Sudanese Moments

Sand in my Eyes

Published on Jan 31, 2024

Sharing a book with you that I have treasured for a decade: the beautiful photographs of Sudan and its people by Enikö Nagy. Sand in my Eyes presents a unique portrait of the many peoples living in Sudan.

Sand in my Eyes: the photographs

This book is a visual treasure of Sudanese cultures and their diversity. The photos are colourful, lively and full of movement: beads swinging across a head, dust twirling in a wrestling match, cattle moving.

Others are tranquil: a detail of jewellery, a tasbih or prayer beads hung on a tree, hands clasped in a moment of rest.

There is an incredible number of jewellery and dress sprinkled throughout the book: photos of a silversmith in his workshop, men and women wearing beads, bracelets, necklaces…These images, from various parts of the country, present a colourful impression of dress and adornment in Sudan.

And it’s not just dress and adornment, of course: you will read fortune in a cup, travel with herds across the plains, place your sandals at the entrance of a house, drink from a calabash, join in dance, wrestling, prayer and song. Admiring the photographs will take you on a journey through Sudan that feels both intimate and relatable.

Sand in my Eyes: the wisdom

But this book is more than a collection of photos. With every photograph, a quote has been included. This can be a proverb, lines of a song, a tale that has been passed down through generations. Through these, the soul of its people accompanies the photographs themselves.

As an archaeologist, the saying ‘He who has nothing old has nothing new’ (p. 241) resonated with me – but there are many more gems like this!

It is these fables, legends, rituals, poems and other texts bring the depth of Sudan’s cultural heritage across, and that is why this is one of my treasured books: nothing brings you closer to people than learning what they think, believe, wish and dream.

Sand in my Eyes: a portrait of Sudan

This book is a beautiful portrait of Sudan. It contains vibrant photographs of people from over 45 tribes and brings you their thoughts, hopes, fears and wisdom. The texts are both in English and Arabic.

The book is structured in five parts, following the five daily prayers that guide the rhythm of life for these communities. And much to my joy, it contains extensive notes and references, so you will be able to understand the texts in their cultural context – and read more! Especially in these days, seeing the beauty of Sudan and learning about its people helps us feel connected to the many people suffering as a result of war.

I love this book, and I think you will, too!

Sand in my Eyes. Sudanese Moments. By Enikö Nagy (2014). 800 pages, full-colour, in English and Arabic.

Available  with the author on the project website.

I purchased the book a decade ago.

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