Festival Books
The horrors of Darfur have shocked celebrities and politicians, but have yet to reach the general population. Suzanne Black talks to Halima Bashir whose traumatic memoir should change all that
14 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 7—1/1 Aug 2008
Desert torm
‘ he disease in question had. as its main I deleterious effect. the fact that it renders its victitns perl’ectly unable to write anything but SOD-page books about the civil vvar in Sudan.‘ The ‘victim' in this case is L'S author Dave liggers. but the deceptively llippant comment from a (hum/[mt commentary in 2005 could equally apply to Halima Bashir. a doctor from Darl'ur. Sudan. who survived the destruction ol‘ her village. intimidation of her people and personal attacks to publish a memoir 'li'm‘s oft/Iv Dawn: ()m' llimiun '3' True Story of Surviving the Horrors (if/Muffin: liggers' lictive What is l/It‘ What and Bashir's autobiographical ol'l'ering join the ranks ol‘ responses to a situation in urgent need of a cure.
liggers‘ tome struggles to make sense ol‘ the fallout ol‘ 2() years ol‘ civil vvar betvveen the lslamist Sudanese government and (‘hristian tribes that resided in the south. .\'ovv. alter the violence has escalated to the level ol‘ genocide in l)arl'ur. with the Arab government trying to cleanse the country of black African tribes. Bashir says the c0tttitt'y"s plight must continue to be the locus of international attention. Settled in London with a husband and tvvo young sons. she novv l'eels safe enough to publish her testimony. albeit under an assumed name.
On arrival in this country she vvas struck by the lack of knovvledge about the reality of the dangers in Darl‘ur. When her asylum and that of other Sudanese refugees came under threat. she chose to speak out. despite the cultural stigma attached to admitting to rape. ‘l’eople in the [K don‘t knovv too much about l)arl'ur. only the headlines] she says. "l‘here are many stories like mine.‘
The press coverage brought her to the attention ol‘ vvar reporter Damien Levvis. vvho vv as