Members of Sudanese band Aswat Almadina have been scattered across the world since war erupted in Sudan in 2023, forcing them to flee Khartoum amid widespread destruction and violence. More than 150,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in what the United Nations has described as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Despite exile and personal hardship, the musicians remain determined to use their art to inspire hope and peace.

Formed in 2014, the band became known for blending Middle Eastern folk, urban pop and jazz, with lyrics addressing social justice and the struggles of young people. Their songs became anthems during the uprising that led to the removal of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and members faced arrest for their outspoken criticism of the political system.

When fighting broke out in April 2023, some members were recording in a Khartoum studio that quickly became a shelter as gunfire echoed outside. Even as conflict intensified, they continued composing music remotely, seeing it as a means of survival and resistance. Now living in different countries, they are preparing to release new work reflecting both Sudan’s beauty and its suffering, holding onto hopes of reuniting and performing together again in peace.