Schlagwort-Archiv: Sudan National Museum

Museums and Heritage in Sudan

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by Huda Magzoub Elbashir, October 2025

Opinion of Officials on the Attack, Theft, and Looting of the Sudan National Museum:

Dr. Ghalia Garinabi, Director General of the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), described the incident as a „humanitarian catastrophe“ that poses a significant threat to Sudan’s cultural heritage. She expressed her deep regret over the incident and condemned the looting of the museum.

Details of the Attack and Theft:

  • The museum was subjected to extensive looting and destruction, with over 100,000 artifacts stolen, including gold pieces, jewelry, and valuable historical artifacts.
  • Some of the stolen artifacts are believed to have been smuggled out of Sudan, with some spotted in neighboring countries like South Sudan.
  • The museum suffered significant damage to its infrastructure, including the destruction of laboratories and workshops.

Reactions and Efforts:

  • International Cooperation: Sudanese authorities are working with international organizations to recover the stolen artifacts and hold those responsible accountable.
  • Investigations: Authorities are conducting investigations to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
  • Awareness: Efforts are being made to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Sudan’s cultural heritage and combating artifact smuggling.

Dr. Ikhlas Abdel Latif, Director of Museums Administration and Head of the Unit for Tracking and Recovering Stolen Artifacts, described the incident as a „great calamity“ and stated that it was a systematic theft by the Rapid Support Forces. She noted that the attackers targeted the most valuable and lightweight artifacts, and destroyed some that they couldn’t carry, reflecting their barbaric treatment of Sudan’s heritage.

Abdel Hai Al-Sawai, Director of the Archaeological Discovery Department at the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), believes that Sudan’s antiquities have been exposed to significant risks due to the war, especially in Khartoum. He emphasized that the National Museum in Khartoum was the most affected, looted, and stolen, as it contains many eras of Sudan’s ancient history, in addition to the warehouses that hold thousands of artifacts from various eras.

Impact of the War on Museums and Antiquities:

  • Destruction of Museums: Many museums and archaeological sites outside the capital were damaged, including the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Darfur.
  • Looting of Antiquities: Many priceless historical artifacts were looted from the National Museum in Khartoum, and many other archaeological sites were affected.
  • Assessment and Restoration Efforts: Efforts are underway to assess and evaluate the damage, with plans to restore damaged museums and recover stolen artifacts.

International Condemnation:

  • United Nations Human Rights Office: Condemned the gross human rights violations in Sudan, including attacks on museums and archaeological sites.
  • European Union: Strongly condemned the gross human rights violations in Sudan and called for the protection of cultural heritage and archaeological sites.
  • United States: Condemned the attack on civilians and cultural heritage.

Scorched Ruins and Remnants of the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in El Fasher city was partially destroyed due to shelling in October 2025. This attack sparked widespread condemnation and was considered by authorities and international organizations as a serious violation of Sudan’s cultural heritage.

The museum housed valuable artifacts and important historical documents, and its destruction is a significant loss to Sudan’s heritage.

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies expresses its deep concern over the systematic targeting of cultural and historical sites by warring parties in Sudan. The destruction of historical sites by warring parties is a deliberate act aimed at erasing the history of the Sudanese people, particularly in the Darfur region, and attempting to eliminate symbols that unite communities in the region.

Support from Global Museums:

Global museums can provide effective support to the Sudan National Museum through:

  • Technical and Expert Support: Providing experts in archaeology and restoration to assess damage and identify stolen artifacts.
  • Financial Support: Funding projects to restore the museum and recover stolen artifacts.
  • Diplomatic Support: Pressuring governments and international organizations to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage and recover stolen artifacts.
  • Media Support: Raising awareness about the importance of preserving Sudan’s cultural heritage and combating the importance of combating artifact smuggling.

Die Melodien der Frösche in Khartum sind einfach wunderbar. Herbst im Sudan

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The end of autumn in Khartoum brings about changes in nature and the environment, marked by an unusual surge in frog populations.

Sudanese Beliefs, Spirituality, and Interpretations of Frogs

In ancient Sudanese culture, frogs, known in the Nubian language as „Qa’ownja“ or „Qa’wa,“ held significant spiritual and symbolic meaning. During the Meroitic period, the frog was revered as a deity associated with love and rain. An artifact displayed in the geographical exhibit at the National Museum of Sudan depicts a frog near the Nile River, symbolizing its importance.

