I was born in the Nuba Mountains. We came to Khartoum for economic reasons. My father died and things got tough, so I decided to sell tea.
It was difficult selling tea. There was a negative opinion of the women selling tea and the government was brutal towards us. They would come and confiscate all our materials. Despite all the difficulties, I never stopped: I had to provide for my four children.
I thought we needed a law to protect our rights. So, we investigated cooperative law – and registered as an association of women tea and food sellers, the first in the country.
The ‘kasha’ (police raids on unlicensed businesses) stopped after we started the association. But every time there was a new commissioner, he would come with a new policy towards us.
But with the revolution, we are much more relaxed. There are no more raids. We can stay here for hours and not get harassed.
As the leader of the association, I was in the delegation that greeted the Prime Minister when he returned from Ethiopia. I went to meet him and talked about the difficulties. I am now nick-named Hamdok – the PM’s name!
I took part in the revolution. I was there when the sit in started and never left. I was responsible for the central kitchen of the sit-in.
We are pushing hard now to have seats for the tea sellers in the legislature. I am leading the push. Two months we were at the sit-in, feeding everyone. We have earned seats in the legislature.
