Marianne Kamal

Narrating trauma in women‘s literature: Exploring South Sudan and Darfur in Arwāḥ Iddū (‘Edo’s Souls’) by Istīlā Qāytānū and ‘Tears of the desert’ by Ḥalīmah Bašīr

Introduction

Narrating trauma in women‘s literature: exploring south sudan and darfur in arwāḥ iddū (‘edo’s souls’) by istīlā qāytānū and ‘tears of the desert’ by Ḥalīmah bašīr . Explore Sudanese women's literature narrating trauma in South Sudan and Darfur. This article analyzes works by Istīlā Qāytānū and Ḥalīmah Bašīr, revealing war's profound impact on women's lives.

Abstract

This article examines the lived experiences of women in South Sudan and Darfur, the coping mechanisms they developed in response to wartime trauma, and the ways these experiences are both shaped by and reflected in the traumatic literature authored by Sudanese women. These writers made the deliberate decision to leave their homeland in pursuit of safety and peace, yet they continue to bear witness to their nation’s suffering through their narratives. The article explores the impact of trauma not only as a lived condition but also as a critical framework through which Sudanese women's literature can be interpreted. At the core of this inquiry is an analysis of the deeply painful and often shocking experiences endured by women, as well as the burdensome social roles and expectations imposed upon them during both war and so-called peace. It foregrounds the harmful cultural attitudes that hold women accountable for conflicts they neither initiated nor controlled—resulting in shame, isolation, and the fragmentation of family and community. The article contends that the years of violence in Darfur and South Sudan have given rise to a powerful body of literature authored by women displaced from their homes and histories. Trauma and violence, it argues, function not only as thematic concerns but as structural forces that shape the very form and expression of these narratives. Trauma becomes a reciprocal force—both the subject of and the lens through which women's war literature in the Sudanese context is written and understood.

Review

The article, "Narrating trauma in women’s literature: Exploring South Sudan and Darfur in Arwāḥ Iddū (‘Edo’s Souls’) by Istīlā Qāytānū and ‘Tears of the desert’ by Ḥalīmah Bašīr," proposes a vital examination of women's wartime experiences in South Sudan and Darfur. It aims to meticulously link the lived realities of trauma and the coping mechanisms developed by women to their representation in literary works by Sudanese authors, specifically Qāytānū and Bašīr. The abstract clearly posits trauma not only as a thematic concern but also as a fundamental critical framework and structural force shaping these narratives. This approach promises a nuanced understanding of how displacement and suffering inform the creative expression of those bearing witness to their nation's turmoil. A significant strength of this proposed article lies in its focus on often-marginalized voices and under-explored literatures from a region deeply scarred by conflict. By foregrounding the experiences of women and their literary responses, the article makes a crucial contribution to both trauma studies and postcolonial literary criticism, particularly concerning African women's writing. The abstract's emphasis on challenging "harmful cultural attitudes" that hold women accountable for conflicts, leading to shame and isolation, signals a profound engagement with the socio-cultural dimensions of trauma beyond individual suffering. The contention that years of violence have given rise to a "powerful body of literature" suggests an analysis that acknowledges resilience and agency alongside the pervasive impact of trauma, positioning it as a reciprocal force in narrative construction. While the abstract lays out an ambitious and compelling scope, the success of the article will depend on the depth and precision of its analytical execution. It will be crucial to see how the article concretely demonstrates trauma functioning as a "structural force" within the narratives, perhaps through an examination of specific narrative techniques, form, or linguistic choices, rather than solely as a thematic element. Furthermore, a thorough engagement with the specific cultural nuances and societal expectations that impose "burdensome social roles" on women in South Sudan and Darfur will be vital to substantiate the claims of cultural accountability. The promised analysis of the "deeply painful and often shocking experiences" alongside the exploration of resilience and agency will also require careful balancing to avoid either sensationalizing suffering or romanticizing survival. This article holds considerable promise for shedding light on critical issues through a compelling literary lens.

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