In traditional Sudanese beliefs and ancient religious practices, the presence of frogs in a place where humans live, especially in homes, has multiple interpretations. The interpretation of frogs in homes varies across cultures, religious beliefs, and spiritual practices. Here are some possible interpretations:

Folk Beliefs:

  1. Bad Luck or Change: In some cultures, the presence of frogs in the home is considered a sign of bad luck or impending change. This may be interpreted as a signal to pay attention to upcoming problems or challenges.
  2. Fertility and Abundance: In other cultures, frogs are seen as symbols of fertility and abundance. Their presence in the home may be interpreted as a sign of good fortune and blessings.

Religious and Spiritual Beliefs:

  1. Spiritual Messages: In some spiritual beliefs, frogs are considered symbols of transformation and spiritual growth. Their presence in the home may be interpreted as a sign of the need for change or spiritual growth.
  2. Negative Energy: Sometimes, frogs are viewed as attracting or absorbing negative energy. Their presence in the home may be interpreted as a sign of negative energy that needs to be cleansed.

Dreams and Personal Interpretations:

  • Dreams: If you dream of frogs in your home, it may symbolize certain emotions or upcoming events in your life. The interpretation of the dream depends on your feelings towards the frogs in the dream and the overall context.
  • Personal Interpretation: The presence of frogs in your home may have personal interpretations based on your experiences and memories. Some people may see frogs as symbols of fun and nature, while others may see them as symbols of anxiety or fear.

In general, the interpretation of frogs in the home depends on the cultural, religious, and personal context of the individual. It is essential to consider your personal feelings and experiences when interpreting these signs.

Museums, antiquities, heritage, and the ongoing war in Sudan II

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After a long silence, the Sudanese antiquities and heritage, which have been ravaged by destruction, looting, and theft, are celebrating the Ministry of Culture and Information’s approval of international laws and conventions related to the protection of Sudanese heritage from looting, wars, and theft. This news is a beacon of hope that will push forward the protection of heritage in Sudan. The efforts of the state to protect the heritage in Sudan, represented by the antiquities stolen during the war in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, are notable. There are several promising signs that this agreement will bring if the state is keen to swiftly implement it.

In this context, I will discuss some aspects related to these agreements, hoping that the international community will provide all possible support. I will review with you some aspects and questions related to the importance of these agreements for Sudan’s antiquities and heritage.

Firstly, what is the benefit of the Cultural Property Convention? And what is the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects? The 1995 UNIDROIT Convention aims to protect cultural heritage by establishing general legal rules for the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects. The importance of this convention lies in:

– Protecting cultural heritage: It contributes to protecting cultural property from theft and smuggling and promotes international cooperation for its recovery.

– Facilitating the return of cultural property: It provides a legal mechanism for the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects, making it easier for countries to recover their cultural heritage.

– Enhancing international cooperation: It encourages cooperation between countries to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage and combat illicit trafficking in cultural property.

– Protecting cultural identity: It contributes to protecting the cultural identity of countries and communities and promoting a sense of belonging and pride in cultural heritage.

– Combating illicit trafficking: It contributes to combating illicit trafficking in cultural property and promoting transparency and accountability in the trade of antiquities and cultural objects.

In general, the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention aims to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage and the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects, and to promote international cooperation in this field.

Secondly, what are the consequences of delaying the implementation of these conventions, especially for the collections of the National Museum? Delaying the implementation of international conventions for the protection of antiquities and heritage in Sudan and the National Museum can lead to several negative consequences, including:

– Increased looting and theft: Delaying the necessary measures to protect antiquities and heritage can increase the chances of looting and theft of museums and archaeological sites, as happened in the National Museum in Khartoum, where many rare artifacts were looted and stolen.

– Destruction of cultural heritage: Delaying the protection of antiquities and heritage can lead to their complete destruction, especially in the context of armed conflicts and wars, where archaeological sites and museums are subjected to bombardment and destruction.

– Loss of cultural identity: Cultural heritage plays a significant role in defining the identity of peoples, and losing it can lead to a national identity crisis.

– Difficulty in recovering stolen artifacts: The longer the delay between the theft of artifacts and the necessary measures to recover them, the more difficult it becomes to recover them, especially if they are sold on the global market or smuggled out of the country.

– Impact on scientific research: Losing cultural heritage and antiquities can make it difficult to conduct scientific research and archaeological studies, affecting our understanding of Sudanese history and culture.

