Sudan usually hits your screen when something horrible happens there. Rarely - ever? - when its music hits your ears. Time to change this trend! Akwaaba is teaming up with M.I.C.T. (Media In Cooperation and Transition) in Berlin, an organization that initiated the powerful Sudan Votes Music Hopes project in 2010 It started out as a cassette handed out across Sudan, compiling artists from all over the country, and encouraging the Sudanese people to make a mark on their future by voting. The project involved the likes of Emmanuel Jal, who has since been remixed on the successful SVMH RMXD001 EP, released in 2010 on Innervisions, and featuring remixes by Henrik Schwarz and The Knife’s Olof Dreijer.
On July 9, 2011, Southern Sudan becomes the orld’s newest nation. Until then, Sudan is Africa’s largest country, a nation plagued by decades of civil war,which have left more than 2 million people dead. After it becomes independent, Southern Sudan has a lot of problems to face: internal rebellions, disputed territories, and significant oil reserves which can only be funneled out through the north.
The multiple political opinions in Sudan are however greatly overshadowed by its abundant and diverse culture. This EP is a small contribution to Sudanese music, but a contribution we hope will expand its reach, and bring attention to the situation on the ground.
