Khartoum, a City of Sharp Contrasts

Posted on August 31, 2007
Filed Under Sudan, Islam, Culture, Intoxication |

In many ways, Khartoum is a city of sharp contrasts. A donkey cart, overtaken by a brand new BMW on the same road might seem like an impossible scene, but it is a real one you can actually witness. The huge economic gap between the rich and the poor is the most obvious, but there are other contrasts that exist below the surface.

Wild parties in the religious conservative city where alcohol is illegal under Islamic law happen quite frequently behind closed doors. At these parties you can expect the unexpected.

Some mansions in the middle of farms along the Nile were built by their rich owners with the sole purpose of making them easily convertible into dance clubs - they are designed with built-in sound systems wired to speakers and subwoofers in all rooms, including the bathroom. Wherever you go, the DJ’s choice of hip-hop and trance music goes with you. The alcohol flows freely. Sometimes cocaine, marijuana, heroin and ecstasy “flow” along too. Many girls arrive at the scene covered up from head to toe, except for the hands and face. Once inside, they take off their long garments to reveal the scant stylish outfits underneath them. Outside, private security stands on guard to make sure the religious police don’t come. If they do show up, they’re simply bribed away.

Continue reading here. ;)

Comments

11 Responses to “Khartoum, a City of Sharp Contrasts”

  1. Pajamas Media on August 31st, 2007 3:29 pm

    Wild Parties in Sudan…

    PJM Khartoum: What goes on behind closed doors (and contrary to Islamic law) in the Sudanese capital? Drug and alcohol-fueled dance parties for one thing. “The Sudanese diaspora, slowly returning to their homeland, is bringing along with it tons of……

  2. No Angel on August 31st, 2007 6:45 pm

    “The influx of foreigners and the returning Sudanese diaspora have greatly changed the face of the city. The peace agreement and economic boom had a noticeable effect too. The city is becoming more open. Upper-middle class Arab-oriented Sudanese girls are increasingly becoming more influenced by what they see on Arab music television channels, and by popular American singers like Beyonce and Alicia Keys.”

    lol a very magical statement now let me add something to that for perfection,Upper-middle sudanese boys are becoming so influenced by what they see on tv and by popular singers like 50 cent and eminem they are starting to actually behave like they could become them! there,thought it a bit unfair for the girls there. but all in all i dont blame them i think the root of the problem is the parents….

    “Interestingly, but not surprisingly, a small and steadily growing Chinatown has taken root. Besides attending parties behind closed doors, many foreigners like to go and hang out in the restaurants of Chinatown to enjoy the “special tea”, which is basically cold beer secretly served inside a large Chinese-style tea pot.”

    No?! lol are you sure about this? and just out of curiosity what are those beer-serving restaurants of chinatown? i would love to drop by and check them out..the “wild parties” they do occur at least for a fact from time to time but silly me i always thought it was only the UN and coptic club new year parties,HA! well thats where graduation day came and proved me wrong,i was literally Dumbstruck!

    “And while all of this happens, far away from the city, Darfur still suffers, but hardly anything registers in the collective psyche of most of Khartoum’s residents. They have too many worries and distractions of their own.”

    TRUE,but here is the thing i’ve always thought that when it came to darfur,everybody would be watching it coming in the news commenting a “poor people”or specifically speaking”yahlelun masakeen” and resume doing whatever they were doing well WRONG!
    People in Sudan well majority speaking(i know this from experience)they are not bad or cold hearted they just need someone to tell them to get up and do whatever,or you can help by doing so and so.i mean consider this you can write or blog for darfur spread the word about it to this generation at least but not everyone drima is capable of doing so,what? sm1 may say then how about spreading it word-of-mouth,sudanese people perfect that but is it efficient enough to stop misery? no its not.and beilive it or not as time passes people become dead overcome by their helplesness and gradually shutting it out and catagorising darfur as another piece of daily news,frustrating isnt it?
    and here i go babbling again i just hope i kinda got my point across…

  3. Drima on August 31st, 2007 7:20 pm

    No Angel, don’t worry I got your point and I know exactly what you’re talking about. Most of us don’t give a shit about Darfur, not because we don’t care about what’s happening there, but simply because we’ve allowed hopelessness to consume us. Some will also give you the typical conspiracy theory bullshit about how there’s nothing happening in Darfur and that it’s just an exaggerated Jewish conspiracy, bla bla bla.

