The Singer and the War.. Assim Al-Banna’s Communication with “Kikel”

In this article, I will do my best to maintain neutrality towards the singer Asim Al-Banna, as much as I can. Not only because he spoke with “Kikel” in good faith, and was attacked by many people, but because there seems to be a strange agreement between the “Blabsa” and those who reject the war to question his integrity. This is the first time these two parties agreed on something since the beginning of the war.

First of all, there is no relationship between me and Mr. Assim, and I have never seen him in person. All I know about him is that he is a singer with his own audience, and by the way, each of us must respect the artist who has an audience; because he is considered part of our social classes.

That is why I don’t believe that speaking with someone who rebeled against the authority of Port Sudan, or the authority of Wad Madani, is a crime, even if we aren’t related. Personally, if I find the opportunity, I will drink tea with “Kikel” if he extended the invitation. Then I would ask him for a press interview to make the audience aware of his opinions.

I will ask him how he transformed overnight from a national hero for the Islamists -when he was running the homeland shield for them to besiege the revolutionary government- to their biggest disobedient son, where there is no difference between him and Hamdok. Rather, I will seek to communicate with “Kikel” continuously via “Gmail” to talk in private and in public. The constant in a mature democracy -as you are very much aware- is that people are equal, so don’t grant the journalist a right, and limit the singer or a political activist from exercising said right.

As for if I was invited to meet Al-Atta, I will do so only at the Port Sudan Airport, and I will ask him if he has read any of his neighborhood’s son -and our teacher- Hassan Mukhtar’s writings.

The truth is, Assim is a good singer, and he doesn’t want his family, social, and artistic status to be tarnished. Therefore, he didn’t defend his right to freedom as a person who is solely responsible for his actions. He simply responded to the club’s difficult conditions that make anyone who hasn’t trained in opposition stumble along the way.

The difference between me and Assim is that journalists like us, are free and not afraid of the “insults” of the new media, the oligarchic class, the National Congress Party, the anger of the progressives, the radicals, the Movements, and even the middle class of Omdurman. Of course, in the history of Sudan, we found that politicians sit with the “rebels” openly and secretly, even though they aren’t related, while all Wad al-Banna did was communicate with his relative via “WhatsApp.”

After tens of thousands died because of his planning of the “Mercenary Raid ” as they called it, “Sadiq al-Mahdi” embraced “Nimeiri” in Port Sudan and became a member of his political bureau.

Al-Mirghani Abu Hashim became one of the fighters of the Islamic Movement with the gun that killed soldiers of a government that was a symbol of nationalism. As for Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, she met “Garang” one day and said what she said.

Ten years later, she embraced al-Bashir, whose security personnel killed Dr. Ali Fadul with a nail to the head, and the picture is there. Let’s not forget that Wardi sang for Al-Bashir in a gathering. But it’s different when it comes to poor Assim Al-Banna who doesn’t have a spear, an army, an old and modern media, or Resistance Committees affiliated with him.

On the other hand, let’s imagine “Assim” and “Kikel” are on good terms, and they exchange chivalric and enthusiastic poems, while in reality and in front of his people, he is a war advocate, where is the problem exactly ? Our positions when it comes to kinship shouldn’t be influenced by politics if we disagree on a patriotic issue.

How many of the sons of the three classes find relatives in the Army and the Rapid Support Forces, and they communicate on Facebook and Instagram. Sometimes you come across two brothers from the “Messiria” tribe, one of them is affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces and the other with the Armed Forces. If the Army or the Rapid Support Forces hacked one of their phones, and found that they were discussing family affairs and their displacement, does that mean that they are both betraying both parties to the conflict ?

Assim Al-Banna -if he is one of the artists who are compassionate towards his family- is required not to sever ties with his relative just because of his audience’s fear of the “Blabsa”. The Islamists, especially if they find a chance to survive, will shake hands with “Kikel” and embrace him tomorrow if the negotiations in “Switzerland” succeed and we achieved the long-awaited peace.

Thus, the singer would lose a cousin for no good reason, first. Second, he should join his fellow cultured artists who sing for life, not death. The artist isn’t just a voice, but rather the conscience of his people who lead, not be led.

Do not try to assume that just by communicating again with “Kikel” you can bring him to fight alongside the Army and the Islamists until other innocents die alongside the Rapid Support Forces. Rather, tell him and his leader, “Come to an agreement, and I guarantee you both that I will convince the leader of Al-Bara’ Brigade not to increase his tweet count in which he threatens Al-Burhan with the junior officers if he responds to imperialism, and thus the Army Commander will cross the sea to secure the agreement, and then the tragedies of the Sudanese people will come to an end.”

Be a true artist, my friend, calling for an end to the war. Rather, say: Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace.