Jazz in Sudan

Original Story Published by: Moses Abeka, www.musicinafrica.net
Photo Source: Courtesy of MusicInAfrica.net

(Above) Mohamed Araki Playing with Bombino on KEXP

The beginning of modern music in Sudan, including Sudanese jazz, dates back to the 1920s, with one of its earliest forms known as haqeeba, which loosely translates as ‘briefcase’. The name is thought to have been derived from Mohammad Ahmad Salih’s show on Radio Omdurman. Salih was a historian and music collector who played acoustic songs on a show titled Haqeebat Alfan (suitcase of art).

Haqeeba is rich in poetry. A lead singer, backed by a choir, performs with percussive sounds from tambourine-like instruments and tar drums that are played in the background. The musical style was popular at weddings and social gatherings. Haqeeba is regarded as one of the most authentic music forms in Sudan and bears minimal influences from the outside world, although it was weaved into foreign genres when musicians began to play western instruments in the 1940s. It was greatly popularised by singers like Abdel Karim Karouma, Mohamed Wad al-Faki and Mohammed Ahmed Saror.

Though Abdel Karim’s lyrics were wholly secular, his songs were heavily influenced by Islamic recitations known as madeeh, which include admirations, glorifications and dances in honour of the Prophet Muhammad. Madeeh is still practised by members of the Sufi community in the Omdurman region, who meet weekly to pray and dance, and often reach a trance-like state through it.

From the 1940s, western instruments became increasingly popular in Sudanese music as elements of ‘jazz’ began to be noticeable. Quite different from American jazz styles like bebop, the Sudanese version was a combination of the blues, pop, surf, funk, rock & roll, Congolese music and East African harmonies. Popular artists from this era include Ismail Abdul Mu'ain, Hassan Attia, Ahmed al-Mustafa and Ibrahim al-Kashif, also known as ‘the Father of Modern Singing in Sudan’.