficult moments of the performance.
As repeatedly explained, the Sudanese from Darfur, Nuba and the Blue Nile area, are refugees fleeing genocide, and our wish is to go back to our country when the situation there allows. We hope that through these kind of events, our community will be better understood and welcomed in Israel.
Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
The shadows of members of a theater group of Sudanese refugees from the Darfur region are seen on a white sheet as they perform at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv, February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
Sudanese refugees cheer a theater group from the Darfur region as they perform at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv, February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
A Sudanese refugee from the Nuba Mountain region dances in a traditional costume as part of a cultural festival of the Sudanese community at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv on February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
Sudanese girls watch a theater group from the Darfur region as they perform at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv, February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
Members of a dance group of Sudanese refugees from the Darfur region dressed with traditional costumes moments before going on stage as part of a cultural festival of the Sudanese community at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv on February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
The hosts of the cultural day welcome the audience at the opening of the event, cultural center in south Tel Aviv, February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

 

Photos: Sudanese refugees in Israel celebrate their culture with dance and music
Members of a Sudanese theater group from the Darfur region perform at a cultural center in south Tel Aviv, February 15, 2013. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)
Adam Bashar is a refugee from Darfur living in Israel, and a social activist in the Sudanese community. He volunteers with the the Bnai Darfur NGO.