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American-Sudanese Woman to Walk more than 1,000 km

Sudanese refugees from Darfur sit near their tent in an open-ended sit-in in outside the UNHCR office, demanding better treatment and acceleration of their relocation, in Amman . Photo: Reuters
Sudanese refugees from Darfur sit near their tent in an open-ended sit-in in outside the UNHCR office, demanding better treatment and acceleration of their relocation, in Amman . Photo: Reuters
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American-Sudanese Woman to Walk more than 1,000 km

Sudanese refugees from Darfur sit near their tent in an open-ended sit-in in outside the UNHCR office, demanding better treatment and acceleration of their relocation, in Amman . Photo: Reuters
Sudanese refugees from Darfur sit near their tent in an open-ended sit-in in outside the UNHCR office, demanding better treatment and acceleration of their relocation, in Amman . Photo: Reuters

An American activist of Sudanese origin has decided to kick off a long journey to draw the world's attention to her project, "Dreams of Peace," traveling 1,300 km from El Fashir in North Darfur to Khartoum.

Al-Shorouk.net quoted Imtithal Ibrahim Mahmoud, who is known in the United States as Amy Mahmoud, as saying that she plans to travel from her hometown in North Darfur to Khartoum, walking a distance of 1,290 kilometers.

According to the government website, the activist obtained the official and security permits to protect her on her long journey.

Amy said her project aims to bring people together around a "unified peace project" that meets the desire of the people in Darfur and Sudan for peace and sustainability.

She explained that since August, she has held conferences for peace in refugee camps, as well as in other areas of Darfur, and at Sudanese universities, where participants expressed their visions for peace in the country and sustainability.

Amy said her project, which was launched last August, aims to draw attention and mobilize public and popular support locally and globally.

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Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A frog holding a taro-leaf umbrella. A parade of frolicking animals. An Ukiyo-e style Mount Fuji. Giant waves. A Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito carves these delicate designs on fallen leaves, giving life back to them.
The world of Lito’s delicate art, which he began in 2020 and posts on social media almost daily, has won fans from around the world. The leaf art has also given him solace after earlier struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a purpose in life — the joy of making people happy with his art, The Associated Press reported.
He enjoys working at night. From a pile of leaves treated with a wrinkle-free chemical, he picks one and places it on a cutting board.
First, he outlines the design on the leaf with a pen in his right hand. Then he takes a design knife in his left hand and starts cutting the leaf carefully. Slowly, the leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella — a simple design he demonstrated in a recent interview with AP.

More complex, highly intensive work on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.
His leaf-cutting works include titles such as “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals,” “Leaf Aquarium,” and “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Each piece includes his own twists, and often uses animals.
“I would rather finish it in one go when I am focused,” Lito, 38, said. He didn't want to disclose his real name for personal reasons.
Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience. But he had trouble fitting into what was considered the norm at school or at work, despite all his efforts. He struggled to interpret others' feelings and to avoid confrontations.
After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis that he felt explained why he has always done things differently.
He saw no point in forcing himself to do things the same way as other people, and began to adjust his life.
In early 2020, Lito came across the art of leaf cutting. He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.
Word of his skills has spread across social media, and he has published books on his leaf-cutting work. He holds a near monthly solo exhibition in various places in Japan.
“If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more. That’s my driving force for what's next,” Lito says.