Zakia Abu Gassim Abu Bakr, Zakia Abdul Gassim Abu Bakr or Zakia Abulqasim (Arabic: زكية أبوالقاسم أبوبكر; born 1930s) is a Sudanese guitarist.[1][2] She started performing in the 1960s and is recognised as Sudan's first female professional guitarist.[3] As of 2018[update], aged in her 80s, she was still leading an all-woman traditional Sudanese music group, Sawa Sawa.[4]
In the 1960s, Zakia Abul Gassim Abu Bakr emerged as the first professional Sudanese woman guitarist who broke gender norms with her instrument and by performing on stage with her husband (Ahmed Sharhabila renowned jazz musician).
The traditional band is an all-women group called Sawa Sawa. Our band leader, the legendary female Sudanese musician Zakia Abulqasim, is still going strong in her 80s.