Three years after Sudan’s brutal civil war erupted, tearing one of the nation’s most beloved musical groups apart, members of Aswat Almadina – which translates to Sounds of the City – remain scattered across the globe, clinging to a shared mission: keeping the flame of hope for peace burning through their art. The conflict that broke out in April 2023 has left more than 150,000 people dead and displaced an estimated 12 million Sudanese, creating what the United Nations has labeled the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. For the members of Aswat Almadina, the war shattered their lives and careers, but it could not break their bond or their commitment to their homeland.
Founded in Khartoum in 2014 by Mohammed Almustafa – known publicly as Timon – and lead vocalist Ibrahem Mahmoud, the band carved out a unique space in Sudan’s music scene from its earliest days. Blending the rich traditions of Middle Eastern folk with the energy of urban pop and the improvisational spirit of jazz, their sound was rooted entirely in the capital city they loved. “We called ourselves Sounds of the City because Khartoum is our inspiration,” Timon explained in an interview with BBC’s *Focus on Africa* podcast. “Our music comes from the atmosphere of Khartoum, the natural sounds of the city, the voices of the people, the rhythm of the streets.”
The band quickly amassed a loyal, widespread following, particularly among young Sudanese, and made history as the first Sudanese group to tour across the entire country. Their lyrics, which openly addressed systemic corruption, social inequality, and the daily hardships facing the nation’s youth, earned them widespread respect and a prestigious appointment as United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassadors in 2017. For Mahmoud, music and activism have always been inseparable. Long before the 2019 uprising that ousted longtime authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir, Mahmoud was repeatedly detained by state security forces for his politically critical work. “I got arrested a lot by national security because of what I was doing – singing the truth,” Mahmoud says. “Thank God I’m still alive.”
When anti-government protests erupted across Sudan in late 2018, sparked by austerity measures and cuts to bread and fuel subsidies that exacerbated a already crippling economic crisis, Aswat Almadina’s music became a soundtrack for the revolution. Protesters chanted the band’s lyrics in streets across the nation during the months-long movement that ultimately ended Bashir’s 30-year rule.
That peaceful transition of power was cut short, however, when full-scale civil war broke out in April 2023. Mahmoud and Timon still vividly recall that day: the entire band was gathered in a small Khartoum recording studio, surrounded by their instruments, writing and recording new material, when the crackle of gunfire echoed through the city streets. “At that time I didn’t believe it was a war,” Mahmoud says. “It was a confusing moment. We didn’t know what was going on. We had never been in this situation before. It was very, very confusing.”
Convinced the fighting would end quickly, Mahmoud sheltered in the studio and kept creating, even as explosions and gunfire rang out around him. He wrote and recorded *Give Peace A Chance* remotely, collaborating with another musician based in central Sudan even as unstable, flickering internet connections and constant shelling made exchanging files a struggle. “The sounds of the weapons were loud, but there was always music going on,” Mahmoud recalls. “Music is my survival mechanism, it’s always saving my life.”
Within two months of the war’s start, most band members had fled the country. Timon, who now lives in Cairo Egypt, escaped through the United Arab Emirates, and endured a two-year separation from his family that caused him to miss the birth of his second child. Today, he looks back at pre-war photos of the band’s final Khartoum concert – held just one month before fighting began – with quiet longing. “It was a month before the war. When you look at this, there was a Khartoum. There were very lovely nights in Sudan.” Mahmoud, who previously lived in Nairobi Kenya, now resides in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, but refuses to consider the kingdom his home. “I don’t consider myself based in Saudi Arabia. I’m just visiting. My journey is still going on, and I don’t know when it will end,” he says.
Though scattered across multiple countries, the band’s connection remains unbroken. They continue to collaborate remotely, and are set to release a new single titled *Sudan* later this April, a track the members say honors both the deep beauty of their homeland and the immense suffering it has endured. They believe their music carries unique weight for millions of Sudanese caught up in the crisis. “The arts have a power,” Mahmoud says. “It carries a lot of emotion for people.”
For Aswat Almadina, the core mission that defined their work from the start remains unchanged: to inspire a movement of peace for their war-ravaged nation. The band holds onto unshakable hope that one day, all members will stand together in a Khartoum studio again, making music as they once did. “Being part of this band is a dream come true for us,” Timon says. “There’s always hope. I want everyone, not just me, to speak about peace and love. That’s what will make things better, more than speaking about war.”