(CNN) Up until a week ago, people in Sudan were required a permit to play music late at night -- an indication of just how tightly President Omar al-Bashir held the country in his iron grip.

Now, as the nation grapples with the end of his 30-year dictatorship, music has become a defining part of the protest movement, with singing and dancing continuing around the clock.

The tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum aren't heading home anytime soon, vowing to remain in the streets until civilian rule is guaranteed.

Indeed when soldiers from Sudan's interim military council stood on the building's steps on Monday morning to tell protesters it was time to "clean up" and go home, the crowd replied with the chant: "You clean up the Islamists! We'll clean up when we're done!"

A protester is seen in the midst of tear gas during clashes with security forces in Khartoum in December 2018.

A protester is seen in the midst of tear gas during clashes with security forces in Khartoum in December 2018.

People take part in an anti-government demonstration in Omdurman, Sudan, on January 29.

People take part in an anti-government demonstration in Omdurman, Sudan, on January 29.

A protester carries a Bashir portrait on February 8. It reads, "Down and that is all."

A protester carries a Bashir portrait on February 8. It reads, "Down and that is all."

Protesters run for cover on April 6, as tear-gas canisters are fired by police.

Protesters run for cover on April 6, as tear-gas canisters are fired by police.

People protest on April 8, in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum.

People protest on April 8, in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum.

A person writes "Down with Bashir" during an April 9 demonstration in Khartoum.

A person writes "Down with Bashir" during an April 9 demonstration in Khartoum.

Sudanese soldiers transport a body near the military headquarters on Tuesday, April 9. The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said 22 people, including five soldiers, had been killed in mass protests.

Sudanese soldiers transport a body near the military headquarters on Tuesday, April 9. The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said 22 people, including five soldiers, had been killed in mass protests.

Salah, the woman propelled to internet fame after clips of her leading protest chants went viral, addresses protesters on April 10.

A billboard in Khartoum bears an image of Alaa Salah, a Sudanese woman who became the face of anti-government demonstrations.

A billboard in Khartoum bears an image of Alaa Salah, a Sudanese woman who became the face of anti-government demonstrations.

Demonstrators stand on a military vehicle April 11 as they cheer and flash the sign of victory.

Demonstrators stand on a military vehicle April 11 as they cheer and flash the sign of victory.

Sudan's defense minister goes on television April 11 to say Bashir's government has been dissolved.

Sudan's defense minister goes on television April 11 to say Bashir's government has been dissolved.

Protesters cheer outside the Defense Ministry in Khartoum on April 11. They were demanding that Bashir step down.

Protesters cheer outside the Defense Ministry in Khartoum on April 11. They were demanding that Bashir step down.

A protester kisses a soldier on the head during a rally in Khartoum on April 11.

A protester kisses a soldier on the head during a rally in Khartoum on April 11.

Demonstrators cheer on April 11, after an announcement that Bashir had been detained "in a safe place."

Demonstrators cheer on April 11, after an announcement that Bashir had been detained "in a safe place."

Lt. Gen. Omar Zain al-Abdin, head of the Sudanese military council's political committee, addresses journalists in Khartoum on April 12, one day after Bashir was ousted.

Lt. Gen. Omar Zain al-Abdin, head of the Sudanese military council's political committee, addresses journalists in Khartoum on April 12, one day after Bashir was ousted.

Protesters shout slogans as they carry a soldier flashing the victory sign outside the army headquarters on April 18.

Protesters shout slogans as they carry a soldier flashing the victory sign outside the army headquarters on April 18.

Protesters wave national flags at a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on May 2.

Protesters wave national flags at a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on May 2.

Sudanese army soldiers gather as people rally in front of the Presidential Palace in downtown Khartoum on May 18.

Sudanese army soldiers gather as people rally in front of the Presidential Palace in downtown Khartoum on May 18.

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council that assumed power in Sudan, prays during a Ramadan event in Khartoum on May 18.

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council that assumed power in Sudan, prays during a Ramadan event in Khartoum on May 18.

Protesters gather for a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on May 19.

Protesters gather for a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on May 19.

Protesters block a street with bricks and burning tires as military forces attempt to disperse a sit-in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan, on Monday, June 3. More than 100 protesters were killed when the military opened fire to break up the sit-in, according to a local doctors' union.

Sudan's Transitional Military Council spokesman Shams-Eddin Kabashi, right, speaks during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum on June 13. Sudan's ruling military council admitted that it had ordered the dispersal of a Khartoum sit-in, which left more than 100 dead.

Sudan's Transitional Military Council spokesman Shams-Eddin Kabashi, right, speaks during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum on June 13. Sudan's ruling military council admitted that it had ordered the dispersal of a Khartoum sit-in, which left more than 100 dead.

