The Sufis of Khartoum

Sufism – the mystical path of Islam – enjoys a long tradition in Sudan. Sufis aspire to achieve perfection of worship through music, dance and meditative exercises. Two of the largest Sufi orders in Sudan are the Qadiriya and the Burhani brotherhoods. In Omduraman near Khartoum, members of the Qadiriya order meet every weekend by the hundreds in front of the tomb of their former leader, Sheikh Hamed al-Nil, at the cemetery bearing his name. The ceremony's popularity has long since extended beyond the Qadiriya order and is now the largest regularly-held Sufi event in Sudan. By Philipp Breu

The tomb of Muhammad Ahmad in Omdurman, near Khartoum in Sudan. In his homeland, he was known only as the "Mahdi" (the redeemer). He led a rebellion against the British, who ruled Sudan until 1956
A man prays on Friday afternoon at the tomb of the Mahdi in Omdurman, Sudan
Friday in Omdurman: two men set out for the Hamed al-Nil cemetery, where the Sufi Qadiriya order organises a large event every Friday
On Thursday evening, adherents of the Burhani order dance in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to the repetitive sounds of Sufi poets or verses from the Koran
The Burhani Sufis dance and sing the whole evening long and collectively fall into a meditative state
A woman pays her respect at the tomb of a sheikh of the Burhani order. The various orders within Sufism all have their own leaders, who are honoured in different ways by the adherents of the respective orders
Every Friday afternoon, the Sufis of the Qadiriya order meet at the tomb of Sheikh Hamed al-Nil located in the cemetery bearing his name. They come by the hundreds to sing and dance and celebrate the mystical path of Islam
Women play a subordinate role in Sufi Islam. They are not permitted to take part in the dancing. Most of them take their places off to the side of the actual celebratory grounds and experience the event while sitting
A group of men sing frenetic verses by Sufi poets at the tomb of Sheikh Hamed al-Nil
Flamboyant and highly colourful costumes mark the festivities on Friday in Omdurman
While hundreds of participants form a large circle, a group of dhakirs run on the square in front of the tomb at the cemetery. Dhakirs assume the role of prayer leaders during the chanting
A dhakir in a colourful robe and with dozens of prayer beads around his neck dances meditatively to the rhythmic sounds
Whirling around to the chanting – a dhakir in a robe featuring wildcat patterns, wearing prayer beads and bearing a ceremonial weapon
A group of young men of the Qadiriya order dance frenetically to the singing
As the evening slowly comes to a close, the Sufi event ends with evening prayers at sunset. Almost all of the men here pray directly on the sand