"Migration, Exile, and the Search for Identity"
Panelists discuss the physical and existential trauma of migration and exile that is exemplified by the Palestinian experience of diaspora, but also witnessed among other Arab populations.
- Thu., Mar. 5, 2009, 4:00 PM
- Family Theater
- 90 minutes
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About
Beginning with its first modern intellectuals traveling to the West in the mid-19th century and up to recent migrations in search of economic and political freedom, the Arab world has seen more than its fair share of displacement and exile. This physical and existential trauma is exemplified by the Palestinian experience of diaspora, but can also be witnessed among other Arab populations. Preoccupied with how Arab individuals and communities have coped with dislocation, the writers on this panel will discuss their various approaches to addressing the changes and transformations brought on by migration and exile. Event Timing: 90 minutes
Panel Moderator
Ahdaf Soueif (Egypt/UK) is known for the bestselling novel The Map of Love, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1999 and subsequently translated into more than 20 languages. A political and cultural commentator with a special interest in Palestine, she writes for various newspapers in both the West and the Arab world. Her seminal article, "Under the Gun: A Palestinian Journey," was originally published in the Guardian and then printed in Soueif's 2004 collection of essays, Mezzaterra: Fragments from the Common Ground. Soueif has also translated Mourid Barghouti's I Saw Ramallah from Arabic into English. English is the language of Soueif's fiction but bilingual readers say that when her Arab characters speak Arabic they can hear it ‘through' the English. Born in Egypt, Soueif was educated in Egypt and obtained a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the U.K. She is the recipient of three honorary DLitts from British universities. In 2008, she initiated the first Palestine International Festival of Literature which took place in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.
Panel Speakers
Duna Ghali (Iraq) was born in Basra, Iraq. She has lived in Denmark since 1992. She has published two collections of short stories and one novel and also translations of Danish works into Arabic, including selections of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales in 2005. She currently works at the Royal Library of Copenhagen.
Jamal Mahjoub (Sudan) is an author, editor, and translator. Born in London, England and raised in Khartoum, Sudan, Mahjoub has won the Guardian/Heinemann African Short Story Prize. His novel Travelling with Djinns (2003) was awarded the Prix d'Astrobale. Mahjoub lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
Part of ARABESQUE: Arts of the Arab World
FREE EVENT. Tickets are required, and can be ordered in person at the box office, or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. There is no service charge. There is a limit of 12 tickets per order. At this time, these tickets are not available online; we apologize for any inconvenience.
Note: There is no free parking when attending or picking up tickets for free events.
Artists
Ahdaf Soueif
PRESENTING UNDERWRITER
HRH Foundation
A. Huda and Samia Farouki
The State of Kuwait
The State of Qatar
The United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Additional support is provided by the Ministry of Culture and Information, Kingdom of Bahrain; the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center; The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development; the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art; Alice and David Rubenstein; Saudi Aramco; the Ford Foundation; Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian; Elaine and Steve Wynn; Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Mr. Smith Bagley; The Laura Pels Foundation; and the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
Presented in cooperation with the League of Arab States.Group of 20 or more? Group Sales offers special terms and discounts for most performances.
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