Sudan War Series – Article 05
“Be My Guest”: Trust as Economic Capital in Sudanese Displacement
The Sudan War series is a joint collaboration between the Center for Economic, Legal, and Social Studies and Documentation – Khartoum (CEDEJ-K), Sudan-Norway Academic Cooperation (SNAC)andAfrican Arguments – Debating Ideas. Through a number of themes that explore the intersections of war, displacement, identities and capital, Sudanese researchers, many of whom are themselves displaced, highlight their own experiences, the unique dynamisms within the larger communities affected by war, and readings of their possible futures.
Article 05 by Abdelmageed Yahya and Mari Norbakk
”Be my guest!” A young man reaches across the cart handing out a cup of expertly brewed coffee. His colleague films the interaction on his phone and zooms in on the customer taking a deep sip of his coffee. “How is it?” The client smiles shyly at the camera and says, “It is delicious!” Around them, throngs of people pass by as they wind their way through the stalls presenting goods to prospective customers, investors, and each other. This warm Friday night in May 2024, the Sudanese community came together to organize a bazaar to showcase and promote the many small businesses started by displaced Sudanese who now inhabit the Egyptian capital. Women dressed in their finest clothes, draped in gold, browse the stalls filled with beautiful hand-stitched garments, smell the many perfumes on offer, or assess the bakhoor. The park is filled with families enjoying socializing, while young entrepreneurs have set up stalls offering their goods and services.
Behind this lively scene is a more somber reality – the Sudanese war is now moving into its second year. The displaced Sudanese community in Cairo is beginning to shift from immediate survival to more long-term strategizing. As the bazaar unfolds, the reception of the Sudanese brothers and sisters by their Egyptian neighbours is marred by increasing scapegoating of the Sudanese for the increasingly dire economic situation. The community, this evening bedecked in finery, is feeling the strain.
Read the full article here by Abdelmageed Yahya and Mari Norbakk.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
cedejsudan (29 juin 2025). Sudan War Series – Article 05. Researching Sudan - A perspective on contemporary Sudan. Consulté le 15 juillet 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/148fk