Interview with Hajooj Kuka

 This interview is with Hajooj Kuka, who is a Sudanese activist and film-maker. Hajooj has been deeply embedded in the broad-based mobilization that is happening across Sudan since 2018. He's the dynamo behind the Sudanese Civic Lab, an independent nonprofit organization that provides spaces and opportunities for debates, training and artwork to help strengthen the revolution. 

In 2014, his documentary Beats Of The Antonov about war in the Blue Nile and Nuba mountain regions won the People's Choice Award at Toronto Film Festival. The film tells an important story; it teaches that even in times of adversity, there is resilience and resistance through music. Hajooj also founded Refugee Club, an alliance of creative members whose work reflects an awareness of the transitory state of migration. Here, artists explore identities beyond nation, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity and race without being afraid to ask critical questions. mAt the moment, he is the Creative Director of 7ayin, a Sudanese network reporting on the conflict and war in Sudan. 

In this episode, Hajooj talks about his personal experiences with political activism in Sudan, including:

• The role of the military in the revolution 
• His personal struggle of mistrust towards other activists, as one never knows who might secretly work for the other side 
• Strategies the military used to suppress opposition and resistance, such as cutting internet connections and electricity 
• The main organizers of the revolution, such as the Resistance Committee, doctors, professionals, university students 
• His goal of removing the mindset from society that the military should rule in Sudan 
• The relationship between the Resistance Committees and the Sudanese Professionals Association and which strategies they use to mobilize
• How diversity strengthens, not weakens, the Sudanese movement  
• How colonialism impacts the local political and cultural fabric and how his movement plans on becoming more independent 
• His answer to the question “What kind of Sudan do you want to create?”
• His thoughts on the International Criminal Court in Sudan 

His three artists he is loving these days are mostly local, young artists and poets. He lists Mu7aid (a local poet) and artists who make murals. Check out the artists here. 

Ukombozi is a podcast about social movements on the African continent and what it means to get free. We appreciate your feedback and ratings on your various listening platforms. Spread the word! You can also contact us at jason underscore stearns at sfu dot ca and baumafred at gmail dot com.

This podcast is brought to you with the support of the Program on African Social Research at CUNY.