– Negative impact on tourism: Cultural heritage and antiquities play a significant role in attracting tourists, and losing or destroying them can negatively impact the tourism sector in Sudan.

Examples of destruction include:

– The National Museum in Khartoum: It was looted and raided, and trucks loaded with artifacts left the museum, resulting in the loss of important artifacts.

– Nyala Museum: All the properties and museum collections were looted.

– The Khalifa Abdallah Museum: It was looted and parts of the building were destroyed.

– The Naga’a and Musawwarat area: It was attacked by the Rapid Support Forces, and videos were filmed inside the archaeological sites.

– Jebel Barkal: A World Heritage site that faces significant challenges due to urban and agricultural expansion, which could lead to its removal from the list.

Efforts to protect heritage include:

– The National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums: It works to recover stolen artifacts and track them through Interpol and international security institutions.

– UNESCO: It tries to coordinate efforts to protect Sudanese heritage by enhancing cooperation with local and international organizations.

– Civil society organizations: They play a significant role in highlighting the importance of antiquities and heritage and advocating for their return.

Thirdly, how can international laws and conventions be applied to protect Sudanese heritage, such as what was looted from the National Museum in Khartoum? To protect heritage in Sudan, international laws are applied through several mechanisms:

– UNESCO’s role: UNESCO works to promote the protection of cultural heritage in Sudan, especially after reports of looting and destruction of museums and archaeological sites. The organization has sounded the alarm and expressed deep concern about these actions.

– International cooperation: UNESCO encourages the international community to make joint efforts to protect Sudanese cultural heritage, including preventing the illicit trafficking of antiquities and cultural objects.

– Training and awareness: UNESCO provides training courses to enhance the capabilities of local authorities in the field of cultural heritage protection, in addition to raising public awareness about the importance of preserving heritage.

– Damage assessment: UNESCO works to assess the damage to archaeological sites and heritage in Sudan, including using satellite images to identify affected sites.

– Support for artists and local communities: UNESCO provides support to artists and local communities in Sudan through the establishment of art centers and cultural programs that help pre serve cultural heritage.

Regarding the National Museum in Khartoum as an example, several measures can be taken to protect the looted heritage, including:

– Recovery of stolen artifacts: Working to recover stolen artifacts from the National Museum and other museums in Sudan.

– Preventing illicit trafficking: Working to prevent the illicit trafficking of Sudanese antiquities and cultural objects through cooperation with local and international authorities.

– Documenting damage: Documenting the damage to the National Museum and other archaeological sites in Sudan to present it to the relevant authorities to take necessary measures.

The Ministry of Culture’s approval of international conventions related to the protection of Sudanese heritage is a positive step towards protecting heritage in Sudan, especially in the face of challenges posed by wars and conflicts.

Museums, antiquities, heritage, and the ongoing war in Sudan

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By Mrs. Huda Magzoub Al-Bashir, Senior Curator of the Sudan National Museum, Khartoum (status: 14th Oct. 2025)

Mechanisms for protecting museums and antiquities in Sudan

The mechanisms for protecting museums and antiquities in Sudan are divided into two parts:

Firstly: The mechanism for protecting the building with its contents. This is further divided into two parts in terms of importance:

1. Archaeological, historical, and heritage buildings, where preservation is more important and requires greater care and caution. This also includes museums and field museums.

2. Museum collections, archaeological, historical, and heritage collections, whose preservation depends on the preservation of the building in which they are displayed, after careful selection of the site, method, and materials of construction, and the importance and concern of the state in doing so.

Secondly: The state’s mechanism for paying attention to museums, antiquities, and heritage, as a symbol of national sovereignty and identity, and any negative interference with it requires swift and necessary response.

Prior planning:

Establishing a museum under state sponsorship requires prior planning to protect it from internal and external threats and to adopt a sound and effective method for preserving it.

Mechanism based on supporting national security awareness to protect antiquities and museums and the right to swift intervention through those in charge of managing museums, antiquities, and heritage in Sudan, by following pre-planned methods to protect archaeological collections in museums and rescue them to safe areas or routes.

Mechanism for preserving museum collections:

This mechanism is the primary work mechanism in this field and is represented by:

– Museum collections themselves, in terms of collecting, restoring, documenting, displaying, publishing, preserving, and making copies of them.

