Inside the lives of three Sudanese women performers: negotiating gender, the media and culture

Abstract

This article provides a discursive space for the voices of three Sudanese women singers who have different life experiences and have different agencies regarding their subject positions as ghanayaat/fananaat (performers) and as women. The article explores how the fananaat negotiate their position as female singers through highlighting their perceptions of the songs they perform which are referred to in Sudan as Aghanii al-Banaat (girls’ songs). Aghanii al-Banaat are songs that are usually performed in women’s gatherings in Central Sudan such as weddings, naming parties, and other gatherings. Moreover, the article will also dwell on the artistic experiences of the three women performers: the ‘other’), and through highlighting their artistic experiences as fananaat. In addition, the article discusses the relationship of the three fananaat with institutions (such as the media and record production companies).