Making Their Mark: The Female Musical Acts You Need To Know

From the legendary Zakia Abul Gassim Abu Bakr to the iconic all-girl group Al Balabil and the unforgettable Hanan Bulubulu, women have always been at the forefront of the musical arts in Sudan. 

They’ve managed to break barriers, while overcoming all the obstacles that came with being a female artist in Sudan during that time, to solidify their status as iconic performers, and paved the way for generations to come. 

Here are 15 female musical acts that are making their mark on the scene, whether in Sudan or abroad. The young women featured in this article have proven that they’re destined for greatness with their talent, knowing no bounds. Much like their predecessors, their commitment to their craft will inspire a generation of young Sudanese girls (and boys!) to pursue their passion and achieve their dreams.  

Alsarah 

Alsarah is the talented singer-songwriter and leader of the musical group,  Alsarah & the Nubatones, which she formed with her sister Nahid a decade ago. When she’s not making magic with her band members, she’s featuring as a solo artist on collaborations such as her 2013 collaboration with French electronic producer Debruit on “Aljawal” and Nile Project’s debut album “Aswan”. The group was also featured on NPR Music’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’!

Amira Kheir 

Hailed as the ‘Diva of the Sudanese Desert’, the London-based Sudanese singer-songwriter and producer Amira Kheir, is one of the most popular folk musicians to come out of Sudan in recent times. Her musical sound combines classical Sudanese music with modern-day jazz and soul. With three albums under her belt, the latest being ‘Mystic Dance’, released in 2018, she continues to raise the bar with every release.

Asya Satti

Sudanese-British singer-songwriter Asya Satti’s musical style is best described as a combination of soul, blues and jazz with a contemporary twist. Her music is high energy with a fusion of original Arabic and blues melodies against a strong African rhythms. Her mellifluous vocals and sincere lyrics draw on her experiences growing up in Sudan, Cairo and Sweden. From Aretha Franklin to Umm Kulthum, Asya performs beautiful cover and original songs alternating between languages of the West and the East.

Eliza Shaddad 

Born to Sudanese and Scottish parents, Eliza Shaddad is a singer-songwriter based in London. Her euphonious voice earned her a well-deserved spot on this list. The crooner’s alternative/Indie releases such as ‘Waters’, ‘Same As You’ and ‘Wars’ are easy on the ears but the eyes too, with her creativity knowing no bounds as she always serves up a visual that will have you hooked.

As a vocalist and writer with chart-dominating electronic outfit Clean Bandit, Eliza has appeared on Channel 4, XFM and BBC Radio 1, in addition to live dates supporting Rudimental, SBTRKT, and Mercury Prize-Winners Alt-J.

Gaidaa

Gaidaa, the Sudanese-Dutch songstress, is certainly making her mark in the music scene, whether at home in Sudan or abroad. She is indeed dedicated to her craft as she never misses the mark with each release. She first rose to fame with her feature on “A Storm on A Summers Day” by Dutch-Armenian artist Full Crates, which was first released in June 2018. Her latest singles are “I Like Trouble” (October 2019), “Falling Higher” (April 2020) and “Ride My Way” (August 2020).

Gaidaa was also one of the few Sudanese artists featured on ‘A Colors Sudan Show’ at the height of the Sudanese revolution in 2019 where she performed her hit ‘Morning Blue’, a true testament to her talent. 

Hiba Elgizouli

To say that Hiba Elgizouli is a force to be reckoned with would be an understatement. Her musical style is reminiscent of classical Sudanese music, and her soulful yet angelic voice and melodic tunes such as ‘Bidaya’ and ‘Rival’, have solidified her status as a musician, and have even gained her recognition from none other than COLORSXSTUDIOS.

Islam Elbeiti

Never met a Sudanese female bassist before? Here’s Islam Elbeiti! As one of the few female bassists in Sudan, she chose to hone her craft as a bassist to destroy the stereotype that women should be playing more ‘feminine’ musical instruments such as the violin. Her sheer talent has earned her a spot as one of the members of the all-girl band Sawa Sawa, which is led by the iconic Zakia Abul Gassim Abu Bakr, one of the first female instrumentalists in Sudan.

The eloquent outspoken musician has been featured in CNN’s African Voices, who’ve described her as an artist ‘striving for social change through her strings’. The musician and social activist is also a radio presenter at Capital 91.6 FM. Islam is a regular performer at educational, cultural, and music and entertainments events in Sudan.

Read 500 Word Magazine’s interview with Islam Albeiti: A Jack of Many Trades.

Nadine 

The Sudanese music scene is full of heavy game players, and Nadine El Roubi is no exception. The singer-songwriter and rapper has proved time after time that her talent knows no limits. Whether it’s her powerhouse vocals on tracks such as ‘Throne’ or her witty bars on Big Hass’ “Sudan Cypher”, it goes without saying that she is one of the most stand out acts at the moment.

Rony

With her signature dreadlocks and husky yet sweet vocals, Rawan Subahi, better known as Rony, is destined to become a star in her own right. Based in Sudan, Rony rose to online fame during the height of the Sudanese revolution in 2019, a time where you couldn’t scroll down your feed without seeing a video of her serenading us during one of the most pivotal times in our lives. The reggae singer released her debut single on YouTube in June 2020.

Salute Yal Bannot

What do you get when you bring 11 insanely talented female musicians together? You get Salute Yal Bannot! The all-girl band is one of the most promising acts to come out of Sudan, with its members playing the guitar, the drums, the bass guitar, and the piano.

Having been featured on the hit TV talent competition show, Arabs Got Talent, in 2017, they were able to show the world what they’re made of. They performed their popular original song, “African Girl”, incorporating English and Sudanese lyrics.

Samar Bengawi 

She’s a medical student, an artist and a writer for our very own 500 Words Magazine – what is it that Samar Bengawi can’t do? With her guitar in hand, she never fails to grace her thousands of followers with her sweet voice and sonorous melodies online with covers of some of the most loved Sudanese, English and Arabic songs.

With a voice that feels like a cold drink on a hot summer’s day, we absolutely cannot wait to see what is in store for the 20-year-old budding musician. 

Saria 

Saria Wail’s 2018 R&B single, “Rolling”, proved that the Sudanese-Norweigan songstress is one to watch. Although she hasn’t been very active in the music scene – she recently got married and is now expecting – we certainly are anticipating her return.

SimplyAzza

Are you looking for some smooth and sultry vocals? Look no further than the Sudanese-American singer, SimplyAzza. The R&B crooner continuously serves us melodic, soft vocals that are guaranteed to take you back to the era dominated by the Aaliyahs and the Ashantis. She rose to fame after being featured in Niile’s latest R&B single, “The Words”, which was released in June 2020.

Zanib

Last but not least, we have Sudanese-American musician, Zanib. The Sudanese revolution has awakened a fire in the hearts of many creatives who wanted to share our story with the world and Zanib is no exception. The singer and violinist used her voice to raise much-needed awareness of the revolution. Her mission is to deliver music with a meaningful message, which is very admirable. Zanib has performed in Sudan and the US with well-known artists such as American-Nigerian rapper Jidenna. Listen to Zanib’s sultry voice in Ahmed Amin’s latest single, “HANT”, which was released in July 2020.

---

Ola Khalil is a 24-year-old public relations professional currently based between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Australia. When she’s not working on a PR campaign, Ola enjoys writing, meeting new people and listening to old school hip-hop which she considers her first love. She is proudly Sudanese and hopes to one day go back to the motherland to make a change. Find her on Twitter at @bonitappiebum.