Folktales from Sudan: Audio Stories from Sudanese Folklore Coming on 1 April

A new podcast, Folktales from Sudan, featuring audio stories from Sudanese folklore for children and their families, will launch on 1 April 2025, on all major platforms.

The new series of sound-designed audio stories revives the cherished oral storytelling traditions of Sudan. This first of its kind series is a translation of stories originally told in Sudanese Arabic, and is an invitation to global listeners – children and adults alike – to experience a culture they may have only heard about through news headlines.

Sudanese-American award-winning public radio journalist and podcaster Hana Baba created Folktales from Sudan, drawing from her roots in Sudan and her career in audio journalism. She brings Sudanese folktales to life with authenticity and heart, and embarks on a journey to preserve her oral heritage amidst a war that is ravaging Sudan’s cultural institutions.

‘It’s a way to preserve and share the stories of our ancestors in a language they understand, while celebrating the beauty of Sudanese culture. This is the first time these stories are told through audio storytelling in English,’ said Baba.

The animated stories will feature Sudanese characters including Alhadeeya, Mariam, Fatna, Nijaima, Anjetu, Mohamed, a woodcutter, a father and his three sons, as well as three cats (kadayis) and a goat named Kiret.

The artwork is by Sudanese-Australian illustrator Waddah El-Tahir and the music is by Sudanese-American media composer Ramy El Baghir.

Sudan is currently the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, driven by an ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began on April 15, 2023. The conflict has displaced over 12 million people and left more than 150,000 dead. This includes approximately 8.9 million internally displaced within Sudan and 3.4 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. According to the UN, over 30 million people – including 16 million children – are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

The war has devastated Sudan’s cultural institutions – destroying libraries and archives, and has displaced millions – threatening the preservation of oral traditions. ‘For thousands and thousands of kids growing up in the Sudanese diaspora who may not have experienced live storytelling or traveled to Sudan, this series is a bridge,’ Baba explains.

With Folktales from Sudan, Baba seeks to share the stories with the world, and protect
these invaluable pieces of heritage. Series highlights:

• 10 stories: In this series, Baba tells a diverse collection of 10 of her favourite
  folktales.
• Immersive audio: Baba’s engaging storytelling brings each tale to life, complete
  with characters, emotions, and traditional songs to sing along to.
• For all ages: Stories are adapted for general audiences aged 6 and up, making
  them perfect for families to enjoy together.
• Cultural learning: A great way for audiences to learn about Sudan and its
  culture through storytelling.
• Cultural preservation: An essential resource for Sudanese children in
  English-speaking diaspora to explore and learn their folk heritage, share it with
  others, and pass it down.

Hana Baba is an award-winning veteran public radio journalist, and the longtime host of
Crosscurrents – the daily news magazine on NPR station KALW in San Francisco. She is
also co-creator and co-host of The Stoop, the award-winning podcast from
Radiotopia/PRX that tells stories from across the Black Diaspora. Her stories also
appear on NPR, PRX’s The World, and BBC.

For more information, find @folktalesfromsudan on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or visit www.folktalesfromsudan.org.