'Songs for Sudan' Benefit Concerts - Belfast
The inaugural Songs for Sudan Benefit Concert, a rapid response to the ongoing war in Sudan that broke out in April, was held at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) on May 24th and supported by the School of Arts, English and Languages (AEL) specifically the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC).
We are grateful to: AEL for marketing the event and sponsoring refreshments; SARC for providing the Sonic Lab venue, sound engineer, broadcast engineer (for live-streaming), the musicians and artists who volunteered their time; and the Sudanese people, recently evacuated from Khartoum, who provided personal testimonies about their experiences.
Thanks to 50 in-person + 25 online attendees who purchased tickets ranging £5 - £15 we raised £730 to help people affected by the war in Sudan.
£500 was sent to Ayman Mohammed to help his family evacuate to Ethiopia. The balance as well as song sales and campaign donations is being sent to Mohammed Osman in Khartoum..
Feedback about the Songs for Sudan inaugural concert showed us that it was a positive, uplifting experience for members of the Sudanese community in Belfast as well as for people forced to flee and evacuate their families from Khartoum. Attendees who had not known much about Sudan prior to the concert told us they felt a greater connection with Sudan and an appreciation for Sudanese poetry, paintings and music.
Due to the success of the event, Juanita Rea (eduSOIL Founder, Visiting Scholar, QUB) and Ayah Aljunaid (Assistant Supervisor, Queen's Students Union) have arranged more concerts in Belfast over the summer which continue to be supported by QUB AEL.
We are grateful to: AEL for marketing the event and sponsoring refreshments; SARC for providing the Sonic Lab venue, sound engineer, broadcast engineer (for live-streaming), the musicians and artists who volunteered their time; and the Sudanese people, recently evacuated from Khartoum, who provided personal testimonies about their experiences.
Thanks to 50 in-person + 25 online attendees who purchased tickets ranging £5 - £15 we raised £730 to help people affected by the war in Sudan.
£500 was sent to Ayman Mohammed to help his family evacuate to Ethiopia. The balance as well as song sales and campaign donations is being sent to Mohammed Osman in Khartoum..
Feedback about the Songs for Sudan inaugural concert showed us that it was a positive, uplifting experience for members of the Sudanese community in Belfast as well as for people forced to flee and evacuate their families from Khartoum. Attendees who had not known much about Sudan prior to the concert told us they felt a greater connection with Sudan and an appreciation for Sudanese poetry, paintings and music.
Due to the success of the event, Juanita Rea (eduSOIL Founder, Visiting Scholar, QUB) and Ayah Aljunaid (Assistant Supervisor, Queen's Students Union) have arranged more concerts in Belfast over the summer which continue to be supported by QUB AEL.
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Songs for Sudan 4: Sunday, Aug 27th, 3 - 5pm, 2 Royal Ave
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TICKETS AVAILABLE 28/06
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The need in Sudan is enormous. There are many people unable to get basic supplies in Khartoum and also unable to leave due to lack of funds. We have a simple way to empower you to work with us help more people affected by the war in Sudan.
Write to Juanita ([email protected],uk) and Ayah ([email protected]) if you believe you are a potential sponsor/host/artist/contributor who aligns to the ethos of peace, positivity and people power, firmly in solidarity with Sudanese people and wishes to:
Write to Juanita ([email protected],uk) and Ayah ([email protected]) if you believe you are a potential sponsor/host/artist/contributor who aligns to the ethos of peace, positivity and people power, firmly in solidarity with Sudanese people and wishes to:
- sponsor venue, refreshments, live-streaming costs for our June- Aug events
- contribute music, poetry or visual art that connects with the aim of responding to conflict in Sudan through art and civc action
- host a future concert in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.
You can host a 'Songs for Sudan' Benefit Concert
Are you a live performance venue manager? OR Are you a business owner? OR Are you a corporate employee with access to corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding? OR Are you someone who can support this art-based civc response to the war in Sudan?
We are aiming to hold one concert per month until December 2023.
An ideal venue would offer space, staff and equipment for a hybrid event including an art and photo display.
