Rainbow Sudan Magazine

sexuality in ancient Egypt

Sexuality in ancient Egypt was open, untainted by guilt. Sex was an important part of life – from birth to death and rebirth. Singles and married couples made love. The gods themselves were earthy enough to copulate. The Egyptians even believed in sex in the afterlife. Sex was not taboo. Even the Egyptian religion was filled with tales of adultery, incest, homosexuality and masturbation… with…

we profiled Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani’s “An Intimate Geography” exhibit at the Lahd Gallery. This week, we sat down for an interview with the artist himself.

Sara for MMW: I noticed that you never explicitly mention Islam in your work. Was this intentional?

Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani: I wanted to move away from Islam, because I do not like to classify based on religion. I do this because I feel as though everyone is spiritual, and that is the best way to be in touch with your inner self. I also wanted to steer clear of stereotypes.

MMW: While the hijab was not a focus of your work, it was still featured. What was it meant to symbolize, or what was its role?

AQ: I showed a hint of everything—religion, belief, culture. Hijab is just a part of what many people wear.  I am not really concerned with the political issues around hijab, I just used it in a playful way. The hijab was supposed to represent being Arabian or Middle Eastern.

MMW: What was the central message to this particular exhibition?

AQ: I wanted to critique the double standard that exists. People are expected to follow cultural rules and guidelines like sheep, yet they believe that they are open-minded because they wear ‘cool clothing’. Some believe that things such as drinking or wearing different clothing makes you “progressive” but I disagree with this.

MMW: One criticism I had of the exhibition was that you state that this is meant to represent the Middle East, but I felt as though it might be more representative of the Gulf (your own background). What is your response to that?

AQ: I was critiquing gender roles in general. While there might be a Gulf based theme, I feel as though many of the ideas can be applied to the entire Middle East, such as arranged marriages, or gender roles and responsibilities within a marriage.

MMW: What was your motivation for this particular exhibition?

AQ: Throughout the years, I’ve seen so much. Many of the double standards or taboos are seen, but not spoken about in a formal way. Usually spoken about in whispers, and so I was trying to show the human side of the Middle East, through a visual critique.

MMW: So, the divide between public and private played a large role in your work?

AQ: Yes, I wanted to bring such things out in the open, because they should be discussed.

MMW: So from what you are saying, you seemed to have a particular aim for visitors from Middle Eastern backgrounds. What was your intended impact on non-Middle Eastern visitors?

AQ: I wanted to address an issue. Terrorists are the minority, and there are other people in the Middle East. People are still human, and still impacted by pop culture—and many of the same struggles and cultural experiences.

MMW: Earlier, we spoke a bit about double standards. Could you elaborate on some of these double standards in relation to Islam?

AQ: I am critical of how people allow traditions to change and manipulate religion. Some can make religion appear to be harsh because they read what they want from their respective holy books, and do not look at the entire picture. When religion is manipulated according to tradition, that is when I think many misunderstandings occur, and abuse of religious texts for personal gain. As I mentioned before, I do not like to delve into religion, because I think it is far more important to be spiritual within yourself, rather than focusing on classifying oneself within a particular religion.

MMW: What is the future direction of your work?

AQ: In the future, I will be doing a more photographic series, featuring film and illustrations. I have a controversial perspective that I use to make my argument, and this will be central to my future work.

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Malcolm X and Sudan

This article was originally published in Sudanese Community and Information Centre – London.

Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) is by far one of the most influential activists of our time and increasingly so among the current Muslim generation that has gained ‘a new  kind of consciousness’. In  a time where Islamophobia has been on the rise in the West since 9/11 and Muslims are seeing…

Sexuality , Politics And Religion and Society

Although the many achievements and success of the on-going and previous LGBTQI movements and organizations in the West, and Europe the LGBTQI communities   in other parts such as Africa still deprived of basic human and social rights. Intolerance and discrimination towards homosexuality is especially in conservative religious countries, such as Sudan is one of the countries that been severely…

Anti-gay laws were introduced to Africa by Western colonialists. Now, as former colonisers recognise LGBT rights Africa is still stuck in the past, writes Val Kalende

Human Rights are not optional!

