{
  "id": 8331353,
  "title": "Sudan’s henna heritage wilts as war, drought and Nile thirst choke crimson bride tradition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/sudans-henna-heritage-wilts-as-war-drought-and-nile-thirst-choke",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/09/19/sudans-henna-heritage-wilts-as-war-drought-and-nile-thirst-choke-crimson-bride-tradition/235640"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the northern region of Sudan, the traditional practice of henna application is facing challenges due to a combination of factors including water scarcity, climate change and ongoing conflict. Najwa Mubarak, a henna artist based in Al-Damer, the capital of River Nile state, expressed the significance of henna in Sudanese culture, noting it is both a hobby and a heritage. The henna used for this age-old tradition is cultivated on land dependent on Nile-fed irrigation canals. However, sporadic supplies and neglected waterways have resulted in parched fields, reducing both the quantity and quality of the harvest. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has further exacerbated the situation, damaging irrigation networks and leaving canals clogged, while inadequate water management systems have also contributed to the problem. Climate change, specifically the El Nino weather pattern, has also played a role in disrupting seasonal rains and lowering Nile water levels, further threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the industry at large. Despite these challenges, henna remains a significant local economic asset, with Sudan once being one of Africa's leading henna producers, exporting its distinctive dye to consumers across the Gulf, Europe and North America.",
  "summary": "AL-DAMER (Sudan), Sept 19 — Inside a beauty salon in northern Sudan, a woman in a striped dress sat patiently as h...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}