We offer partners a civic response to the war in Sudan, engaging Belfast audiences in an interactive, family-friendly arts programme:
If you are a manager of a live performance venue, please note that due to the sponsorship provided by Queen's University Belfast, we were able to raise £730 in one night. We do not have funds for venue hire, however, we will (if within reach) allocate a small portion of funds raised from the first concert to cover essential staff expenses.
We are aiming to hold one concert per month until December 2023.
An ideal venue would offer space, staff and equipment for a hybrid event including an art and photo display.
- 100+ seated capacity
- audio equipment + sound engineer
- AV equipment - projector + screen
- broadcast equipment + technician
- porters/box office staff + security
- sound check and rehearsal session from 16:00 - 18:00
- display boards/area in foyer for Sudanese art, photography, jewellery exhibition (with all proceeds from sales directed to fundraiser)
- tables for refreshments (for tea/coffee/soft-drinks + light snacks (either available for purchase from venue/sponsored externally or bring-and-share depending on venue conditions)
We offer partners a civic response to the war in Sudan, engaging Belfast audiences in an interactive, family-friendly arts programme:
- co-branding with your logo/name on all marketing collateral
- customisable and comprehensive press kit (for all social media platforms, printing, digital display etc)
- eventbrite page
- photo and art display
- slide deck for a tested interactive, informative and inspiring programme
- confirmed, experienced musicians who are Arts Council awardees
- confirmed members of the Sudanese community
If you are a manager of a live performance venue, please note that due to the sponsorship provided by Queen's University Belfast, we were able to raise £730 in one night. We do not have funds for venue hire, however, we will (if within reach) allocate a small portion of funds raised from the first concert to cover essential staff expenses.
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If you are a business owner, CSR funding manager or supportive member of the public, please note that we have been quoted venue hire costs in Belfast as follows:
Venue hire: £120 - £500 + VAT Sound Engineer = £150 - £250 + VAT Box Office/Duty Manager Staff - £120 + VAT Event Security - £130 - £260 Although, we are running an ongoing fundraising campaign on Givengain, we feel that these benefit concerts enable a deeper understanding of the situation in Sudan, an appreciation of the role of Sudanese protest art and African wealth , as well as fosters audience participation. The 2 hour programme includes conversations with display of Sudanese art and music videos, live performance of original songs many of which involve audience sing-along, drumming and the chanting of peaceful protest chants in Arabic and English. |
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Hear from Zeinab Abdelraham (Research Fellow , Centre for Public Health - Molecular Epidemiology, QUB) why your organisation should join as a sponsor or host for more Songs for Sudan concerts.
The inaugural Songs for Sudan Benefit Concert on May 24th was a fantastic event that aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Sudan as well as a fundraising event to draw attention to the situation in Sudan and to provide aid to those in need. While the event was a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for peace and stability in Sudan, much work remains to be done to address the root causes of the crisis and to ensure a better future for the people of Sudan. More Benefit Concerts in Belfast, have the potential to help more audiences connect with Sudanese people, understand the situation in Sudan, and appreciate Sudanese artists, activists, and youth in several ways: |
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(b) Understand what is happening in Sudan and the impact on people's lives: The programme aims to raise awareness about the complex political, economic, and social issues facing Sudan and the impact of these issues on the lives of ordinary people. By providing information and context about the situation in Sudan, audiences are supported in understanding the causes of the crisis and the challenges faced by Sudanese people. This understanding could help to promote empathy and informed action among the audience.
(c) Appreciate Sudanese artists, activists, and youth: The programme highlights the contributions and resilience of Sudanese artists, activists, and youth who have been at the forefront of the struggle for peace and justice in Sudan. By showcasing their work and amplifying their voices, the programme aims to promote appreciation and recognition for their efforts. This recognition could help to inspire and empower Sudanese artists, activists, and youth to continue their work and make a positive difference in their communities. Overall, having more concerts in Belfast will help more audiences connect with Sudanese people, understand the situation in Sudan, and appreciate Sudanese artists, activists, and youth. Zeinab Abdelraham, Research Fellow , Centre for Public Health - Molecular Epidemiology, Queen's University Belfast
Write to [email protected] and [email protected] if you want to sponsor and support our scheduled concerts in June - August or wish to host a concert in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland in the future.