Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times

Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times

Bob Wilkinson’s Photographic Tribute to the People of Darfur, 1982-1986

At this time of profound sadness for the peoples of Sudan, I reproduce below an article first edited and published by the Journal for Sudan Studies for South Sudan and Sudan in January 2024. The piece is a tribute to Bob Wilkinson’s remarkable photographic portraits of Darfuri friends, colleagues and those he met in the course of his work. An exhibition of his photographs, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times, was held in Coventry in 2023. Bob’s portraits are a visual distillation of the grace, resilience and self-reliance of the Darfuri people.

See Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times and The Darfur of the 1980s

I reproduce this article today because the images of overwhelming horror and suffering pouring onto our screens must not be allowed to define the peoples of Darfur in the eyes of the world. Scenes of dignity, joy and beauty are in themselves a form of resistance. See too “When You Build Nations on Someone’s Bones”.

Bob has kindly allowed me to include several additional photographs in this edition of the article. All photographs are copyright Bob Wilkinson and may not be reproduced without his permission.

Sudan Studies for South Sudan and Sudan

“This young girl, for me, is a symbol of the gentleness of the Meidob people.” Bob Wilkinson

Collecting water in Ain Farah, Darfur, 1985.

Making a food cover or tabag, See Weaving Brighter Futures.

Below, a Darfuri man with his sonki for tapping gum arabic bearing acacia trees, copyright Bob Wilkinson.

“Listening to these men in Abu Gamra as they advised us on the situation, the widespread famine, and ways to wrok to alleviate some of the urgent problems. I always found Sudanese people to be warm, honest and to have real integrity if you took the time to listen.” Bob Wilkinson