For millennia, immigrants and invaders from the Mediterranean and the Middle East have come together and blended with African ethnic groups to produce peoples of great beauty who share a turbulent past and rich cultural heritage. Sudan has numerous ethnic groups divided into clans and sub-clans that speak hundreds of languages and dialects and are faithful to different religions. The majority of Sudan’s 38 million people are Muslim, but most of the southern ethnic groups follow traditional religions and many have converted to Christianity over the last century.

Armed conflict, drought and famine have plagued Sudan since its independence in 1956. A peace agreement in January 2005 ended Sudan’s bloody civil war between the largely Arab north and the African south, putting people in both regions on a challenging journey to create a nation in which all Sudanese can live and prosper together. At the same time, however, the death toll from the conflict in Darfur, where more than 2 million people have been displaced, continues to climb. Darfur rebel groups and the Sudanese government are in negotiations to find a solution to the area’s problems.

Bordered by nine nations, Sudan holds the key to regional stability and prosperity. It has long had the potential to be the engine of economic development for the whole of northeastern Africa. Sudan’s wealth lies not only in its plentiful natural resources, but in its ethnic and cultural heritage. This exhibition, augmented by the lavishly illustrated book and informative text, together with an Education Guide geared for secondary school and university students, will help American audiences to better understand this little-known region.