Riyadh celebrates Sudanese heritage in cultural week finale

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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20. (SPA)
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Updated 15 December 2025
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Riyadh celebrates Sudanese heritage in cultural week finale

  • Visitors experience sounds of dalooka, rababa in lively spectacle
  • Global Harmony 2 initiative has offered an integrated cultural experience highlighting 14 cultures

RIYADH: The Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20, attracting visitors from a variety of nationalities to diverse cultural performances, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Ministry of Media has organized the events as part of the Global Harmony 2 initiative, in cooperation with the General Entertainment Authority and the Quality of Life Program.

Held at Al-Suwaidi Park, one of Riyadh Season’s zones, the week began with a celebratory parade featuring traditional Sudanese music which included the sounds of the dalooka and the rababa. A traditional Sudanese bridal procession was the subject of a tableau that also engaged visitors.

Sudanese Culture Week also includes musical concerts, entertainment sections, and cultural pavilions, with participation from Sudanese singers and influencers presenting activities that reflect the cultural diversity of the country’s regions and communities.

The event’s stage hosted the opening concerts, which were attended by thousands who enjoyed rababa performances and popular Sudanese songs.

Citizens and residents explored Sudanese culture through its folk arts, traditional music, and customs.

The celebration marks the final week of the Global Harmony 2 initiative’s cultural events. These have built on the program’s success in promoting cultural exchange and showcasing the cultures of communities residing in the Kingdom, reflecting the values of coexistence and cultural openness.

Over more than 40 days the Global Harmony 2 initiative has offered an integrated cultural experience highlighting 14 cultures.

Indian Culture Week was the first in a series featuring countries from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.

Other weeks have placed the spotlight on regions such as the Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Bangladesh, Yemen, Uganda, and Ethiopia, providing traditional arts and music, cuisine, and social activities.

The initiative has included more than 100 artists and creators presenting artistic and musical performances, along with areas showcasing traditional cuisine, clothing, handicrafts, and family-friendly interactive activities.

It has received wide acclaim for highlighting the lives of residents in the Kingdom and the services provided to them.


Art Basel Qatar reveals details ahead of inaugural 2026 edition

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Art Basel Qatar reveals details ahead of inaugural 2026 edition

DUBAI: Art Basel Qatar has unveiled details of its inaugural edition, set to take place in February 2026, offering a first look at the Galleries sector and its Special Projects program that will activate in Msheireb Downtown Doha.

Alongside presentations by 87 galleries showcasing works by 84 artists, Art Basel Qatar will stage nine large-scale, site-specific commissions across public spaces and cultural venues in Msheireb. Curated by Artistic Director Wael Shawky in collaboration with Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer Vincenzo de Bellis, the projects respond to the fair’s central theme, “Becoming.”

Spanning sculpture, installation, performance, film, and architecture, the projects explore transformation in material, social, and political terms, addressing environmental change, migration, memory, and identity. Participating artists include Abraham Cruzvillegas, Bruce Nauman, Hassan Khan, Khalil Rabah, Nalini Malani, Nour Jaouda, Rayyane Tabet, Sumayya Vally, and Sweat Variant (Okwui Okpokwasili and Peter Born). Highlights include Nauman’s immersive 3D video installation at M7, Malani’s monumental outdoor projection on the M7 façade, and Vally’s evolving majlis conceived as a living space for gathering and dialogue.

The Galleries sector brings together exhibitors from 31 countries and territories, with 16 galleries making their Art Basel debut. More than half of the participating artists hail from the MENASA region, reinforcing the fair’s regional focus. Gallery presentations range from iconic figures such as Etel Adnan, Hassan Sharif, and MARWAN to contemporary voices including Ali Cherri, Ahmed Mater, Sophia Al-Maria, and Shirin Neshat.

Galleries from across the region will participate, including those with outposts in Gulf states including Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

The wider Middle East and Asia will also be represented, including galleries from Lebanon, Turkiye, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and India.

Art Basel Qatar will run from Feb. 5-7 across M7, Doha Design District, and other locations in Msheireb Downtown Doha.