Music from Sudan: afikra Mixtape

This mixtape was compiled by Khaled Malas from the afikra Community team and brings together old and new music from Sudan. The cover was inspired by the inaugural issue of the Journal of Sudanese Folklore, published in 1983 by the students of the Department of Folkloric Studies at the Institute of African and Asian Studies at Khartoum University. We discovered a copy of it via the awesome Vatrina Bookstore. The mixtape is only a brief introduction to the rich musical heritage of Sudan. Below are three of the musicians that were featured: make sure to go and explore more of their music, as well as the work of the other great musicians on this mixtape.

Some of the Best Sudanese Musicians Out There

Sharhabil ahmed

via Pan African

The “King of Sudanese Jazz” who spearheaded the genre in the early 60s and modernized the music scene in Sudan. Sharhabil Ahmed fused Western music with Sudanese sounds, and set up the country’s first jazz band. Habibi Funk rereleased a compilation of his music in 2020.

The scorpions

Via Ransom Note

Not the German rock band, no. The Scorpions are contemporaries of Sharhabil Ahmed, and formed their band in 1960, initially under the name “The Jazz Band”. You can read more about their history on The Ransom Note.

oddisee

via @oddisee

Amir Mohamed El Khalifa – better known as Oddisee – is a Sudanese-American rapper and record producer. He’s been a guest on afikra’s Quartertones podcast. Make sure to check out the episode to learn more about his story and music.

If you love the Sudan mixtape artwork as much as we do, you can get it on a T-shirt from our merch store!