Ancient Sudan: Enduring Heritage is on show now at the Portsmouth Museum and Gallery
A new exhibition, Ancient Sudan—Enduring Heritage, is a fascinating display of the grandeur of the Kushite Kingdom.
The exhibition includes artefacts dating back nearly 3,000 years. It reveals a civilisation that defied empires, built monumental pyramids and left behind a legacy of powerful queens, skilled artisans and warriors.
The intricate ceramics, bronze statues and religious artefacts all tell a story of resistance, resilience and an unyielding cultural identity.
Among the highlights are a bronze figurehead of a goddess from 300 BC. Another is a sandstone offering table inscribed in Meroitic—the indigenous written language of the later Kushite period.
In addition to historical artefacts, the exhibition includes items that continue to play a vital role in the daily lives of Sudanese people. One such item is the banbar, a small four legged stool found in nearly every Sudanese household.
The exhibition displays wedding garments, accessories, and jirtig trays and containers. These are essential elements of rituals that are believed to bring blessings to the marriage.
It also features various bird species, such as the hudhud and spoonbills. Due to the ongoing war, much of Sudan’s wildlife—like its people—has been forced to migrate to other countries.
Yet, as we admire these remnants of the past, we cannot ignore the violent erasure of Sudan’s history unfolding today.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces—both products of imperialist meddling and counter-revolution—has put Sudan’s heritage at grave risk. Both sides of this war must be rejected.
Militias have looted museums, burned archives and reduced historical sites to rubble. This is not just collateral damage—it is part of a broader war on Sudanese identity.
The war aims to crush the revolutionary spirit that has risen time and again against exploitation, dictatorship and imperialist interests.
Western and regional powers have no interest in preserving Sudanese culture, except when it serves their imperialist agendas.
We must stand in solidarity with the fight for a Sudan where its culture is not just displayed in glass cases but lived, nurtured, and defended.
Khalid Sidahmed
- Ancient Sudan: Enduring Heritage, Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, PO1, until 19th April
Bob Marley captivates 80 years since his birth
Bob Marley’s place among the pantheon of popular music greats is unquestionable.
Trevor Nelson’s radio series Eras marks the 80th anniversary of the Jamaican superstar’s birth and helps explain Marley’s enduring legacy.
Marley did not invent the distinctive drum and bass driven sound that characterises reggae music. But he and his band The Wailers undeniably elevated it to a new level. They took it from their home island’s ghettoes and popularised it among a worldwide audience.
Tracks such as “Get Up, Stand Up”, “No Woman, No Cry” and “Redemption Song” have captivated successive generations of music lovers.
Nelson draws on an impressive archive. Alongside snippets from concert recordings and studio sessions, Eras includes interviews with Marley himself, his original bandmates and his wife, soulmate and backing singer Rita. Chris Blackwell, the Old Etonian who somewhat improbably funded the Wailers’ breakthrough also features.
Another interviewee is Marlon James, author of the brilliant novel A Brief History of Seven Killings. The book addresses the infamous attempt to assassinate Marley in 1976, days before he appeared at an open air concert against political violence.
That episode and his contribution to the 1978 One Love Peace concert are two examples of how he tried to change the world with his message of solidarity and peace.
Sadly Bob is no longer with us in that struggle. But his music continues to be a stirring and joyous part of its soundtrack.
Brian Richardson
- Eras is available on BBC Sounds
