Nagat


In classical Arabic, the word means "salvation".  But in the Arabic of the Sudanese, Nagat means survival.

Your mother's Arabic name means "Faith".    But she has chosen to name you Nagat:  Survival.


 


It took several days for this Sudanese newborn to receive her name.  It had to be a Muslim name. And the name also had to be invested with symbolism.  

Welcome to the world, baby girl, Survival.  

You are blessed to be born outside the borders of the Sudan.  You would not have survived, had you been born in the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher on 30 October.  You would be one of the 450-460 who were massacred on that day by the RSF.  Your mother would have also have ceased to exist.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sudans-brutal-civil-war-escalates-as-paramilitary-forces-go-on-killing-rampage

I will continue to tell the story of the Sudanese people.  Their story is etched on my heart.


Tammy Swofford


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