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries, center right, waves a baton as he rides through supporters in Qarri, north of Khartoum, on June 15.

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries, center right, waves a baton as he rides through supporters in Qarri, north of Khartoum, on June 15.

Sudanese protesters march in a mass demonstration against the country's ruling generals in the capital's twin city of Omdurman on June 30.

Sudanese protesters march in a mass demonstration against the country's ruling generals in the capital's twin city of Omdurman on June 30.

Protesters run from a police van that drove through a crowd on June 30 in Khartoum. The protesters faced off with armed forces on a main road leading to the airport.

Protesters run from a police van that drove through a crowd on June 30 in Khartoum. The protesters faced off with armed forces on a main road leading to the airport.

Relatives of three Sudanese men who were found dead with bullet wounds mourn near their bodies in the city of Omdurman on July 1.

Relatives of three Sudanese men who were found dead with bullet wounds mourn near their bodies in the city of Omdurman on July 1.

African Union envoy to Sudan Mohamed al-Hacen Lebatt, second from left, shakes hands with an army general following a press conference announcing an agreement was reached. Under the terms, the military council will be in charge of the country's leadership for the first 21 months. A civilian administration will rule the council during the following 18 months.

African Union envoy to Sudan Mohamed al-Hacen Lebatt, second from left, shakes hands with an army general following a press conference announcing an agreement was reached. Under the terms, the military council will be in charge of the country's leadership for the first 21 months. A civilian administration will rule the council during the following 18 months.

Sudanese protesters celebrate in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on a new governing body Friday.

Sudanese protesters celebrate in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on a new governing body Friday.

Sudanese men embrace outside the Friendship Hall in Khartoum where generals and protest leaders signed a historic transitional constitution, paving the way for civilian rule in Sudan.

Sudanese men embrace outside the Friendship Hall in Khartoum where generals and protest leaders signed a historic transitional constitution, paving the way for civilian rule in Sudan.

Sudanese protest leader Ahmad Rabie, center right, flashes the victory gesture alongside Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chief of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council, center left, during a ceremony where they signed a constitutional declaration.

Sudanese protest leader Ahmad Rabie, center right, flashes the victory gesture alongside Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chief of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council, center left, during a ceremony where they signed a constitutional declaration.

Sudanese civilians atop a train join in celebrations over the signing of a deal that paves the way for a transitional government in Khartoum, Sudan, on Saturday, August 17.

Sudanese civilians atop a train join in celebrations over the signing of a deal that paves the way for a transitional government in Khartoum, Sudan, on Saturday, August 17.

A party with a purpose

Walk among the mostly young protesters and you'll find a highly organized party atmosphere, with demonstrators working in shifts to ensure the DJ's sound system is never silent for long.

Free sandwiches and water are handed out to the crowd. Young men and women hold donation boxes for passing drivers to contribute to the cause.

As Ramadan approaches, some local NGOs have put the call out for professional cooks to donate their time helping prepare provisions to enable protesters to break their fast while continuing to demonstrate.

Demonstrators play music in Khartoum.

Some female protesters are already beginning to drop their headscarves, something previously unthinkable for many in conservative Sudan. Women who would previously be flogged simply for walking with a man they weren't related to, are now standing side-by-side with male protesters late into the evening.

But the atmosphere remains respectful. Just to enter the demonstration we must pass through security where young people happily chant their instructions: "Lift your hands up, we're going to search you, but we're going to search you nicely."

Horror stories and hope

The ongoing demonstration comes as the transnational military council continues to arrest former regime officials. Among them are Bashir, his former interior minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, and former head of the ruling party Ahmed Haroun, who will all be charged with corruption and the death of protesters, two sources with direct knowledge of the events told CNN.

The three men are all wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes related to atrocities in Darfur.

Sudanese protesters celebrate on April 13.

With Bashir's government now dissolved, a military council has assumed control for two years to oversee a transition of power. But amid the celebratory demonstrations, there have also been outbreaks of gunfire between the remnants of the old regime and the new military caretakers.

Fueling the persistence of the protesters is the example of the 2011 Arab uprising which promised so much -- and in the case of neighboring Egypt, delivered a dictatorship likely worse than the one it ousted.

Almost every protester we spoke to said they had at some point been detained during the demonstrations.

One young man, Taha Alhadi, told CNN he had been arrested three times, repeatedly beaten with a rubber hose, and held in the "Refrigerator," one of the torture and detention "ghost houses" whose existence was denied by Bashir's regime.

For a generation who have only ever known Bashir's rule , music has become a source of strength and a call for unity on the uncertain path towards democracy.

Young men previously recruited into the national defense service have repurposed the Islamist songs they were forced to sing into protest chants.

"Running is ugly! The brave walk on fire! The brave walk through coal!" they chant at the top of their lungs.

The words are same. But this time around, the message is very different.