– In this context, when feeling insecure, relying on the experiences of some countries that have previously preserved the originals of collections, antiquities, and artifacts in safe places and displayed copies of them to avoid theft or attacks, even if it requires returning them to the ground or to secret storage until safety is ensured.

Insurance mechanism through security agencies recognized and approved by the state to protect museums, antiquities, and heritage in Sudan.

These security agencies must receive adequate training to qualify them to preserve and protect collections and their locations, including museums.

Armed defense mechanism:

This mechanism is only allowed to be used in case of an attack on museums or their contents. It requires a deadly defense by specialized agencies to do this work and make the security of museum facilities part of national security.

Avoiding exposure of archaeological museums and their heritage to looting:

To avoid exposure of museums with rare archaeological collections to looting, especially in cases of armed threat, requires prior efforts based on:

– The state’s interest in its heritage and collections, whose loss would affect the state’s dignity, strength, and prestige.

– Several aspects and methods can be followed to avoid exposure of museums, antiquities, and museum collections to looting, theft, and aggression:

    1. Increasing and developing insurance and its methods, according to modern techniques of theft, and benefiting from the experiences of other countries.

    2. Addressing and cutting off corruption in all aspects related to the management of museums, antiquities, and heritage in Sudan.

    3. Financial preparedness can play an important role in avoiding exposure of museums to looting, by providing the necessary resources for protection and security.

    4. Working continuously to raise cultural awareness of the importance of museums, especially among security agencies, and instilling a sense of national duty to defend this heritage.

    5. Seeking international cooperation and assistance from organizations concerned with protecting museums, antiquities, and heritage worldwide.

    6. Establishing laws and deterrent penalties that must be put in place in agreement with the state and adopted internationally in case of exposure of museums, antiquities, and national heritage to looting, especially by armed parties.

About the situation in Sudan

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Our recent five-week season in Sudan in February and March was very impressive on many levels – I will report on this elsewhere on this blog. Today I am delighted that the Austrian Academy of Sciences has published an interview with me about the situation on the ground.

In this interview, I describe some of my impressions of everyday life in a war-torn country, explain why the conflict is far more than a ‘battle between two generals’ – and what archaeological research can do for the future of the country.

Sudan must not be ignored. The cultural heritage is under threat, but also the drone attacks and killings continue, despite of the liberation of the capital Khartoum. We need international support and joint efforts at many levels, including supporting NCAM in assessing the looting in the Sudan National Museum.

‚Digging‘ in the Sudan National Museum storeroom

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This MUAFS/DiverseNile season is divided in two fronts: there will be simultaneous work on site and in Khartoum. I’m working in the storeroom at the Sudan National Museum together with Shadia Abdu and the assistance of various colleagues from NCAM with the aim to document objects previously excavated by Vila in the region from Attab to Ferka. This is a crucial step for us to better understand the sites located in the project’s concession area and to design future excavation and research strategies, especially concerning the cemeteries I’m investigating for DiverseNile’s work package 2.

The storeroom of the Sudan National Museum is an endless source of invaluable information about all things Sudan and Nubia. It’s a great privilege and amazing experience to be able to go through drawers and shelves containing not only all sorts of objects, but also glimpses of the history of archaeology in Sudan, including the drawer cabinets themselves, which were designed by Arkell to contain ancient objects (fig. 1). Arkell later brought the same design to the Petrie Museum in London. 

Fig. 1: drawer cabinet designed by Arkell at the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum (photo by R. Lemos, courtesy of the SNM)

The objects kept at the SNM hold an enormous research potential not only for us to re-contextualise archaeological sites, but also to carry out new analyses and answer questions that archaeology back then didn’t really think about asking. For example, reassessing the pottery from various tombs is important for us to understand the (re)use history of archaeological contexts inside and around cemeteries (fig. 2).

Fig. 2: a selection of the vessels I’m re-documenting, mostly from tomb 3-P-50 at Ginis West (photo by R. Lemos, courtesy of the SNM)

Tomb 3-P-50 at Ginis West is one of the most important burial contexts that I’m currently looking at. After some preliminary observations based on material published in the 1970’s, I was able to put forward some questions and hypotheses that help us move research forward. Now I have the chance to carry out a first hand study of some of the objects from inside tomb 3-P-50—including my favourites, the pretty shabtis of lady of the house Isis (fig. 3). This is important as it allows me to ask more in depth questions to move forward.

