AYA IBRAHIM

Sudan — Participants in the festival called for strengthening women's presence in work and production by providing marketing platforms and direct display opportunities that enable women to develop their projects and engage more broadly in economic and social activities.

The Khalil Hall in Dongola hosted a women's festival bringing together more than 400 Sudanese women under the title "Al‑Fal Women's Festival," where features of Sudanese heritage blended with initiatives to empower women economically. Participants presented their products in a women's bazaar that allowed them to introduce their projects, expand their marketing reach, and access a wide audience—a step that enhances women's presence in work and production.

The festival included shows of Sudanese fashion, headlined by the Sudanese thobe as a symbol of identity and elegance. A group of young women presented various models of thobes in different colors, fabrics, and designs, in a scene combining authenticity and renewal that drew notable interaction from attendees amid an atmosphere of celebration and joy.

The "bride's dance" (Ruqays al‑Arous) was also not absent from the festival, as participants presented examples of this Sudanese heritage linked to wedding rituals, which many brides uphold as part of celebrating marriage and expressing joy through folk dances performed in festive atmospheres and distinctive traditional attire.

"Our Goal Is to Empower Women Economically"

In the festival's corridors, media professional Majdoline Ali Omar, founder of Majdoline Shopping Festivals in its women's edition bearing the name "Al‑Fal Women's Festival," was moving among attendees and participants, expressing her happiness at the great interaction and notable attendance.

She said she was the first to start the festival idea in the Northern State with the aim of empowering women economically, especially owners of new projects, by providing an organized market inside the hall, along with accompanying events that help attract audiences and give women the opportunity to display and market their products.

She expressed her happiness at the large participation the festival witnessed, describing the attendance as distinguished, thanking all participants and wishing them further success and prosperity in their projects.

 

"Women Need Their Own Work"

Anfal Mubarak, participating in the Al‑Fal Women's Festival for the first time, expressed her happiness at this participation, hoping her experience would represent a new and successful beginning for her products.

She thanked the event's organizer, Majdoline Ali Omar, for giving her the opportunity to participate and display her products to the public, stressing the importance of Sudanese women owning their own work, especially given the difficult economic and social conditions imposed by the conflict on families and society.

She noted that Sudanese women have come to play increasingly important roles in society, affirming that supporting women's projects and encouraging them to produce can contribute to enhancing their economic independence and supporting their families during this phase.

 

"Festivals Are an Opportunity to Introduce Products"

For her part, Rahaf Youssef, one of the festival participants, said she participated with a number of products related to women's adornment, noting that she is keen to participate in festivals and various women's events as an opportunity to showcase and introduce her products to the public, affirming that working in this field represents a good source of income for her.

She pointed out that she feels great enthusiasm whenever she has the opportunity to participate in such events, given the space they provide for direct communication with customers and product promotion.

 

A Space Bringing Together Heritage and Production

The "Al‑Fal Women's Festival" comes as a space combining celebration of Sudanese heritage and encouraging women to produce and work. Its events were not limited to selling and marketing but extended to fashion shows and traditional arts—known as the "daluka"—in an attempt to create a women's atmosphere combining entertainment, showcasing talents, and supporting small projects.

Amid the colors of the Sudanese thobe, the rhythms of the bride's dance, and the women's products lined up inside the bazaar, the evening reflected part of Sudanese women's ability to create joy and production at the same time, affirming their presence and their economic and social role despite the exceptional circumstances the country is going through.