This project is a collaborative idea between Bashir Al Gamar and Best Foot Music. Bashir has spent much of his life, using his music and poetry to raise the voices of people affected by conflict, and to support the people in Sudan, especially around the village he grew up in. Over the Years he helped supply books and educational materials for the village school as well as the upkeep of buildings in the village. He also worked with the villagers to build the areas first clean water well, after cholera had become a major health risk in the area.

Since the start of the civil war in April 2023, it is estimated aver 150’000 people have been killed and over 12 million have been forced to flee their homes. There are widespread reports of war crimes and genocide, and an estimated over 600’000 people are at risk of famine. In July 2024 Amnesty International reported large numbers of recently manufactured weapons and ammunition were being transported into Sudan from China, Russia, Turkey, Yemen, the UAE and Serbia. The UAE purchases arms from the United States, France and UK.

Bashir has been using money raised from his concert bookings to support people affected. Via his networks and connections, he is able to send money via people in Egypt directly to those who have had to flee.

About the album

The music is available via Bandcamp as digital download of physical CD. Full production costs of this project were covered by donations, Bandcamp take a small admin fee, to cover their costs, everything else will go directly to Bashir to distribute via his networks to those people affected by the war.

Bashir has been playing Oud since his teenage years, he composed his first song in 1989 (there is a new recording of this on the album called ‘Bul Bul’, a type of bird). In early 1990’s he was pulled off stage, during a concert by the Sudanese regime, who imprisoned and tortured him, believing his music was critical of the regime. He managed to escape to the UK with his family and has lived in Brighton since 1993, where he has become a much loved musician and part of the community. His songs are highly regarded by other Sudanese musicians, many of who have recorded versions of them. This album features brand new studio recordings with Bashir, made in the music studios at Northbrook College, in Worthing and a collection of his songs as recorded by other Sudanese artists. Due to the complete destruction of infrastructure in Sudan, the only way artists could contribute songs was to send them via WhatsApp and for us to remaster them in the UK. While there is some slight sound degradation, this reflects on some of the realities of the situations faced by people having to flee conflict. Much of this music has not been released in the UK before and we’re really excited about people being to hear it, while supporting people affected by the war in Sudan.

Globally 90% of wartime casualties are civilians.
In 2024 the Global arms budget reached 2.46 Trillion US $.
Every penny from the sale of this album will go to people affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Album artwork and images of Bashir’s village in Sudan. Unfortunately because if the war, most people have now been forced to flee.