SYMPHONY of the BARRICADES

In December 2018, a revolution ignited in Sudan—an uprising led with remarkable resolve and creativity by a new generation of young revolutionaries. Through art, music, poetry, and peaceful demonstrations, they sustained a resistance that endured for months, even in the face of brutal repression.

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Their unwavering commitment culminated on April 11, 2019, with the ousting of the long-standing dictator Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled Sudan since 1989. Al-Bashir, a figure wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, was finally removed from power—an historic triumph for the Sudanese people.

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Women stood at the forefront of this revolution. They became its beating heart and its unyielding spirit—leading marches, confronting armed forces, chanting in the streets, singing songs of resistance, creating revolutionary art, and galvanizing a nation toward freedom.

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To shield themselves from the regime’s violent crackdowns, peaceful protesters employed a range of nonviolent tactics. Among the most iconic was the construction of barricades in the streets of Khartoum—improvised blockades that prevented security forces from reaching protest sites with their vehicles. These barricades became both a physical and symbolic line of defense for the revolution.

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Many brave souls lost their lives defending these barricades—sacrificing themselves to protect the larger movement. They are remembered today as the Heroes of the Barricades—martyrs (e.g. Abbas Farah) who laid down their lives for the ideals of freedom, peace, and justice.