Afrovibes: Askari Soldiers Amado Alfadni (EG / SD)

Askari Soldiers

Askari Soldiers is one of Alfadni's socio-political art projects that explores the history of the Askari (the Arabic and Swahili word for "military soldier"). The Askari refers to enslaved Sudanese soldiers who served in European colonial armies in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. These soldiers also served outside of their original colonies during both World Wars, in places such as the Middle East and Asia, under European command.

In Askari Soldiers, Alfadni critiques the concept of the enslaved Sudanese soldier and condemns the continued existence of negative stereotypes surrounding Black Africans. The project features a series of digital photographs and a fabric collection depicting the soldiers as unknown martyrs. Alfadni employs iconography associated with the colonial Anglo-Egyptian period to highlight these soldiers' complex and often overlooked legacy.