2Kviews
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".
More info: Instagram | juodele.com | Facebook | behance.net
This post may include affiliate links.
Participant in a Sufi gathering. Omdurman, Sudan.
Young Sufi devotee sports a tiger-print mantle at the weekly Sufi gathering in Omdurman, Sudan.
Participant of the Sufi gathering dances waving a traditional Sufi stick. Omdurman, Sudan.
People perform Zikr – a religious Sufi ritual that involves dancing and chanting religious texts. Omdurman, Sudan.
Every Friday afternoon hundreds of Sufis gather at Hamad El Neel cemetery. Omdurman, Sudan.
Men and women dance in front of a Sufi tomb in the village of Abu Haraz, Sudan.
Khatmiya mosque with Taka mountains in the background. Kassala, Sudan.
Men wave wooden sticks as they approach the Khatmiya mosque. Kasala, Sudan.
Young Sufi adherent in the Sufi festival in Kasala, Sudan.
The word Zikr in Sudanese Arabic means remembrance of God.
Portrait of a young Sufi devotee observing the evening prayer from above. Kassala, Sudan.
Hundreds of Sufi devotees participate in the evening prayer. Kassala, Sudan.
A man walks in Hamad El Neel cemetery where the weekly Sufi gatherings take place. Omdurman, Sudan.
People sing and pray as they sit among the tombstones. Omdurman, Sudan.
Various tribes arrive at the festival of Sufism in Kassala, Sudan.
A young boy prays at the crumbling Khatmiya mosque. Kassala, Sudan.
Esfand is being burned during the rituals. Omdurman, Sudan.
Music continues way past midnight around Hamad El Neel mausoleum. Omdurman.
Sufis play Daf - a large-frame drum native to the Middle East and Africa.
Women and men inside visit their beloved saint at a Sufi tomb in Abu Haraz, Sudan.
People arrive from all corners of Sudan to take part in the Sufi festival in Kasala, Sudan.
Sufi tribe shows off their traditional sharp-as-a-razor sword. Kassala, Sudan.
Sweat covers the faces of the most passionate dancers. Kassala, Sudan.
Kids observe the festivities from the foothills of the Taka mountains. Kassala, Sudan.
Sufis gathered around Hamed El-Nil mausoleum listen to the songs echoing from the inside. Omdurman, Sudan.
Drums kick off the weekly Sufi gathering in Hamad Al Neel cemetery. Omdurman, Sudan.
Worshipers sing traditional Sufi songs. Kassala, Sudan.
Crowds gathered around Khatmiya mosque. Kasala, Sudan.
Kids play at the foothills of the Taka mountains. Kasala, Sudan.
Delivery of fresh drinking water for the participants of the Sufi festival. Kasala, Sudan.
Worshipers sing traditional Sufi songs. Kassala, Sudan.
Again, a colorful country with colorful people, rendered in black and white. Why? It washes something out for me.
Beautiful photos. Informative. Love it!!! No AI I really like that. 👍
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... Again, a colorful country with colorful people, rendered in black and white. Why? It washes something out for me.
Beautiful photos. Informative. Love it!!! No AI I really like that. 👍
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...