COLORSXSTUDIOS Hosts Sudanese Music Artists Sammany Hajo, Flippter and Gaidaa

COLORSXSTUDIOS presents a new project exploring the role that music and visual art culture plays in relation to the campaign for global equality, human rights and democracy. Focusing on Sudan, the project showcases music from the country and diaspora as a medium through which to raise awareness on the political situation in Sudan.

Across multiple episodes, a selection of Sudanese artists, featuring musician Sammany Hajo, rapper Flippter and singer Gaidaa share their perspectives through music performances, alongside editorial content featuring the music artists and journalist British-Sudanese Yousra Elbagir to provide in-depth context to the complex issues and events. In addition, the project aims to channel the creative spirit of the Sudan revolution against the autocratic government of former President Omar Al Bashir and the military regime that succeeded him, emphasising how music, poetry and other forms of art are at the heart of the revolution.

COLORS dropped a preview of their Sudan-focused project on their social media channels on 25 July 2019. 

Over the next week we are featuring artists from Sudan and its diaspora. We are releasing music performances, and editorial content to provide in-depth context to the complex political issues happening there 💙 #colorssudan pic.twitter.com/VVmcdhAIQL

— COLORS (@colorsxstudios) July 25, 2019

The first performance of the project was released on 26 July 2019, featuring Qatar-based Sudanese artist and producer Sammany Hajo. While playing the guitar, Hajo shares an emotive rendition of “Matalib” or “Demands”, a song inspired by the ongoing revolution in Sudan. 

On 30 July 2019, COLORS released a politically charged performance of a previously unreleased single, “BLUE”, by well-known Sudanese rapper Flippter who is based between Sudan and Saudi Arabia. He has released hit songs such as “Shafata”, “Gorasa”, and most recently featured in YouTuber Maha AJ’s hit song, “Salimmik – A Love Letter to Sudan“. 

On 2 August 2019, COLORS released a performance by Gaidaa, a Sudanese-Dutch singer based in Amsterdam who recently become a favourite after performing in Dutch-Armenian record producer, singer and DJ Full Crate’s hit single, “A Storm On A Summers Day”. 

All of COLORS Sudan-focused performances feature a dark blue backdrop, which was used in #BlueforSudan campaign and also known as the #MattarBlue. After the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019, people changed their profile pictures on social media to the colour blue to pay tribute to those killed by paramilitary forces when they raided a monthslong peaceful sit-in in Khartoum, killing at least 120 people and injuring more than 300. One of those killed was 26-year-old Mohamed Hashim Mattar whose death inspired #BlueforSudan – a dark shade of blue, which was Mattar’s favourite colour and used it as his profile pictures on social media. 

COLORS is a unique aesthetic music platform showcasing exceptional talent from around the globe. COLORS focuses on the most distinctive new artists and original sounds in an increasingly fragmented and saturated scene. All COLORS shows seek to provide clear, minimalistic stage that shines a spotlight on the artists, giving them the opportunity to present their music without distraction. The show has hosted well-known international music artists such as Billie Eilish, Daniel Caeser, H.E.R, Jorja Smith, Mahalia and many more. 

*Update: This article has been updated to include Flippter’s COLORS performance and will be updated again to include Gaidar’s COLORS performance.