    Mushkilatna walai inu ani7na binnazir kateer. Tanzeeeeeeeeeer and more tanzeer. That’s it.

    As for the alcohol serving Chinese restaurants, there are a few of them. There’s one in Alriyad.

    And man, if you really want to go for the serious wild parties infested with drugs, alcohol and slutty babes, get to know the right people and head to Soba! One word. Nasty! Hahaha! ;)

  4. Drima on August 31st, 2007 7:26 pm

    “sudanese boys are becoming so influenced by what they see on tv and by popular singers like 50 cent and eminem”

    Grrr… tell me about it. It’s pretty dumb if you ask me. I really hate how hip hop has become so over commercialized now. Too much garbage out there and many of these Sudanese boys are sadly loving it. I miss old school hip hop!

  5. No Angel on August 31st, 2007 8:17 pm

    lol,yea i know everything literally everything,starts with a “alyahud deil” its funny,
    and hey you cant be talking about little asia,they do that no! that place is cute although i have to admit the food isn’t as cute as the place,i wudnt recommend it..:)
    Trust me drima i wudnt even go there,lol the graduation experience is all i could digest currently so yea no soba for me..

    “Too much garbage out there and many of these Sudanese boys are sadly loving it. I miss old school hip hop!”
    It is pretty sad i personally think its ok to love it i mean its irresistible music in the end,but just dont idolize it,i mean it bugs me sometimes of how the mere fact of coming from America or any other western world can make you become an idol around here,lol to the point people start lying about where they come from its hilarious,this dude once told me he comes from new york and im like where from new york he said Illinois,i was like i thought that was in chicago?? i think he hates me now yea anyways its just sad whatever happened to patriotism? people are just so engulfed about the wrong things these days.
    but hey i still do strongly beilive a change is going to happen all over hopefully in all of us inshallah inshallah inshallah,just more time and more hard work.lol i think im on the verge of singing
    “we are the world” sing along anyone?!

  6. Notes from a Sudanese Thinker « Full Metal Cynic on September 1st, 2007 12:23 pm

    […] Notes from a Sudanese Thinker “In many ways, Khartoum is a city of sharp contrasts. A donkey cart, overtaken by a brand new BMW on the same road might seem like an impossible scene, but it is a real one you can actually witness. The huge economic gap between the rich and the poor is the most obvious, but there are other contrasts that exist below the surface. Wild parties in the religious conservative city where alcohol is illegal under Islamic law happen quite frequently behind closed doors. At these parties you can expect the unexpected.” Read more. […]

  7. Asma Ana on September 1st, 2007 8:28 pm

    Hi Drima,
    As a Southerner who grew up during the repressive ’90s, I can tell you that I learnt to drink in Khartoum. So all along, booze has been in plenty in Khartoum if you know where to get it. Certainly, being from a more liberal culture where alcohol is a must in every social occassion, we never really believed in all that shit about prohibition. We learnt to be careful not to be detected. I can tell you of the many wonderful binges I have had with the awlad al Arab who were my friends.

    Talking of slutty babes, scantily clad in Western attire, that isn’t news to me too. I went to a rich school and the rich in Khartoum were above the Islamic laws. How else did I taste Hinekine at a friend’s house? And I am not talking of poor Junubeen but the rich so called Arabs.

    Last thing, I think your blog rocks! Let’s all drink to slutty babes, booze, and the death of all religious fundamentalists!

    Cheers!
    Asma

  8. Drima on September 2nd, 2007 2:09 am

    LOL!

    Thanks Asma :)

  9. halalhippie on September 2nd, 2007 7:14 pm

    “Let’s all drink to slutty babes, booze, and the death of all religious fundamentalists!” yaaa! :-)

    God loves sinners…

  10. Life in the Horn of Africa « Friends Seminary - International Relations on September 10th, 2007 9:29 pm

    […] about Sudan, but life in Khartoum also sounds fascinating.  Like many developing world cities, wealth and poverty rub shoulders on the streets.   The Sudanese Thinker gives us a tease about the house parties of Khartoum: Some […]

  11. Global Voices Online » Does anything good ever happen in Africa? on September 14th, 2007 11:06 am

    […] of The Sudanese Thinker authored a revealing article entitled “Khartoum, a City of Sharp Contrasts” about the alcohol and drug-fueled, wild parties that happen behind closed doors in the […]

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