Sudanese 'wazzas' ring out to mark harvest

The wooden horn instrument looks like a didgeridoo and was used to celebrate the halt in violence in the Blue Nile

Dafallah Al Haj Ali Mustafa, 51, founder and general director of the Sudanese Traditional Music Centre and assistant professor of music and drama, plays a traditional 'wazza' instrument in the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman. All photos: AFP

Near the lush fields of his village in Sudan's southern Blue Nile state, locals craft a traditional horn-like instrument.

Across the Blue Nile State communities, the instruments have been used for generations to usher in the harvest season, which typically begins in November after the wet season.

After more than 120 people were killed in clashes over access to land in Blue Nile state in July, the wazza was also played to celebrate a halt in violence.

Little is known about its history, but the wazza has strong links to rituals performed by the communities of the Blue Nile.

Wazzas, which are particularly common among the ethnic Funj people in Sudan's south, and vary in size, with some as long as two metres.

The size of each instrument determines its tone range, and wazza players perform in a band of up to 13 members.

Dr Dafallah al-Haj Ali Mustafa, 51, founder and general director of the Sudanese Traditional Music Centre and assistant professor of music and drama, plays a traditional "Wazza" instrument at the centre in the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman on September 10, 2022. - Near the lush fields of his village in Sudan's southern Blue Nile state, locals have crafted a traditional horn-like instrument used for generations to usher in the harvest season. Across the Blue Nile State communities, the instruments are used to celebrate the harvest season, which typically begins in November after the wet season. (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP)

A traditional "qarn" instrument made from cow horn, which is played with the wazza.

A traditional 'affeh' instrument that is played with the wazza.

A set of wazza instruments of various sizes.

Traditional wazza instruments, right, the qarn instrument made from an animal horn, third left and the affeh, left.

Ali Mustafa pours water down the pipe of the traditional wazza instrument to wet and soften it before playing.

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