Naima Abyat Idris, one of two women killed in an uptick in bombings carried out by the Sudan Armed Forces in early November, is remembered as a skilled musician and promoter of inter-tribal reconciliation.
A coordinating body of aid organizations and civil society working in Blue Nile and South Kordofan reported on Monday that warplanes have dropped more than 60 bombs in at least 16 separate aerial raids in the two areas in early November.
The group said that Naima was one of the confirmed fatalities, calling her a “remarkable lady” who was particularly active in the local woman’s association promoting local peace building and inter-tribal reconciliation.
Naima was born in 1965 in Kadir village, Dalami County, South Kordofan State, and was a member of the Koaliib tribe. She was a skilled musician and popular singer, not only singing publically at community events but also recording her own albums from 1987 up to 2014.
Her repertoire included traditional dance and popular songs as well as faith-based songs. She served as treasurer to her local church for several years. Her most recent songs reflected on peace building, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Naima was also the head of Koaliib traditional dance group from 2005 to 2014, and was recently serving as deputy chairperson of the Women’s Association in Dalami County (Tunguli payam).
She was a “trusted advisor and teacher on social protection, peace building and community reconciliation for her community,” according to the same aid group.
“She will be very sadly missed by her family, her community and the much wider audience of Sudanese who loved her music… The State of South Kordofan and the Republic of Sudan has lost a powerful influence for local peace building.”
Naima was killed by a bomb dropped by an Antonov aircraft at 15:55 on Thursday, 6 November 2014 at age of 49. She is survived by her husband and six children.