Hi, I’m Mosab Abushama, (@_abushama) a photographer and filmmaker from Sudan. Over the course of 15 months, I documented life during the war in Omdurman through my photography project TADWEEN, a series that captures the essence of daily existence amidst conflict and upheaval. My work has garnered recognition from prestigious organizations and received several awards.I am currently pursuing my MFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
TADWEEN:
In Arabic, the word Tadween traditionally refers to the act of recording—capturing news, opinions, and emotions through writing, photography, audio, or video. However, since the outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, Tadween has taken on a grim new resonance, aligning with its military connotation in the country, where it now signifies ‘artillery bombardment.’
Today, Tadween echoes the relentless sounds that have filled the air since April 15, 2023— the unceasing roar of shelling that has become a part of daily life in Sudan. It is a form of documentation, not just of stories or events, but of the stark reality faced by the Sudanese people during this era of war. What we document now will shape our future. Yet, so many stories remain untold, trapped in places too dangerous to reach, hidden behind the veil of chaos and fear. As long as these stories remain inaccessible, our future will remain bound to the fragmented memories of the past.