Can a Song Change a Conflict?

Introduction

In western Sudan, some of the most influential keepers of communal memory have not been chiefs, judges, or soldiers. They have been women with powerful voices. Known as hakamat, these female poets and singers have long played a public role in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, using praise, satire, and storytelling to shape reputations, celebrate courage, condemn cowardice, and preserve the history of their communities. Their songs belong to Sudan’s wider oral tradition, but they are distinctive because they can influence real-world decisions, social status, and even the course of conflict. Scholars, peacebuilding organisations, and Sudanese communities alike have recognised that the words of a hakama can carry extraordinary authority.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

For readers interested in Sudanese folklore and oral culture, hakamat demonstrate that traditional song is not merely entertainment. It can be a form of social power, a living archive, and, at times, a force capable of encouraging either violence or reconciliation.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

Who the hakamat are

The hakamat tradition is most closely associated with pastoral and tribal communities of Darfur and Kordofan in western Sudan. A hakama is a respected woman poet and performer whose role may be inherited, formally recognised by her community, or earned through talent, charisma, and reputation. Her performances comment on events as they happen, making her both an artist and a public commentator.[Safeguarding Sudan's Living Heritage]sslh.infoSafeguarding Sudan's Living Heritage Reflecting on the social impact of HakamatSafeguarding Sudan's Living HeritageReflecting on the social impact of Hakamat - SSLH MuseumThe hakamat (pl.) are women poetesses and sin…

Unlike many folk singers whose work is largely ceremonial, hakamat traditionally occupy a position of unusual authority. Ethnographic studies and oral-history accounts describe them as women whose eloquence and judgement give them influence over community opinion. Through song, they can reward honourable behaviour with public praise or damage reputations through ridicule. Because reputation is central to many pastoral societies, such praise or criticism can have tangible social consequences.[Wikipedia]WikipediaMusic of SudanMusic of Sudan

The tradition also challenges common assumptions about gender and authority. Outsiders often imagine women in conflict zones primarily as victims of events controlled by men. The history of the hakamat reveals a more complex reality. These women have sometimes acted as influential political voices whose words are listened to by elders, warriors, and entire communities.[OpenEdition Journals]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

Praise, shame and public memory

The power of hakamat comes from three connected functions: praise, shame, and memory.

Praise songs celebrate bravery, generosity, loyalty, successful leadership, or service to the community. A person honoured in song gains prestige not only in the present but also in collective memory. Through repeated performance, a hakama can help transform a local event into part of a community’s remembered history.[Wikipedia]WikipediaMusic of SudanMusic of Sudan

Just as important are songs of criticism. Traditional hakamat could mock cowardice, selfishness, or failure to meet communal expectations. In societies where honour and reputation matter deeply, public ridicule carried weight. Men who feared becoming the subject of a scornful song might change their behaviour to avoid embarrassment. Researchers studying western Sudan have repeatedly noted that this ability to praise or shame gives hakamat unusual social influence.[Wikipedia]WikipediaMusic of SudanMusic of Sudan

Their songs also function as a form of oral archive. Before widespread literacy and written record-keeping, important events were often remembered through performance. Hakamat preserved stories of disputes, alliances, migrations, heroic deeds, and family histories. In this sense, they acted as guardians of collective memory, ensuring that communities retained a shared understanding of their past.[Safeguarding Sudan's Living Heritage]sslh.infoSafeguarding Sudan's Living Heritage Reflecting on the social impact of HakamatSafeguarding Sudan's Living HeritageReflecting on the social impact of Hakamat - SSLH MuseumThe hakamat (pl.) are women poetesses and sin…

For folklore researchers, this role is especially significant. The songs are not simply artistic creations; they are vehicles through which historical memory, social values, and communal identity are transmitted from one generation to another.[PhilArchive]philarchive.orgThreads of Sand, Scar & Scriptureby D Vale · 2026 — The Hakamat are poets and singers of Western Sudan—women whose power is…

Can a song encourage war?

One reason hakamat have attracted international attention is the belief that their songs can influence conflict.

Numerous studies and reports from Darfur describe how some hakamat traditionally performed songs celebrating martial courage and urging men to defend tribal interests. In periods of tension, praise poetry could reinforce expectations of bravery and honour. Critics argued that certain songs encouraged retaliation, glorified violence, or intensified intercommunal rivalry. During the Darfur conflict of the 2000s, aid organisations, journalists, and researchers frequently highlighted the role of influential singers whose performances were believed to affect attitudes toward fighting.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

At the same time, scholars caution against treating hakamat as simple causes of conflict. Songs operate within larger political, economic, and social tensions. A performance may reinforce existing sentiments, but it does not create wars by itself. The attention given to hakamat partly reflects the fact that they are visible and culturally distinctive figures in communities already experiencing conflict.[OpenEdition Journals]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

This debate is important because it reveals how folklore and oral tradition can intersect with practical political realities. In western Sudan, song has never been entirely separate from public life.[Ayin Network]3ayin.comAyin NetworkArt in Sudan and its role in promoting peace – Ayin network7 Oct 2025 — While poetry can inspire peace and reconciliation, it…

From war songs to peacebuilding

Perhaps the most remarkable chapter in the modern history of the hakamat tradition is the effort to redirect its influence toward peacebuilding.

