The poet Arka Saber produced several touching poems, and it is not easy to count them all. However, some of his songs are sung by the well-known Bejaweit singers such as Muhammad Al Badri and Seedi Dushka. These songs were characterised by a special kind of love for the homeland, crying over the ruins, and the importance of returning home. In this regard, the poet dealt with the topic of unity either within the Beja groups or between those who were not yet convinced of their principles, which they were calling for. He also aimed to diminish disagreements, which resulted due to different views in some of the peace agreement clauses.
Although the poet was among those who advocated the Eastern Sudan Peace Project in 2006, being an objective that must be achieved, despite some unfair clauses, he was also trying to convince the Beja who were part of the established government and the revolution leaders to unite and look at the challenges. Using a poetic language, in which he mastered to find reasons for the agreement, and at the same time, he was calling for the existence of a back-up body in case of non-compliance with the terms of the agreement.
In order to preserve the body united, he used to count the successes, what was already achieved and what parallelism the next stage requires. Therefore, the coupled rational and balanced justifications among the Beja Congress leaders had to be stabled.
In the song, “Bejawiet Ar”, which means, “Beja sons” – sung by Mohammed Al Badri, a popular singer in the Eastern Sudan – Arka seemed proud of the young fighters who did well in the battles and now ready to rebuild the country. The poet remained an admirer of the youth and was proud of their performance in terms of the responsibilities they were taking during the stages of fighting, negotiation and reconstruction. He had always positive messages, showing himself in mediating situations to preserve the entity and what had achieved in years. In the poem, these features appeared in more than one verse.
“Bejawiet Ar“
In the first line of the poem, “Bejawiet Ar”, Arka praised the youth who sacrificed their most precious life and offered their soul in order to provide happy and peaceful life for others. The poet reported that the cause for which they fought would not benefit the locals without their contributions. Thus, he expected solidarity so that they can finalise the process of the peace agreement. In addition, he called on them not to diminish or underestimate the achievements being witnessed, but instead, he enhanced unity in order to fulfil what is coming.
As usual, in his style of dialogue, Arka posed a question in order to be answered by the listeners, requesting, “Who would you believe to secure you when the Beja people who guard the borders were at risk?” He followed that question by another statement confirming that the rest should follow them without discouraging them in achieving the aspiration of the East. In this line, there is an implicit reference that he saw the need for unity to achieve the goals for which these young people sacrificed.
The poet’s positive attitude and patience about what is coming can be seen as a sign by which he raises the spirits and what the fighters desire. In the fourth line, he argued that what you see far can be reached by preparing from now until the rainy season referring to the peace agreement. In addition, when the land is green we are about to practice normal life. However, the presence of the Beja army, which proves one of the signs of achieved victory.
In the fifth line, the poet highlighted in red lines a kind of self-esteem and complete satisfaction that indicating the acceptance of the clauses. However, he made it clear that the humiliation of the Beja people who demand their rights is unacceptable, and it is another unforgivable issue, whether they achieve their rights or not. Therefore, he calls again for national unity and rejecting those who refuse to reach their goals in the beloved East.
Arka concludes the poem, “Bejawiet Ar”, with a kind of nostalgia for his homeland and community, being stuck for a long time among the mountains and valleys, far from friends and families, hinting that it could be one of the reasons for the peace. At the same time, his language was not devoid of preserving the morale of his companions, by saying: “Also, the second party agreed to peace after they confirmed our strength and we attacked them several times.”
In the song, “Heeda Ban-gad”, which was sung by Seedi Doshka, Arka calls people for unity in order to achieve the goals for which they fought. The keyword that links the two songs is the word, “heeda”, which means “together”. The word is line two in the first song and the first line in the second song.
“Heeda Ban-gad”
There is always an urge to have divergent opinions about accepting the peace agreement in many songs, but the poet always worked to bridge the gap between views. In this song, the poet calls for unity in order to facilitate the application of completing its clauses. In an invitation to the Beja people who did not fight, to show solidarity and strengthen their position without standing in a neutral position, in his familiar discursive style, Arka says, “How peace without uniting can fulfill our full rights?”
In a reproach message to the interior Beja, the poet blamed those who heard the call for fighting and did not respond, and at the same time they did not support their situations, saying, “Do you expect the omen without cost?”. He also added that he was worried about internal wars that occur among the Beja without being engaged in the duty fighting for their land. The second line concludes by criticizing their behaviour, by saying, “How do you say the East your land, and your blood was not poured out?”
Although Arka did not study any formal governmental education, the poet presented historical issues in his songs, which are expected to motivate, encourage and unite Beja youth. In line three, he dealt with the Beja wars against the Ottoman Empire and bright history, which was established, in defending their country through to the unity of our great parents. Arka wants to remind the Beja youth that the historical victories achieved as a result of striving and the solidarity to attain amazing breakthroughs against the greatest empires in the 19th century.
The poet concludes his poem by calling the Beja to unite, highlighting its significance and results as well as the victories that were witnessed in history. He also warned that their positions should be clear and to avoid the internal clashes among them which should be discarded in order to achieve the desired goals.
The article dealt with a fundamental issue, which is unity in the establishment of entities and societies as well as its effect on the individual and society. The poet referred to that in many poems, in which he extensively detailed its historical and modern results. Due to the importance of the topic, it was sung by the greatest Beja singers, and as a result, it became a culture even under the establishment of the previous government. The poet was genius in handling topics that can be right to be raised in the natural life situations of a human being. Thus, the poet conveyed his message to everyone through his evacuated master singers and put it in an elegant dress to directly reach the listener and flush with their feelings.
Dr Hassan Adrob is a Sudanese based in Oman and works as an English language and Linguistic lecturer and a teacher trainer at Red Sea University and Sohar University. His MA and PhD are in Applied Linguistics. Dr Hassan is a qualified CELTA instructor and has participated in an accredited IELTS Training Programme. He fulfilled the twin duties of lecturer in English and skills leader. Dr Hassan is a regular participant at conferences and has recently published three books with Eliva Press.
Related posts:
The Role of Arka Saber’s Songs in the Sudanese Revolution
Peace in Arka Saber’s Songs
Women in Arka Saber’s Songs
Education in Arka Saber’s Songs
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