Rasha is the stage name of Rasha Sheikh Eldin, a Sudanese singer and percussionist born in Khartoum in 1971. She grows up in Sudan’s capital, where Islamic Nubian and Black African musical traditions meet, and comes from a musical family of twenty children.

She later moves to Spain, where she begins work on her album Sudaniyat. The record draws on a wide range of Sudanese music, including Arabic poetry, Sufi music and reggae touches. Its arrangements centre on oud and percussion, with guitar, bass, violins, accordion and a Sudanese big band supporting her vocals.

Sudaniyat is named by Folk Roots editor Ian Anderson as one of the 10 best albums of 1997. Rasha describes Sudanese music as varied, more melodic and often more melancholic than much other African music, while also distinct from Arabic music despite sharing some qualities with it.

Work and themes

Rasha’s music reflects her interest in presenting native Sudanese music to a wider audience without restricting it to purely traditional themes. Her work also centres on social justice, women’s rights and human rights for refugees.

Activism and performances

She performs at the United Nations Working Women’s Day celebration in 1998. She also travels to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria to raise awareness of Western Sahara refugees who remain there for many years.

Family and connections

Her brother Wafir lives in Spain and is a member of Radio Tarifa.