Hamza Castro

Hamza Castro is a Sudanese singer, songwriter, director, and cultural rights advocate whose work bridges music, healing, and heritage. With roots in African folk traditions and a commitment to social justice, his practice explores the transformative power of sound, ritual, and collective memory in contexts of displacement and conflict.

Hamza is the founder and lead researcher at the Sudan Music Research Center, where he documents endangered musical traditions and promotes the role of culture in peacebuilding. His fieldwork spans across Sudan and East Africa, focusing on indigenous rhythms, spiritual practices such as zar, and their intersections with psychological healing.

He is currently completing his book “African Music Violence”, an in-depth analysis of the political use of music during and after colonial regimes, and how sonic memory contributes to either reconciliation or ongoing trauma.

As an artist, Hamza has released albums and collaborative works that reinterpret traditional Sudanese music through a contemporary lens. His performances, including Zar Healing Rhythms and Voices of the Displaced, have featured in festivals, workshops, and healing spaces in Uganda, Kenya, and the diaspora.

He has also led multiple community-based art therapy workshops and training programs, working closely with civil society and humanitarian organizations to empower artists affected by war.

Hamza’s portfolio includes partnerships with the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, Salam Media, and Goethe-Institut East Africa. His contributions have been featured on platforms like RFI Afrique and The Continent Magazine.

Through his work, Hamza Castro continues to defend the rights of artists, preserve Africa’s cultural memory, and amplify the voices of the marginalized through music, movement, and research.