Born in 1941 in Omdurman, Saadia El Salahi is an artist whose career and pioneering work on Sudanese folklore and traditional costumes has inspired generations of artists. Throughout her lifetime, she has established a collection of costumes, objects, experiences and stories that express the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Sudan.

El Salahi discovered her passion for art and costumes at 3 years old, when she used to turn sugar canes and pieces of cloth into flutes and dresses for her dolls. During her studies developed a strong interest in Sudanese folklore and costumes. In 1968, she joined the Sudanese Ministry of Culture and became the first Sudanese national to hold the position of Head Costume Designer.

Saadia has always worked towards an understanding of both the heritage of the past and the present. Throughout her career, she studied the influences on Sudanese costume, such as the ancient Sudanese Kingdoms, African culture in the West and the symbolic meaning associated with colours. At the same time, meeting and documenting Sudan’s current diverse communities. This has enabled Saadia’s work to reflect Sudan’s incredible cultural diversity and to tap into local knowledge and creativity.

Throughout her career, Saadia participated in many exhibitions and received several national and international awards, also being a member of the African Designers Society since 1968. She retired in 2010, but is still an active advocate for the promotion of Sudanese folklore and traditional costumes.

Sudan Memory collaborated with Saadia in 2020 to record her collection and her story, as one of Sudan’s foremost women artists.