A woman holds a megaphone from which rain and wind turbines emerge. © Goethe-Institut
© 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?
A collage of portrait photos Photos: Kailuppke, J. M. Fierro, G. Mayer, I. Ali, A. Cavotti, P. Munene, M. Herrmann, H. Alashepy, S. Guetari, R. Mozahami
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!
Cultural heritage manifests itself in many different aspects: architecture, food, art, music, literature and much more. ©Goethe-Institut Cairo/ RUYA, Reem Hasebou
©Goethe-Institut Cairo/ RUYA, Reem Hasebou

Dossier
 Cultural Heritage

The protection of cultural heritage is a central component of cultural policy efforts in many countries. In this context, preservation, restoration, communication and reflection of the historical dimensions are important components of dealing with cultural heritage. How do cultural actors in the region reflect this? What discourses and initiatives are there for the preservation of cultural heritage?
Teaserbild Überleben mit Kunst ©The image was created with AI.
©The image was created with AI.

Focus topic
 Surviving with Art

Art is often poorly paid and artists have to fight for funding for their projects and their own survival. How do artists in the region manage? What new ideas and concepts are there?
Three comic books lying on a table. ©egab.co

Surviving with Art2 min Unveiling the Vibrant World of Arab Comic Artists

A street, the corniche walk of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia with a pattern of colours. Two people are standing in the background talking to each other. The street is surrounded by palm trees. ©Jawaher Alghamdi

Surviving with Art2 min Saudi’s art boom opens doors for local talents, but many struggle to devote to it

Saudi Arabia
Dr. Shahir Maged Mikhail ©Privat

Surviving with Art2 min Dr. Shahir Maged Mikhail: From orthopedist to full-time artist

Egypt
Scene from Asim Aziz film “1941” ©Asim Aziz

Surviving with Art4 min The Yemeni Art Scene: An Ancient Cultural Vortex

Yemen
An almost 30m mural of Omar Sharif in 11 Jean Jaque in Geneva, Swiss. ©Privat

Surviving with Art2 min “I find it crucial for artists to invest their money”

Egypt
Portraits of 3 women. From left to right: Maha Wafy, female ambulance officer of the Palestinian Red Crescent, Enaam Al-Agha, known as Um Fathy, community aid, and Ola Kasseb, female journalist and member of the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate. ©egab.co
©egab.co

Community  3 min In wartime Gaza, Women Step Up To Help Their Communities

Amidst a 10-month war that has claimed over 39,000 lives and has driven nearly 2.3 million Gazans on daily scavenges for the basic necessities to survive, women are facing disproportionate challenges, navigating displacement and violence alongside severe lack of hygiene products and inability to access essential healthcare. Nevertheless many women have become pillars of their communities, helping others wherever they can, providing much needed help and saving lives. Mohamed Solaimane met 3 of them in Gaza. 
Palestinian territories
Exhibition "TRUST(ful)" ©Canva/ divers
©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.

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