A blogger from Sudan speaks out by Arab Press Network

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A blogger from Sudan speaks out

by Arab Press Network

02 September 2008

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Cairo - Kizzie Shawkat is the pen name of the author responsible for the I Have No Tribe, I'm Sudanese blog. She is a Sudanese woman and student of communications and sociology in Cairo. Born in Sudan, Kizzie grew up in Libya, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and defines herself as an "African pro-choice creative Muslim pro-female-education poetic developing tri-linguist anti-racism mad-about-books theatre-lover female". In an interview with the Arab Press Network (APN), Kizzie explains why she blogs and how she hopes it will make the world a better place.

Why do you blog?

Shawkat: I blog because I care about my country, Sudan. As a Sudanese female, I don't have a venue to voice my opinions about different topics regarding Sudan, especially politics. Just like politicians, I have an opinion and I think my contribution to Sudanese society is important. I also think that international newspapers are a bit biased and that when they report about Sudan they sometimes misinform readers. On my blog I sometimes have news updates; I comment on them and I upload pictures, pictures of a Sudan no one knows about. Citizen journalism needs to be valued more in my part of the world.

Do you think blogging can change the world and the situation in your country? If so, how?

Yes, because as a Sudanese I think I'm responsible for spreading awareness about the political and humanitarian situation in my country. I'm responsible for informing my readers and engaging in mutually beneficial discussions with them. I receive many e-mails from curious readers, both Sudanese and non-Sudanese. I also receive e-mails asking me to explain certain things in Sudan they don't understand like politics, culture, etc.

I can't change Sudan alone, but I think that my contribution is important. More and more, people from every part of the world need to contribute – especially from Africa. I think we need to be more active citizens because we can't expect help from others, only the Sudanese are going to bring peace and democracy to Sudan.

What do you see as the difference between a blogger and a journalist in your country?

In most cases, bloggers don't suffer as much as journalists. I try to stay anonymous because my situation as a student living with my parents is very fragile. I do want to post a picture and introduce myself properly. I'm going to do so when I graduate next year!

Journalists in dictatorships like Sudan suffer a great deal. Their work is constantly being censored and their privacy is always invaded. Blogging gives me privacy.

What has been your most popular post?

A post about female genital mutilation (FGM). I wrote this post after I read a post on an Australian blog about Ayan Hirsi Ali. She is a Somali-born Dutch politician who spends her free time reaffirming every single negative stereotype about Islam and this part of the world.

I was angry because I felt that I couldn't relate to her story as a Muslim/African woman so I wrote it because I know for a fact that Islam doesn't support FGM and I wanted to clarify the reasons behind it and why it should be abolished. I talked about its prevalence in African countries, its pharaonic legacy, its existence in Christian communities – in Ghana for example – and the different types of FGM.

Do you practice self-censorship?

I don't write about Egypt (where I currently live) because crackdowns on bloggers are commonplace.

What topics inspire you?

I'm usually inspired by gender issues, good news out of Africa and when an average Sudanese makes a difference, for example, by winning a national and international prize.

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* The Arab Press Network is a digital network that supports the development of a stronger independent press in the Arab world. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.

Source: Arab Press Network, 18 August 2008, www.arabpressnetwork.org
Copyright permission is granted for publication.


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