The singer Ashraf Al-Blaik in an interview with (Al-Ahdath): I am a (self-made) artist with no peers

The singer Ashraf Al-Blaik in an interview with (Al-Ahdath):

Declaring bankruptcy was a vote for me

I am a revolutionary and support the army

I am a (self-made) artist with no peers

Dialogue – Magda Hassan

The artist Ashraf Al-Balik, a member of the Union of Musical and Acting Professions in Sudan, has talents in singing, writing poetry, composing and arranging music. Everyone knows him as an activist in social charity work, as his colleagues say that his hands are good for everyone.

Al-Blaik did not leave the city of Omdurman throughout the year of the war, which wiped out his savings as work stopped.

About two weeks ago, Al-Blaik wrote on his Facebook account in which he announced his bankruptcy and inability to fulfill his family’s obligations after all his sources of income had stopped due to the war, noting that he ran out of options, which forced him to ask for help in this way.

‘Declaring my bankruptcy was not easy.’ This is how he began to tell his story, as he thought and considered a lot before he had the courage to ask for help.

“Declaring my bankruptcy was not easy, however it is a reality. I had multiple sources of income other than singing, but they have stopped, especially since I am inside the city of Omdurman, all the available work has stopped, so how can I support my family.” He said.

The vote

He said that the step would be a vote for him, from his acquaintances, friends, fans, and lovers. Luckily, he found interaction without hesitation. “What I wrote was a description of the condition of the Sudanese citizens in the war, their condition, their livelihood, their level of income, and in particular a description of the condition of the artist community, as the singer relies on his voice, the musician relies on his fingertips, and the actor relies on the stage.” He said. “These are details that I addressed personally, but they represent many people who are stranded.” He added.

Good deeds

Al-Blaik confirmed that the circumstance that he went through included many people, some of whom were patient and some remained silent due to the war’s circumstances that included everyone, and there were those who feared that they would not find a response in this bad circumstance. Although, what made him have courage and ask to vote this step, despite its difficulty, was that during the past years he had been doing many charitable works.  “These are efforts that people know about, and I do not like to disclose them, but they include an initiative to treat media artists, journalists, and actors. If treatment is difficult in Sudan, the patient is transferred to Cairo with contributions and donations, and sometimes from my own sources.” He said.

Al-Blaik’s need, as he said, was real. He could not be patient with it any longer and preferred to ask for help from his brothers, loved ones, and followers of his Facebook page, and he found a great response that did not stop at solving his problem only, but also took with it the solution of several other cases.

Revolutionary

Despite these circumstances and hardship, the artist Ashraf Al-Blaik is working on a group of new songs, a number of which are enthusiastic songs in support of the army.

“One’s circumstances and situation in the events are what teach him where to stand. I consider myself a revolutionary. I was one of the pillars of the leadership in the glorious December revolution, and my position is known by description, however, I was against many things in the past, but my stance with the army now is in support of what is right. From my perspective I must stand with the army because I saw things in the city of Omdurman that no one could imagine, where families that I know were subjected to horrific thefts, looting, murders and rapes that it is impossible for anyone to imagine.” He said.

With the legitimacy

Al-Blaik believes that the war will stop sooner or later, but he stands with the right side which has legitimacy. “We stand with the army because it is right and the militia is wrong. In fact, the militia does not want to achieve democracy, rather, it kills, loots, and arrests without reason, and rapes girls. Sudanese have never seen such things before, and that did not happen in the safe areas of the army’s control.” He added.

“Whenever the war stops and peace prevails, Ashraf will sing for peace.” He continued. “We all say yes to peace, but as long as the war is going on and it is not our decision, we will not have any influence on it even if we all shouted “no to the war!” because those controlling the war are from foreign countries and the view of the great powers towards Sudan is not the case.” He said.

He believes that stopping the war is a decision in the hands of the commanders of the army, the Rapid Support, and the countries sponsoring the war. “The war is sponsored by countries, just like as series, programs, and movies. When these countries lift their hands and decide to stop the war, then it will stop, but no matter how much we adopt the peace line, it will not be achieved.” He said.

Self-made artist

As the proverb that says, “Whoever has his hand in water is not like him who has his hand in fire,” Ashraf says that his position is not similar to the positions of artists who say، “no to war.” from abroad.

“I am in the middle of the war and my father was injured. He had an operation at a cost of two million Sudanese pounds. I was greatly damaged by the RSF.”  He said. “My position will always be with the army, and even after the end of the war I will support the military institution, and we hope for a civilian government and for the army to return to its duties of securing the borders.” He added.

Circumstances did not make singer Ashraf El-Bleik lose his sense of humor, and he responded when asked about his peers by saying, “I am a self-made singer and I have no peers.”