Shaden Muhammad al-Hassan (1986 – 12 May 2023), also known as Shaden Gardood or al-Hakama Shaden, was a Sudanese singer and peace advocate who was killed during the 2023 Sudan conflict.
Shaden Gardood شادن قردود | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shaden Muhammad al-Hassan |
| Also known as | al-Hakama Shaden |
| Born | 1986 El-Obeid, North Kordofan, Sudan |
| Died | 12 May 2023 (aged 36–37) El Hashmab, Omdurman, Sudan |
Biography
editEarly life and education
editShaden Muhammad al-Hassan was born in El-Obeid, North Kordofan, Sudan in 1986.[1] She studied economics at Omdurman Ahlia University, but moved towards performing art, especially the folk and heritage singing of the Kordofan region.[1]
Career
editGardood advocated for peace and justice through her songs and lyrics.[2] This is why she was also known as "al-Hakama", a title which is given to a group of women in Darfur and Kordofan, who are respected for their poetry and singing. Hakamat have been invited by peacebuilding initiatives in Darfur and also exert power over men in their societies.[1][3]
Since the outbreak of the conflict, she regularly posted videos and messages on Facebook about the clashes and shelling in her Omdurman neighbourhood, and wrote intensively against the war.[4] Gardood had a prominent role in advocating for popular groups opposed to military rule, and had shared her songs with the peaceful demonstrators during the Sudanese Revolution that managed to overthrow the regime of Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for three decades.[1] She was present with her songs at the sit-in at the army command, which was organised by hundreds of thousands of demonstrators to demand civil rule, after the fall of Al-Bashir and the seizure of power by the army leaders.[1]
Death
editGardood was mortally wounded and died during the Battle of Omdurman in the 2023 Sudan conflict on 12 May 2023.[2] She lived near the national television and radio building, which was a spot of heavy fighting from the first day of the conflict. The building was held by the RSF, who were often attacked from the ground and air by the Sudanese Army. Shortly before she died, she posted a video telling her son to stay away from their windows.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "المطربة السودانية شادن التي غنت للسلام وقُتلت بسبب الحرب". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Sudan crisis: Sudanese singer Shaden Gardood killed in crossfire". BBC News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Darfur's Women 'Hamakat' elders revise songs for peace". Rights for Peace. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Sudanese singer Shaden Gardood killed in crossfire - THE BHARAT EXPRESS NEWS". 13 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Prominent Sudanese singer Shaden Gardood killed in crossfire". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 15 May 2023.