Jeddah:

In a celebration of art, memory, and resilience, Art Jameel presents a public programme at Hayy Jameel titled 'On Song, Poetry & Community' (Thursday, November 28 through to Sunday, December 1). The weekend-long programme hosts live readings, performances, talks, film screenings, and more to highlighting Sudanese music and poetry and the role creatives play in navigating turmoil, grief, and separation. The programme sheds light on the cultural narratives and creative expressions of Sudanese artists in times of conflict, whose voices have become instruments for navigating the everyday struggles, hopes and memories surrounding identity, homeland, and belonging.

Starting from Thursday, November 28 through to Sunday, December 1, 2024, 'On Song, Poetry & Community' offers a rich roster of programming, including opening remarks from Ibrahim Mohammed, director, producer, and co-founder of Aflam Sudan, a traveling film festival, and Rafa Renas, a filmmaker, producer and co-curator of the festival. Hayy Cinema and Aflam Sudan will present a co-curated series of film screenings that celebrate the historical and contemporary narratives of Sudan's evolving social landscape.

On Friday, November 29, Azhari Mohamed Ali, a prominent Sudanese poet, known for his contributions to modern Arabic poetry, leads a reading and discussion entitled: 'Poetry Reading and Reflection', looking at the themes of social justice and marginalized communities. Later that evening, Asim Qurashi, a musician and multi-instrumentalist known for his mastery of Sudanese folk traditions, and Osman Al Naw, the composer and founder of the iconic band Igd-Aljalad, one of Sudan's most coveted and popular bands, stage a live performance and hold a discussion on the intersection of music and resistance.

On Sunday, December 1, Haneen Sidahmed, an artist who combines art and archiving to explore the complexities of diasporic experiences while preserving the sonic history of Sudanese culture, curates a playlist from her Sudan Tapes Archive.

'On Song, Poetry & Community' is an invitation to join in the ongoing conversation about the role of the arts in social justice. To learn more about the programme and RSVP, please visit https://hayyjameel.org/whats-on/on-song-poetry-community-a-celebration-of-sudanese-culture/