Curated by the Sudanese community of Aotearoa New Zealand, Sudan - A Confluence of Cultures showcased the history and art of this culturally rich country.
This exhibit is now closed, but you can take a virtual peek at what was on display on this page.
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SUN 5 DEC - SUN 23 JAN
TE TAUNGA COMMUNITY HUB
FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY
Visitors at Sudan: A Confluence of Cultures were able to discover the many stories of Sudan in this exhibit curated by the Sudanese community of Aotearoa New Zealand.
On display in Te Taunga, the Museum's Community Hub, this exhibit showcased the history and art of this culturally rich country, told by Sudanese people of many varied ancestries and lifestyles.
Just as the Blue and White Nile meet in Sudan, A Confluence of Cultures celebrates the intersection of Sudanese diversity, and nurtures the relationship with our communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Wedding Room
Wedding affairs are a big part of the Sudanese culture. Traditions and ceremonial customs have been passed down over thousands of years.
The ‘jirtik’ ritual is an important part of the wedding ceremony. Women sing and chant, and perfumes and incense waft around the room. The bride is dressed in red and adorned with gold. A milk spitting ritual is believed to foretell who is going to be the boss of the house – the bride or the groom.
A red colour Thoub in addition to extravagant gold jewellery is reserved for the brides as part of their wedding ceremony.
The groom normally wears a white Jalabeya and a scarf that has red patterns.
Clothing
Beliefs and customs of local people, as well as climate conditions, have a great influence on national clothing. The people of Sudan have traditionally worn loose-fitting long outfits made of light natural fabrics.
The Jalabeya - the traditional wear for men in Sudan – is a loose fitting ankle-length garment with long wide sleeves. It can be worn with an eema or ammama (turban) and is traditionally made of white fabric. However, it can also be made with luxurious grey, black, tan, dark green, olive or striped fabrics. Versions for farmers are often white, designed with wider sleeves and sewn-in pockets which can be used to carry money, tobacco, and small items.
Women wear the Thoub, which is a beautiful long garment/piece of fabric wrapped around, worn on top of a dress or a top/blouse and skirt. The garments can be made from silk, satin, polyester, cotton and other fabrics. It can be of any colour and may have various designs, patterns and embellished embroidery on the fabric. A red colour thoub in addition to extravagant gold jewelry is reserved for the brides as part of their wedding ceremony.
Beautiful items on display
Ancient Sudanese graves revealed beautiful jewellery created from beads, shells, yarn and different materials. Nubian queens were known for their exquisite jewellery. Customs involving exquisite jewellery have since carried on and remain an important part of Sudanese culture.
Abanus (blackwood) has long been used to create beautiful wooden sculptures. Abanus sculptures have been found in tombs of pharaohs. The source of this beautiful wood is from the forests of Southern Sudan.
Sudan is known for its production of leather products since prehistoric times. Evidence of leather footwear has been found in archaeological sites dating to 5000 years ago in the Kingdom of Marawi. Leather tanning has been an important part of Sudanese heritage and leather products have been used extensively.
In Sudan’s vernacular the word tukul was used for kitchen until recently. Delicious meals using onions and spices are prepared with various utensils.
The Sudanese kitchen is not just an area for cooking meals – perhaps because the preparation of food and its components is an important part of Sudanese culture and identity. The structure of the tukul or traditional kitchen often varies as you travel around the country. Elder women prefer the tukul for their coffee and an afternoon nap.
See more
View the exhibit and learn more from event organiser Dr Ala Farah in this video by videographer/producer Rami Baha. Music by Sammany Hago.
Members of the Sudanese community held an African fashion display on Sunday 23 January to close Sudan: A Confluence of Cultures.
View pictures of the closing event and learn more about creating the exhibit from project manager and community liaison, Rahman Bashir.
Acknowledgments
Art can often speak to people the things that can’t always be said with words. It was truly invigorating and inspirational to see how many Sudanese artists were eager to speak through their art, to New Zealand and the world.
The following people deserve our utmost gratitude and appreciation, for their generosity, amazing talent, and contribution to this exhibition. The amount of support we received from the Sudanese community overseas has been heart-warming and we were truly overwhelmed by the response.
The Sudanese people have an aptitude for art and storytelling, and we are fortunate that we have been able to showcase a fraction of our peoples’ amazing talent and experiences through this exhibition.
Mr Abdelaziz Mohammed
Mr Abdulwahab Sumel
Mr Ahmed Classic
Mr Ahmed ElFatih
Mr Ala Khair
Mr Alsadiq Sumel
Mr Diaeldin Khalil Abdelwahid
Rt Hon. Faisal Mohamed Saleh
Mr Fayez Abubakr
Mr Ghasan Saaid
Mr Hashim Alshiwaya
Mr Hashim Sulieman Ibnouf
Mr Hisham Karouri
Prof Intisar Elzein Soghayroun
Ms Lamees Hassan
Ms Marwa (Travelling Sudania)
Mr Mazin Abdelmajid Bushra Ismail (Mazin AlSafia)
Mr Migdad Khalil (Sequence Productions)
Mr Mo Eltayeb (Eltezza Limited)
Mr Mohammed Abdelwahab Taha
Mr Mohammed Abdulmajid Mohammed Elhassan
Mr Mohamed Kordofani
Mr Mohsen Mohammed
Mr Musaab Emam
Mr Mustafa Rudwan
Dr Nouar ElSaid
Ms Ola Alsheikh
Ms Omyma Mohamed Adballatif Ali
Mr Osama Siddiq Yousif (Arka Photography)
Mr Rami Bahaeldin
Ms Rayan Khalil
Ms Samia Sobhi Skander
Mr Sammany Hajo
Mr Sobhi Skander
Mr Yasser Saeed