Two years on: Montreal event raises funds and awareness for Sudan

On Sunday, April 27, a community benefit for Sudan took place at La Sala Rossa in Montreal, organized by the Sudan Solidarity Collective (SSC) in collaboration with CKUT 90.3 FM and the Dean of Arts Development Fund. The event marked two years and two weeks since the war began in Sudan and drew several hundred attendees.

The evening featured performances, music, and community-led programming centered on Sudanese voices and experiences. Funds were raised through ticket donations and the sale of printed materials, books, t-shirts, and traditional cultural sweets. The proceeds are intended to support civilian-led collectives working on the ground in Sudan and to maintain momentum for local and international awareness.

In addition to its focus on Sudan, the event highlighted other global crises. Organizers made space to acknowledge communities currently affected by violence and instability, including Congo, Haiti, Tigray, and Gaza/Palestine. This approach emphasized a shared commitment to transnational solidarity and grassroots action.

The Sudan Solidarity Collective plans to continue its efforts through a series of upcoming workshops aimed at fostering political education and deepening understanding of the situation in Sudan. Organizers say the initiative seeks to equip local and global communities with tools for informed engagement, especially in the context of ongoing media inattention.

According to organizer Duha Elmardi, from the SSC, the event was a way to reflect a broader effort to support diaspora communities, preserve historical memory, and mobilize public response to the ongoing war through art, education, and community organizing. She noted that the global Sudanese diaspora has taken on much of the work in response to the crisis.