Khalid Sidahmed will be speaking at St Mary’s Church, Kingswood, on 21 February to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2026. For the first time in its Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations, the church will hear about a genocide from the twenty-first century, as Khalid talks about the Darfur Genocide of 2003 to 2005 and the continuing violence in Sudan.
Khalid was born in London to a Sudanese family. Like many in the diaspora, his relatives were targeted by the former regime, led by Omar al-Bashir, for their opposition. Since the outbreak of the war, they have been directly affected by conflict, displacement, and state violence.
In his talk, Khalid will discuss the history of the Darfur Genocide during which an estimated 300,000 people from the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit communities were systematically killed by the government of Sudan and Janjaweed militias. Khalid’s talk will also cover the ongoing violence being inflicted on the people of Sudan which has so far displaced more than 10 million people.
Bob Copeland, who worships at St Mary’s, said: “There’s no better way of showing where hatred, division, and racism can lead than hearing from those who have suffered the most extreme forms of it.
“What’s striking about this year is that the speaker is talking about a genocide which happened in this century, and a conflict that is happening to this day. Atrocities are not just history.”
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, ‘Bridging Generations’, invites reflection on lives lost to genocide and the importance of sharing stories so that no one is forgotten.
“Each year we mark Holocaust Memorial Day. We’ve been doing this for around ten years, with a break during Covid. We’ve heard from survivors of Austria, Rwanda, Bosnia, and more. Each story left a lasting impression.
“Darfur and the conflict in Sudan reminds us that the world must remain vigilant, and the church has a duty to witness and educate. Education is really good way to bring people into church and help them understand the consequences of their actions,” Bob said.
An optional community meal will be served from 6pm to 6.30pm for £5 (advanced booking recommended), with the talk at 7pm followed by a Q&A session. Donations will be welcomed for the Sudan Doctors Union.
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