Beginning in the years after the outbreak of the Darfur conflict, international organisations, Sudanese activists, and local community groups increasingly sought the involvement of hakamat in reconciliation initiatives. The logic was straightforward: if respected singers could encourage hostility, they might also encourage coexistence, dialogue, and restraint. Programmes across Darfur worked with hakamat to compose and perform songs promoting peace, discouraging revenge, and encouraging cooperation between communities.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

These initiatives did not simply replace old traditions with new messages. Instead, they often relied on the same cultural mechanisms that had always given hakamat authority. Songs still praised desirable behaviour and criticised harmful actions, but the qualities being celebrated increasingly included reconciliation, community harmony, and peaceful dispute resolution.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

Examples from South Darfur and neighbouring regions show elder hakamat revising lyrics and mentoring younger performers to spread messages of peace rather than revenge. Some participants explicitly described themselves as transforming a respected traditional role to meet new social challenges.[Rights for Peace]rightsforpeace.orgwomen hamakat eldersRights for PeaceDarfur's Women 'Hamakat' elders revise songs for peace25 Feb 2021 — Hakamat are traditional female singers and lyricists…

The effectiveness of these programmes remains debated, and researchers note that cultural interventions alone cannot resolve deep political conflicts. Nevertheless, the very fact that peacebuilding organisations invested in hakamat demonstrates how seriously their influence was taken.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

Why the tradition still matters

The story of the hakamat is ultimately about the power of words. In many discussions of folklore, songs and stories are treated as remnants of the past. The hakamat tradition shows something different: oral culture can remain active in shaping contemporary society.

Today, hakamat are often discussed as examples of women’s leadership within Sudanese cultural life. Their legacy also provides insight into broader Sudanese traditions of oral poetry, public performance, and the social authority of singers. Modern artists, activists, and scholars continue to draw connections between these older traditions and contemporary forms of cultural expression and political commentary.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaShaden GardoodShaden Gardood

For anyone exploring Sudan’s folklore, the hakamat offer a striking lesson. A song can preserve memory. It can shape honour. It can strengthen divisions. And, under different circumstances, it can become a tool for reconciliation. Few traditions demonstrate more clearly how oral culture can influence the real world beyond the performance itself.[openedition.org]journals.openedition.orgOpenEdition JournalsHakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012by NRI Adam · 2016 · Cited by 6 — This article looks into how peacebuilding projec…

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Can a Song Change a Conflict?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

African Folktales

By Roger D. Abrahams

Explains oral performance traditions across Africa.

See on Amazon

Book

Oral Literature in Africa

By Ruth Finnegan

Essential framework for understanding praise poetry and oral performance.

See on Amazon

Book

A History of Modern Sudan

By Robert O. Collins

Provides social and political context for hakamat influence.

See on Amazon

Book

Women of Darfur

By Amira Osman

Provides context for women's public voices and cultural authority.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:African FolktalesOral Literature in AfricaA History of Modern Sudan

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

eBay marketplace picks

Marketplace Samples

Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.

Shop location

UsingUSA USA USAUKCanadaAustraliaIreland

Example eBay listing

Song Lyric & Photo - Personalised - A4 or A3 - Can be framed

SearcheBay.co.uk: song poster

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

Personalised Song Lyric Print | Custom Music Quote Poster | Any Song & Colour

SearcheBay.co.uk: song poster

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

Spiral Lyrics Song Poster Personalise Your First Dance or Favourite Frame Option

SearcheBay.co.uk: song poster

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

Personalised Song Poster Print Your Choice of Song and Photo - Available Framed

SearcheBay.co.uk: song poster

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Browse more oneBay.co.uk

Example items shown for inspiration; availability and pricing can change. Branchoria may earn a commission if you purchase through outbound eBay links.

Endnotes

1. Source: journals.openedition.org
Link:https://journals.openedition.org/ema/3595

2. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Music of Sudan
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Sudan

3. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sudanese literature
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_literature

4. Source: philarchive.org
Link:https://philarchive.org/archive/VALTOS-2

5. Source: journals.openedition.org
Link:https://journals.openedition.org/ema/pdf/3595

6. Source: kaiciid.org
Link:https://www.kaiciid.org/node/24691/printable/print

7. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Shaden Gardood
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaden_Gardood

8. Source: sslh.info
Title: Safeguarding Sudan’s Living Heritage Reflecting on the social impact of Hakamat
Link:https://www.sslh.info/en/posts/reflecting-on-the-social-impact-of-hakamat

9. Source: 3ayin.com
Link:https://3ayin.com/en/art-/

10. Source: iwpr.net
Title: female singers stir blood darfur
Link:https://iwpr.net/global-voices/female-singers-stir-blood-darfur

11. Source: rightsforpeace.org
Title: women hamakat elders
Link:https://www.rightsforpeace.org/post/women-hamakat-elders

Additional References

12. Source: unwomen.org
Link:https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/gender-alert-three-years-of-war-sudanese-women-on-the-frontlines-of-humanitarian-and-local-peacebuilding-efforts-en.pdf

13. Source: academia.edu
Title: (PDF) Invisible Women: Poets Participating in Hostilities
Link:https://www.academia.edu/39914832/Invisible_Women_Poets_Participating_in_Hostilities

14. Source: reliefweb.int
Title: Relief Web Hakamas Promote Peace-building in Darfur
Link:https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/hakamas-promote-peace-building-darfur

15. Source: andariya.com
Title: war and hate speech the weaponization of language
Link:https://andariya.com/post/war-and-hate-speech-the-weaponization-of-language

16. Source: search.proquest.com
Link:https://search.proquest.com/openview/2e0108cf800df7acaebc0f869864d6ec/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar

17. Source: womensliteracysudan.blog
Link:https://womensliteracysudan.blog/2021/05/18/her-words-slayed-dragons/

Published: May 2021

18. Source: researchgate.net
Title: 316456503 Hakamat and Peacebuilding 2004 2012
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316456503_Hakamat_and_Peacebuilding

19. Source: youtube.com
Title: Beni Halba Dancers Perform Al Katim
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf_6CwXr_gI

20. Source: youtube.com
Title: HAKAMAT CALLING SUDAN
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvn8mmxrGwo

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: Hawa Ramadan
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HCAsPPs9ro