Perspectives from North Africa and the Middle East

©Goethe-Institut / Ruya; Sara Amin

In-Depth 
Diaspora and Exile

Migration is as old as humanity itself. People leave their home countries for a variety of reasons, from war and persecution to the search for opportunity. Some settle in their new environments, while others stay only as long as necessary. What is the current situation of the various diaspora and exile communities, some second- and even third-generation, from and within the MENA region? What are their stories? What challenges, but also what successes, have they experienced? With testimonies from Sudan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Syria, as well as the Palestinian, Assyrian, and Tuareg communities.

© Goethe-Institut

Hakawati
Green stories from the MENA region

The impacts of climate change are strongly felt across the MENA region. Sustainability and environmental protection are gaining increasing significance. At the same time, the region has a rich oral tradition. Stories have the ability to make information about sustainability accessible and impactful. What kinds of green stories do people from different countries share? How can we inspire people for sustainability through storytelling? And how can “Hakawati,” the traditional storytellers, help us with that?

Photos: Kailuppke, J. M. Fierro, G. Mayer, I. Ali, A. Cavotti, P. Munene, M. Herrmann, H. Alashepy, S. Guetari, R. Mozahami

Harbour

Their seas may be the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic, yet they are united by a shared love of their home harbours. Individuals from nine countries share stories that reveal what binds them to their home harbours. Storms, lugworms, colourful cargo containers and banana boats – stories of homecoming and departure from Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Yemen, Canada, Kenya, Colombia and Libya. A collaborative production of the cultural magazines ”Gegenüber“, ” Humboldt“, ”RUYA“ and ”Zeitgeister“. Happy reading!

©Canva/ divers

Exhibition “TRUST(ful)”

Ten photographers and ten poets from nine different countries in North Africa and the Middle East together created, invited by RUYA, ten diverse works on the topic of trust. Each exhibit consists of an original poem accompanied by a photograph or series of photographs. The exhibition takes place as part of the Kultursymposium Weimar 2023.