LGBT rights are human rights. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals are humans and are therefore entitled to ALL Human Rights; let no politician, religious leader or any bigot tell us…

الخرافات المتداولة عن المثلية الجنسية

هنالك الكثير من الخرافات المتداولة عن المثلية الجنسية، هذه العشرة الأكثر شيوعاً.

“المثلية الجنسية هي خيار”

ليس هناك دليل علمي للقول بأنك يمكن أن تختار بين أن تكون مثلياً أو مغاير الجنس. إنها فقط الطريقة التي تشعر بها في داخلك، والطبيعة التي ولدت عليها.

“المثلية الجنسية غير طبيعية – وهي داء أومرض عقلي”

المثلية الجنسية هي جزء طبيعي من الحياة الجنسية البشرية. الأفكار التي تقول بأن هناك شيء…

The Myth of African Homosexuality

Recently, anti-gay bills have passed through the governments in Nigeria and Uganda, sparking debate across the continent. While African LGBT groups have held safety meetings, President Jammeh of Gambia referred to homosexuals in his country as ‘mosquitoes’ and ‘vermin.’ And in Nigeria men merely suspected of being homosexual were marched through the streetsof Abuja naked and beaten with wires,…

ختلف النضج الجنسيّ لدى الأطفال ذوي التحدّيات الخاصة بعدد من الميزات عن تطوّر الأطفال الذين هم بدون تحدّيات في النمو. نتيجة لذلك، من الضروري أن يكون الأهالي على علم بما ينبغي توقعه في المراحل المختلفة من التطوّر النفسيّ- الجنسانيّ، بدءًا من الطفولة وحتى البلوغ. ، تجربة “المصّ” في مرحلة الرضاعة، ومداعبة الأهل وتحسسهم لجسد الطفل تشكلان مرحلة مهمة وأساسية في التطوّر النفسي- الجنساني لدى الأطفال…

When opinion article on homosexuality makes headline news in Sudan

A comment in a closed discussion group against homophobia makes headline news in Sudanese newspapers -six months later.

December 28, 2013 – Today Sudan is at war, the country is facing the biggest economic and social crisis since independence- yet a comment I made, against homophobia in a closed group of Sudanese intellectuals has made headline news- six months after the comment was made.

Initial…

التعصب والكراهية والإجحاف – إنها لظواهر بشعة لبشرية مريضة. يمكن هزيمة العنصرية وسوف يتم هزيمتها ويجب هزيمتها.”     كوفي عنان، الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة

العنصرية هي مجموعة الأفعال والمعتقدات التي تقلل من شأن شخص ما كونه ينتمي لعرق أو لدين أو خلفية معينة. كما يستخدم المصطلح ليصف الذين يعتقدون أن نوع المعاملة مع سائر البشر يجب أن تحكم بعرق وخلفية الشخص متلقي تلك المعاملة، وان المعاملة الطيبة يجب أن…

الدفاعات النفسية والرغبات الجنسية ثنائية التوجه

لدفاعات النفسية والرغبات الجنسية ثنائية التوجه تاريخ الاضافة 19/05/2012 12:28:17 تاريخ التحديث 23/10/2012 02:24:52  المشاهدات 6107    معدل الترشيح 0 الكاتب:  د. سداد جواد التميمي ملفات جنسية     البلد: العراق – المملكة المتحدة

التوجه الجنسي والمصطلحات النفسية: هناك عدة مصطلحات فيها بعض من الغموض رغم أنها تحتوي على كلمات يفهمها الجميع وربما أشهرها هو مصطلح التوجه الجنسي Sexual…

AFRICA, Front Line Defenders

Front Line Defenders issued 37 urgent appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk in  19…

Sudanese WHRDs at The Frontlines

The report on the Situation of Sudanese Women Human Rights Defenders, reflects the situation of…

Act for Sudan

About

Act for Sudan is an alliance of American citizen activists and Sudanese U.S. residents who…