Cofftea Awards Boys of Viral ‘Shai’ Song

Cofftea Trading Co Ltd, a leading tea and coffee company in Sudan, has awarded the three young men who went viral for a street song they came up with to encourage protesters to have tea in the campsite of the mass anti-government sit-in known as Al Qeyada surrounding the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Khartoum.

The three young boys have been identified as high school students Tamer Hussain, Ali Khalil and Hassan Badawi.

First appearing on social media on 17 April, the video of the three high school students performing the song in Al Qeyada became an overnight sensation. Although the catchy song has nothing to do with the ongoing Sudan uprising, their enthusiasm and creativity with the shai or tea song, inviting protesters to have tea, was widely shared and celebrated.

يا اخوانا الشاااااااى الشاى بى جاى
شاى ما عادى
“شاى كوفتى كمان”
بى موية صحة
معاو كيكة
شعب مبدع و شباب بس محتاج فرصة ✌🇸🇩
😍😅#اعتصام_القياده_العامه pic.twitter.com/AwrInYz3OM

— kay omer 🇸🇩 🇺🇸 ✌ (@MissKayOmer) April 17, 2019

The song says,

‘My brothers, the tea

The tea is here

It’s not ordinary tea

It’s Cofftea tea as well

Made with Seha water

And comes with cake’

Soon after, the viral video caught the attention of Cofftea who then awarded each of the three young boys with 10,000 Sudanese pounds, full lifetime educational scholarships and social care.

يخوانا الشاااااي

تم تكريم شباب الدعاية المشهوره (الشاي بي جاي) عبارة عن مبلغ عشره الف جنيه لكل فرد مع منحه دراسية كاملة حتى التخرج من شركة كوفتي🇸🇩🌹 pic.twitter.com/RG4CCRT0OW

— المشكاآآآة🕊 (@mish_k_a_t) April 21, 2019

تم تكريم شباب الدعاية المشهوره ( الشاي بي جااااي )
من قبل شركة كوفتي
1- مبلغ عشره الف جنيه لكل فرد
2- منحه دراسية كاملة مدي الحياة
3- رعاية إجتماعية
♥️♥️♥️#اعتصام_القيادة_العامة pic.twitter.com/Xa5nAiybvY

— 🇸🇩آليَا الكَنْزِي (@ekanzzy) April 21, 2019

تم تكريم شباب الدعاية المشهوره *الشاي بي جاي* عبارة عن مبلغ عشره الف جنيه لكل فرد مع منحه دراسية كاملة حتى التخرج من شركة كوفتي!

Well deserved wallahi😂❤❤ pic.twitter.com/g44x5lbZNQ

— 🌻🌻 (@Iethar1) April 21, 2019

دي اجمل حاجه حصلت في اليوم ده تكريم الشباب
ياخوانا الشاااااااااااااااااي pic.twitter.com/r4GJqY2RZ6

— حنينة (@7anina) April 21, 2019

Founded in 1978 by Mohamed Salih Idris, Cofftea produces popular teas and coffees including the sought-after Alghazalten Tea. In addition, Cofftea ventures into edible oils manufacturing and production via a sister company. Today, it is ranked among the top importers of crude oil in Sudan, notably sunflower oil. Moreover, Cofftea is the largest importer of white refined sugar in Sudan and currently one of leaders in sugar trading and supply in the country. 

There is more to come from young boys, who are still in the spotlight, appearing on local talk shows and programmes.  

الدعاية فن من الفنون الساهمت في نجاح الثورة و كان قدمت مقترح لواحدة من شركات الميديا اسمها باسل للدعاية و الإعلان انو نستضيف شباب ( الشاي بي جاي ) واستضفناهم و دردشنا معاهم شوية
و في شغل حلو معاهم ح يطلع ليكم قريب ❤️#اعتصام_القياده_العامه#السودان pic.twitter.com/xjuEu471Kv

— تاج الدين هجو (@tagoo6420) April 23, 2019

At least five million people have been gathering in Al Qeyada since 6 April, 2019 in anti-government demonstration, which has led to the overthrow of former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir.

A Transitional Military Council (TMC) took power, promising it would pass on power to civilians within two years, a proposal rejected by protesters. Former First Vice President of Sudan and Chairman of TMC, Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, took power after Al Bashir but stepped down a day later when protesters strongly rejected his rule.

Now, protesters are demanding for the removal of military power and for a civilian government to be in power instead.