KHALID ALBAIH

Arts Award | Nominee | Freedom of Expression Awards

Khalid Albaih is a Sudanese independent political cartoonist renowned for his incisive human rights advocacy, shared globally under the name "Khartoon." His powerful cartoons have been exhibited worldwide, and his writings have appeared in major international publications. latest solo exhibitions “season of immigration to the North” 2024 in Santa Julia museum, Italy, Refersh 2025 Kunstnerns Hus, oslo.

Albaih was the central figure in The Guardian's short documentary *The Story of Civil Rights is Unfinished* (2016) and has published two influential books: Khartoon! and Sudan Retold, an art book he co-edited, featuring contributions from 31 Sudanese artists documenting Sudan's rich history.

His work extends beyond drawing, with installations like Bahar, a poignant video piece using found footage of refugees at sea; The Walls Have Ears (Documenta 15), and Shahid (Mathaf, Qatar, 2024), all exploring themes of displacement and social justice. In 2024, he broadened his influence by hosting Alhasil Shino? on AJ+. As editor-in-chief of KhartoonMag.com, a platform for displaced Sudanese cartoonists, and creator of the award-winning @DohaFashionFridays, which amplifies marginalized voices, Albaih remains a vital force in art activism, championing global social justice and freedom of expression.

“After years of threats, erasure, and exhaustion, being shortlisted for the Index award means a lot to me and will mean even more for everyone who’s still drawing, writing, and speaking up from home, from exile, from hiding, from silence. It's a reminder that we’re not invisible—and that somewhere, someone is always paying attention. That matters for me and the people who will continue in this path."