We start Banipal’s nineteenth year of publication with a sharp eye on the essential character of the contemporary Arab literary scene. While much of the Arab world is plunged into chaos with wars and devastation, sectarian divisions, repression and censorship, the Arab literary side of life remains essentially modernist, secular, progressive and enlightened, speaking out for the marginalised – and needing to be heard across the world. In reflecting this, almost the entire issue is given over to writers from Sudan – fiction, poetry, articles, book reviews and interviews. In print and digital format.

In recent years Sudanese writers have been crowding onto the Arab literary scene. However, apart from the great Sudanese author Tayeb Saleh, well known for his classic novel Season of Migration to the North, there have been few translations into English. Banipal 55 showcases new waves of exciting writers, including Hammour Ziada, Ahmad Al Malik, Hamed El-Nazir, Emad Blake, Najlaa Osman Eltom, Mansour El Souwaim, Stella Gaitano, Mohammad Jamil Ahmad and Rania Mamoun, Tarek Eltayeb, Abdel Ghani Karamallah, Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin, Amir Tag Elsir, and more.