Image from Aljazeera via Google.

The poets Dalia Elhassan and Safia Elhillo sold copies of their poetry collections for $20 each and donated the proceeds to the revolutionary efforts and emergency medical aid in the ongoing revolution in their home country of Sudan. Both made the announcements on 7 June: Elhassan, inspired by similar efforts by the art designer Dar Al Naim and accessories designer House of Lolia, put 40 copies of her set-to-be-launched In Half Light up for sale, with “100% of proceeds. . . to support the revolutionary efforts on the ground,” and Elhillo, inspired by Dar Al Naim and Elhassan, put up 20 copies of The January Children, with “all proceeds going to emergency medical aid.”

Dalia Elhassan. Image from her website via Google.

See their tweets.

By 9 June, Elhillo’s 20 copies had sold out.

On 10 June, Elhassan’s 40 copies also sold out.

Safia Elhillo. Image from TCB Book Club.

The Sudan Revolution started on 19 December 2018 when demonstrations broke out due to rising costs of living and deteriorating economic conditions, and then calls began for President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power since 1989, for 40 years, to step down. In February, he declared a state of emergency. In April, following massive protests, he was removed in a military coup. But the Sudanese people continued to call for the military to step down for a civilian-led transition. On 3 June, in what is now known as the Khartoum Massacre, 100 people were killed by the military, who even opened fire on people in medical facilities. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) has since called for nonviolent “complete civil disobedience” and “open political strike.” Symbolized by a viral video in April of 22-year-old Alaa Saleh speaking into a megaphone, the Revolution has been described as led by women.

Thank you, Dalia Elhassan and Safia Elhillo.