Sudanese Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Sudan lies in north-east Africa, where the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet at Khartoum. It is home to ancient pyramids at Meroe and to many peoples and languages, with Arabic the most widely spoken. Sudanese people have come to Britain over many decades, as doctors, students and families seeking safety.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 1,678 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Sudanese.

Working for Birmingham

Sudanese doctors have long been part of the NHS, and many work in Birmingham's hospitals and GP surgeries. The community also includes engineers, pharmacists, teachers, interpreters and business owners, and young Sudanese Brummies are studying at the city's colleges and universities.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Sudanese community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Eid and weddings are joyful occasions, with Sudanese music and dancing, and women's henna designs are admired for their beauty. Ful medames, kisra flatbread and sweet tea spiced with cardamom and ginger are favourites, and Sudanese poetry and song are treasured.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Sudanese community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.