In pictures: Festival in Darfur

Young children give the thumbs up before a puppet show begins at Abu Shouq internally displaced people's camp on the first day of the Afia Darfur Festival.

The festival begins at the end of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. Sufi religious ceremonies such as this one, mark the 27th night of Ramadan called Laylat al Qadr - Night of Power.

In its second year, Afia Darfur is a week-long cultural and artistic festival held in Sudan's western war-torn region to promote peace through the arts and sports.

Puppet and comedy shows were performed daily for children in the north Darfur town of El Fasher and the western town of El Geneina, near the border with Chad.

There were half marathon and cycling events. Here, the front runner, having just passed a welcome sign near the airport, anticipates victory with just a few kilometres to go.

A football competition between local teams and the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) culminated in a noisy final. The Gambia beat the Lions of Darfur, 2-1 on penalties.

A man dressed in a traditional jalabiah leads a peace parade through the centre of El Fasher. The Arabic inscription on the dove to his left reads: "We want peace".

Each evening saw music concerts featuring famous Sudanese musicians such as Zaidan Ibrahim and Igd El Galad and were enthusiastically enjoyed by over 10,000 people every night.

Sharhabeel Ahmed brought the house down with a performance of popular songs that got everyone up and dancing, a welcome respite from daily life in Darfur.

However, the end of the festival brought with it the reality of continuing uncertainty about Darfur's future and what tomorrow might bring. [Photos and words by Stuart Price]

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