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I Traveled Around Sudan Exploring, And Photographing The Country’s Thriving Sufi Community (40 Pics)
In the spring of 2017, I traveled around Sudan exploring the country’s thriving Sufi community. I attended massive Sufi gatherings, multi-day-long festivals, and Sufism’s holy sites, as well as private Sufi meet-ups in villages and people’s backyards. What I discovered were majestic locations, soulful songs, passionate dances, and most importantly kind and generous people, who welcomed me as if I was one of their own. Before long, I was singing and dancing with them.
Sufis, known as Tasawwuf in the Arabic-speaking world, are the mystics of Islam. They believe in reincarnation and a mysterious world between heaven and earth, which can be visited through deep meditation and the performance of “Zikr”. Sufis believe that their Sheikhs (religious leaders of Sufism) and saints are immortal and can hear their songs and music even in their graves, therefore, Sufi rituals usually take place in or around cemeteries. Sufism is spread out in virtually every Islamic country, however, it compiles only about 5% of the world's Muslim population. Sudan boasts a particularly strong and influential Sufi community which is said to be the largest in the world. A popular Sudanese saying only confirms their strong presence in the country - "If there is a family in Sudan, of which at least one member is not a Sufi, they are not Sudanese".
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#1
Participant in a Sufi gathering. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
12points
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#2
Young Sufi devotee sports a tiger-print mantle at the weekly Sufi gathering in Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
10points
#3
Participant of the Sufi gathering dances waving a traditional Sufi stick. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
8points
#4
People perform Zikr – a religious Sufi ritual that involves dancing and chanting religious texts. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#5
Every Friday afternoon hundreds of Sufis gather at Hamad El Neel cemetery. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#7
Men and women dance in front of a Sufi tomb in the village of Abu Haraz, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#8
Khatmiya mosque with Taka mountains in the background. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#9
Men wave wooden sticks as they approach the Khatmiya mosque. Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#10
Young Sufi adherent in the Sufi festival in Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
7points
#11
The word Zikr in Sudanese Arabic means remembrance of God.
Final score:
6points
#14
Portrait of a young Sufi devotee observing the evening prayer from above. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
6points
#15
Hundreds of Sufi devotees participate in the evening prayer. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
6points
#16
A man walks in Hamad El Neel cemetery where the weekly Sufi gatherings take place. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
5points
#17
People sing and pray as they sit among the tombstones. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
5points
#19
Various tribes arrive at the festival of Sufism in Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
5points
#20
A young boy prays at the crumbling Khatmiya mosque. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
5points
#21
Esfand is being burned during the rituals. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#22
Music continues way past midnight around Hamad El Neel mausoleum. Omdurman.
Final score:
4points
#24
Sufis play Daf - a large-frame drum native to the Middle East and Africa.
Final score:
4points
#26
Women and men inside visit their beloved saint at a Sufi tomb in Abu Haraz, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#27
People arrive from all corners of Sudan to take part in the Sufi festival in Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#28
Sufi tribe shows off their traditional sharp-as-a-razor sword. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#29
Sweat covers the faces of the most passionate dancers. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#30
Kids observe the festivities from the foothills of the Taka mountains. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
4points
#31
Sufis gathered around Hamed El-Nil mausoleum listen to the songs echoing from the inside. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#32
Drums kick off the weekly Sufi gathering in Hamad Al Neel cemetery. Omdurman, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#35
Worshipers sing traditional Sufi songs. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#36
Crowds gathered around Khatmiya mosque. Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#37
Kids play at the foothills of the Taka mountains. Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#38
Delivery of fresh drinking water for the participants of the Sufi festival. Kasala, Sudan.
Final score:
3points
#39
Worshipers sing traditional Sufi songs. Kassala, Sudan.
Final score:
2points
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What do you think ?
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
Again, a colorful country with colorful people, rendered in black and white. Why? It washes something out for me.
Elliot Fowler 1 year ago
There is a separation between the sexes in a lot of Muslim countries, meaning that the areas of worship for men and women are separated. If the photographer was a man then he would not be allowed to enter the female areas and take photos.
Load More Replies... Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
Again, a colorful country with colorful people, rendered in black and white. Why? It washes something out for me.
Elliot Fowler 1 year ago
There is a separation between the sexes in a lot of Muslim countries, meaning that the areas of worship for men and women are separated. If the photographer was a man then he would not be allowed to enter the female areas and take photos.
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