March 29th, 2026: Cultural Food Traditions Project: Sudan
See photos from the event here!
Want to continue learning and find ways to support Sudan on the ground?
Sara Elhassan (@bsonblast on Instagram) is a brilliant writer, researcher, editor, and commentator and has been doing the critical work of documenting/covering all the happenings in Sudan since the very begining of the war. You can find several links to donation pages and initiatives supporting Sudan here
Other social media pages to follow:
Yousra Elbagir: Africa correspondent on Skynews
Look for Sudan news and views beyond the global mainstream media. Some recommended outlets:
Ayin Network, Sudan Tribune, The Sudanist, Andariya Magazine, Radio Dabanga, Beam Reports.
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Date: Sunday March 29th
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Frances Albrier Community Center, San Pablo Park, Berkeley
Please join Slow Food East Bay on Sunday March 29th for the third of three gatherings of our “Countries in Conflict” Cultural Food Traditions Project series, an evening of honoring Sudanese food, art and culture.
This gathering is being held during an ongoing counterrevolutionary war and humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, one marked by mass displacement, famine, and profound loss. We gather with that reality in clear view, and with deep respect for the lives and communities impacted.
Our partner for the evening is Shabbal Dance. At a time in which loss has marked the lives of Sudanese people globally, Shabbal Dance continues to cultivate archival and cultural preservation practices, through dance and more, and supports local Sudanese community initiatives in the Bay Area. They will be onsite and offering a live performance during our meal.
Journalist and podcast host Hana Baba of Folktales of Sudan will be sharing Sudanese folktales during the coffee and tea ceremony following our meal. Cultural Worker Ilham Awad will join Hana and Gamila Abdelhalim, founder & director of Shabbal Dance and Communities Upwards, for the conversation portion of the evening.
Together, we will create an evening rooted in Sudanese food traditions and the power of communal dining; in Sudanese culture, food is a shared language, one of care, memory, and responsibility, meant to be experienced together, across generations and communities. Gathering at the table is not only cultural practice, but a way of staying connected to one another and to the places and people we hold close.
While this gathering cannot address the full scale of the devastation in Sudan, it is offered as one small act of solidarity and remembrance, with a steadfast call for collective action and reaffirming our shared responsibility and commitment: that supporting civilians in Sudan is non-negotiable.
Menu: The proposed menu for the evening will include:
Falafel and Sambuksa to start
Eggplant Salad, Okra, Lamb, Chicken and vegetarian Naimia (yogurt stew!) and breads at the table
Baklava, date pudding, Zalabia (donuts!) and cookies alongside a traditional tea and coffee service to finish.
It will be a feast!
If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know when you purchase your ticket and/or email us with details so we can plan accordingly. No changes can be made the night of
Pricing: We're committed to being and building an inclusive community while also making the event sustainable for the chefs. Everyone is welcome at our table and to help that happen we offer sliding scale tickets prices which include dinner, drinks (alcoholic & non) and stimulating discussion.
$110 - A portion of your ticket subsidizes someone who can pay less.
$85 - If you earn a living wage this ticket helps the chefs do the same.
$50 - Join Us! We are grateful that you choose to spend your money on this important work and are thrilled to have you at the table.
If you are feeling inspired to come but $50 doesn’t work, please email us at slowfoodeastbay@gmail.com
Slow Food East Bay’s Cultural Food Traditions Project series of events celebrates the cultural food traditions of immigrants, refugees and displaced people, learning how food helps people stay connected to homeland and also engage with new communities. Attendees will be inspired by stories from chefs and community organizations, learning how diversity and migration have helped in the development of our food system.... And, frankly, make it delicious!
As our political & social discourse gets ever more polarized, it becomes more and more important to have places where we can have meaningful connection, discovering inherent relations to one another. Join us for an evening of delicious food paired with just as delicious conversation, leaving with both your belly and mind full.
