Review: “This Will Have Been: Archives of the Past Present & Future” Exhibition by Locale

December is one of the most eventful months of the year in Sudan due to cooler weather, the holidays and many of the Sudanese diaspora returning top list Sudan. In addition, this December is significant as it marks a year since the Sudanese revolution began.

One of the most successful events this month is Locale’s “This Will Have Been: Archives of the Past Present & Future”, which took place from at The House of Heritage in Khartoum 2 from 5 to 12 December 2019. Organised by Locale, a group of young designers who exhibit, design and collaborate with Sudanese artists, the eight-day event included an exhibition, which portrayed a variety of old pictures of Sudan as well as panel discussions with artists, historians, journalists, filmmakers and more.

I attended the event for three consecutive days from 5 to 7 December 2019. I’d occupy my evenings by listening to some of the greatest minds speak. If I was a minute late I would walk in hurriedly and grab the first chair I found – that’s if I was lucky enough to find one in the first place. We sat under the starry sky and enjoy the ever-so-rare winter breeze which decides to make a visit to Khartoum once or twice annually. To add to the cozy vibe, there were fairy lights hung up on either side of the balcony walls, and together, we enjoyed a warm gathering with stories of Sudan’s past being shared.

The panelists represented a wide age range, aged from early 20s to late 70s, giving such a diverse range of talks with each person reflecting their own generation.

The third day topped them all with the first screening of the award-winning Sudanese film, “Akasha”, which was shot in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan followed by an exclusive chat with the award-winning filmmaker Hajooj Kuka and the actors. The people outnumbered the chairs leaving people craning their necks to get the perfect view of the film. People carried chairs up the stairs, others found a way to squeeze and share a chair with a stranger, some leaned on the balcony walls, while others sat on the mats at the front and we all enjoyed what turned out to be an absolutely incredible film that exceeded all our expectations.

SUDAN PREMIER | Akasha by hajooj kuka will be screening in Khartoum for the first time this Saturday 7th of December at the @house_of_heritage__ at 6:15 pm as part of the This Will Have Been exhibition! pic.twitter.com/DIB8Mbybd1

— Locale (@Locale_sd) December 1, 2019

What was particularly eye-catching about this movie was the fact that it was filmed in an area of Sudan we know extremely little about. Of course this revolution to some extent did enlighten us about the situation in the war-torn Nuba Mountains; however this film gave us real insight of life in the Nuba Mountains. One interesting question that came from one of the audience members was to what extent does this movie give us a real reflection of life in the Nuba Mountains, and another man in the audience, a resident of the Nuba Mountains answered, ‘Around 55%’. Numerous questions were being asked to the director and actors of “Akasha” including how long it took them to film it, the obstacles they faced and where they found the actors.

Many stories were shared and a few resonated within me because it really goes to show how oblivious we all were to the situation, and how we single handedly chose to turn a blind eye. One of the actors was asked what they plan on doing in the future and if they plan on shooting more films so he replied, ‘The previous regime was really pressing us but hopefully with the new government things will change’. They spoke about how life was going on normally in the Nuba Mountains despite the war. He mentioned how they’d go to weddings and have a bomb fall right next to them. They’d pause temporarily and then continue to dance the night away. Just like that. They refused to allow the war to get in the way of their daily activities and with that, they received a huge round of applause from the audience. The director spoke about how Sudanese alcohol known as Marisa and Aragi were extremely normal in the Nuba Mountains, as normal as tea is here in Khartoum, and you’d be doomed if you refused a glass of Marisa or Aragi from the elderly. It was their way of greeting you in their homes.

Because of the war, one actor was speaking about how he grew up in Kampala, Uganda, and was denied access to Sudan, his home country, because he had no birth certificate, passport, or any ID to prove he was Sudanese. He would beg the Embassy of Sudan in Uganda to permit him a visa to visit his own country but again was denied several times as he had no evidence to prove he was Sudanese. After multiple trials, he gave the staff some of his family members phone numbers until they finally gave him permission to visit his home country. Sudan felt like a far unreachable forbidden sacred land that was inaccessible to them. They didn’t know what to expect of Khartoum, and they laughed afterwards at how it turned out to just be a normal city. It was also their first time watching the movie with a crowd of people as their lack of ID denied them the ability to travel with the director and watch the movie screening.

As the evening almost came to an end, a young lady from the audience said she had something small to say, not a question like the rest of us, just a few words she felt she needed us to hear. She spoke about how grateful she was that the producer Hajooj Kuka was able to shoot this film in the Nuba Mountains and reflect life there, as no other person had. She spoke about how she missed her hometown and the difficulties they faced just to visit the Nuba Mountains. As she was speaking she would take regular pauses just to stay composed and stop herself from breaking down. Most importantly, she said her father had given her a gift before he passed away, and told her to give the gift only to someone who had truly done something amazing in the Nuba Mountains. She chose to give it to Hajooj Kuka and at that moment, she had me and many others gushing away our tears.

To listen to all these amazing stories from these amazing people and minds was priceless. Not only was it enjoyable but it was also extremely informative and inspiring. I took home with me so much that I’m sure I wouldn’t have taken from any other event. We got an insight of how people lived in the past, the life in the Nuba Mountains, and most importantly realised the responsibility we have to dig deeper and learn about our rich culture and history, and preserve it for future generations and preserve it for Sudan too. Through this event, Locale gave us the space and opportunity to learn, unlearn, and relearn and left us feeling enlightened and inspired on so many different levels. I only hope there are more events of such kind, and that they keep up with the immense beauty of this work they’re doing.
 
As Sudan recently marked a year since the beginning of the victorious uprising, I’d like to say to everyone reading this, it’s in our hands to change Sudan, preserve its rich history and culture, and create a prosperous Sudan for the next generation. Where we are now wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the sacrifices and bravery of our fellow martyrs. They paved the way for us and for Sudan to be where it is today and for that we are forever indebted to them and their families. And of course, to those who risked their lives and took to the streets, to those who became a voice to our country when we were unheard and crying for help; to those who spread the word via art and poetry; to the diaspora who were our only hope when Sudan was being shut off from the rest of the world; and to the billions who made it happen, we are where we are because of you all.

To the martyrs in the highest of heavens, we miss you, and we wish you were here with us to witness the change you died for and the cause you were fighting for.

Saria Osman El-Amin is a 22-year-old recent graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum (Class of 2018). Currently based in Khartoum, Saria is a part-time English and maths teacher. She values time alone a lot, and without it, she feels exhausted and unable to function. She enjoys reading books, travelling, going out with friends, having a laugh and of course, eating good food.