Author, Photographer

Enikö Nagy

Local Guides

Mojo Mohamed Daoud, Muammar Algadhafi Muhieldin,
Nusreldin Eldouma, Dr Ahmed Zakaria Ismail, Abbas Eltigani Mohamed Salih

Contributors to Literature & Text Work

Mustafa Al Sawi, Mohamed Al Khatim Mohamed
 Ibrahim, Dr Mohamed Al Bagir,
Mohamed Al Sadiq Al Haj,
 Mohamed Ahmed Jumaa, Abu Bakar Al Amin,
Dr Hamad Omar Hawi Al Tom,
 Abdel Munim El Shazali, Mamoun Hussein,
Sharif Mamoun Mohamed, 
Ibrahim Al Bozai, Shadiya Abdel Munim, Mohamed Ghazal

Language

Aisha Maniar (English),
Sam Berner (Arabic)

Layout & Design

Heidi Lippert (Book),
Beate Bittner (Travelling Exhibition),
glutrot GmbH (Web)

Film

Alyaa Sirelkhatim, Katharina von Schröder (Co-editors),
Alyaa Sirelkhatim, Abdelbagi Al Zubeir (Camera)
Production: SAND IN MY EYES

With Special Thanks to

Zain Sudan
Sixt Rent A Car of Sudan
Daleelteq Ltd of Sudan
Bank of Khartoum
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan
glutrot GmbH

And

Rushdi Hamid (Business Advisory),
Margret Otto (Test Reading),
Dr Andreas Mäckler (Distribution)

Memo

"The most valuable thing I have learned through this experience is something people perhaps do not notice, and that refers to my readings in sociology as a discipline. There are incorrect definitions. I mean the terminology of ‘primitive societies’ describing the third world, of which we are part of as African societies. As students we hear a lot of this in our lectures – it took this journey to prove to me it was incorrect. There is no such thing as a ‘primitive’ society. Every society has its particular characteristics and ways of expressing itself, which is different from others."

Dr Ahmed Zakaria Ismail, a general practitioner from the Nuba Mountains, joined part of the journey through South Kordofan

"My colleagues and I spent hours debating the book, and the best way to transmit local expressions in their oddness. I have seen many of these images all my life, in homes and markets, and they seemed ordinary to me. Seeing them through someone else’s eyes, I ask myself now, why did I not see this beauty? We don’t value our own beauty. Someone else left her own country to write about us and about our cultural elements that might disappear without care for them. It was a feat that it could even be completed in Sudan in the first place. The least I could do was help her."

Mohamed Alkhatim Mohamed Ibrahim, translator and lecturer at the Translation Unit, University of Khartoum, contributed pro bono translation work to the book project over two years

"The idea of this book is about putting your preconceived ideas aside and finding something completely new. It is also a challenge: what do you know about yourself and about the world around you? That’s what the pictures are ultimately asking. It is not just about Sudan, Sudanese people and their culture. It is about everyone and their intangible heritage on this planet. The world is changing fast. Countries change. There is social unrest, civil unrest and climate change. As people move to the cities, their major concern won’t be agriculture, their families or ceremonies anymore but earning a living, which means concepts vanishing for all of us. It is a part of all of us that won’t exist anymore."

Aisha Maniar, a professional translator from the UK donated more than four years of English linguistic work to the project and visited Sudan first in 2014, for the book launch

"I heard about the project through a common friend, as culturally sensitive Arabic editing was needed. Sudan. I spent 22 years working there, knew the place, the culture, since my early childhood. I remember being shown some of the photos, and thinking to myself, she’s got it right. She sees with her heart. The next three years was a journey back into my own past; every text I worked on, every photo I saw, evoking memories of smells, tastes, sounds and emotions that were almost tangible. The book engages all these senses. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth every moment of it."

Sam Berner, an Australian translator, editor and researcher, donated Arabic linguistic work to the project through four years

"This work reasserts the Sudan people knew when I was growing up: generous, friendly, and an incredibly hospitable people. Sudan's current international image shows a political situation, but is not the story of a people who remain resilient, humorous, and accommodating, something I have always been proud of. It shines a light on the Sudanese character. It is an opportunity for young people in Sudan to reconnect with those sayings, wisdoms and stories you can easily become disconnected from. The book places that there as a permanent record. There is something universal about it. These sayings and wisdoms have an immediate impact and relevance wherever you are."

Rushdi Hamid, British-Sudanese, provided advice on business and legal matters concerning the project, first on behalf of DALEELTEQ, and then out of personal interest for several years

"We got to see Sudan from a different angle, not how we thought it was. Before we took off, I believed, or thought, that I knew Sudan very well: its various tribes, customs and traditions, because of my profession. I work in theatre. I found out that what I knew is but a grain of sand in the desert. I discovered that only if we were able to reach into all corners of Sudan that we would be able to discern the Sudanese people, who they really are."

Muammar Alghadhafi Muhieldin, actor and director, joined long parts of the journey and with his theatre group BESHAISH the Sand in My Eyes shadow theatre was created

"Sand in My Eyes was an enlightening encounter with the farreaching cultural process of visualization and safeguarding of culture and social interaction. In Central Europe, our “cultural memory” has long become image and written word. It is fascinating to experience first-hand the diversity and depth of Sudanese culture and wisdom to take shape in a form tangible for us. The project is a precious treasure in building co-existence of cultures in tolerance and understanding."

Michael Roth, glutrot GmbH. The company has over many months and pro bono tailored a website to the spirit of Sand in My Eyes