Fig. 3: one of the green faience shabtis of lady of the house Isis from tomb 3-P-50 at Ginis West + SNM object card (photo by R. Lemos, courtesy of the SNM)

It’s a great opportunity to be able to work in the Sudan National Museum storeroom. As a material culture person, I feel privileged and humbled to be able to handle with my own hands the results of years and years of archaeology in Sudan, carefully kept by our wonderful colleagues at NCAM. Working inside the SNM is certainly a great way of closing this dreadful year. May the next year be better for all of us! Cheers from Khartoum!

Getting ready to fly to Sudan

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The Christmas weekend is just about to end, and I am currently packing my last suitcase – despite of omicron & the pandemic, but of course with much caution and aware of the most recent political developments in Sudan, we are getting ready to fly to Khartoum tomorrow.

It will be a very brief season with a tiny team – just Rennan, Cajetan and I will travel. One focus of our planned work is on the study & documentation of object’s stored in the Sudan National Museum, coming from Vila’s survey in the 1970s in the present MUAFS concession. Rennan will focus in particular on ceramics and small finds from some of the New Kingdom tombs. Especially Ramesside material is highly interesting and raises many questions concerning the continuity of sites in the pre-Napatan era.

Up in the north, at our excavation house in Ginis East, I will focus on some logistics, preparing the upcoming excavation season planned for spring 2022. I also plan some survey work with our inspector and Cajetan will concentrate on setting survey points and taking measurements.

Of course, we will keep you updated – maybe not during the season, depending on the quality of the internet and connection.

Hoping that most of our plans will work out, but also very much prepared for surprises and the need to improvise, I am just really very happy to be soon back in Sudan, after almost 2 years!

Back in 2020: a short visit to the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum

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A year ago today, the last official steps of our 2020 season of the MUAFS project were carried out, I submitted all paperwork to the Sudanese authorities and we were getting ready to leave Khartoum – of course not knowing that a) a sandstorm will delay our flight out, b) because of the extra night in Khartoum we will just catch the last flight to Munich from Istanbul before flights were closed in Turkey because of the pandemic and c) it will take us more than a year to return to Sudan.

One of my personal rituals I have developed in the last 10 years is that on the occasion of my last day in Khartoum, I always try to visit the Sudan National Museum, at least the garden with its wonderful monuments, but preferably the galleries with its treasures as well.

The entrance of the museum with rams of Kawa showing king Taharqa. Photo: J. Budka.

My first visit to the museum was exactly 20 years ago – but the building and its treasures impress and inspire me deeply every time anew. The Sudan National Museum in Khartoum clearly belongs to my favourite museums, together with the splendid Aswan Nubian Museum and the Luxor Museum in Egypt.

A glimpse into the ground floor gallery housing Egyptian, Napatan and Meroitic statues and much more. Photo: J. Budka.

It is always a great pleasure to give newcomers of the team a special tour though the museum – last year this was Jessica and we had the luck that our dear friend and colleague Huda Magzoub joined us. This photo shows us in the entrance alley to the museum together with one of the marvelous Meroitic lion sandstone statues of Basa, representations of the lion-god Apedemak.

The last selfie I took back in Khartoum in 2020: Huda, Jessica and me in front of one of the Basa lions.

I can just recommend to everyone: do not miss this marvelous museum and please calculate several hours for your visit – the ground floor gallery is full of important objects from all areas of Sudan, from Palaeolithic to Post-Meroitic times. And the upper floor gallery focusing on the Christian Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia is equally a must, featuring the world-famous wall paintings from the cathedral in Faras (a very useful guide through the collection is available online for free).

One of the impressive ceramic vessels in the museum: a painted Meroitic fine ware bowl. Photo: J. Budka.
Another stunning object from Meroitic times: a glass chalice of highest quality from a tomb in Sedeigna. Photo: J. Budka.

Like at Aswan, I think the most charming aspect of the museum is its garden. Here, one can visit complete temples (the splendid New Kingdom temples of Buhen, Semna-West and Kumma) and one rock-cut tomb (of Djehuti-Hotep) but also a large number of statues, including monumental royal statues, reliefs and rock art respectively rock inscriptions are exhibited.

The entrance alley of the Museum flanked with Meroitic lion statues. Photo: J. Budka.

I very much hope that my yearly ritual of a stroll through this wonderful collection and enjoying the view of the monuments in the garden will be possible again soon, hopefully somewhen later this year.