FOR REFUGEE WEEK EXILED WRITERS INK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MEDICAL
FOUNDATION FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE PRESENT:
BORDER WORDS:
4 Book Group Evenings FOR Refugee Week at Borders Bookshop, 203 Oxford
Street, London W1D 2LE, at 7 pm
* Buy the book at Borders Bookshop
* Read the book
* Discuss the book with the writer and other people
* Coffee and refreshments
* Free
* Help with buying the books for asylum seekers
* Come to one book group evening or as many as you wish
* Let us know you are coming
Monday 9th June: Hamid Ismailov - The Railway,
translated by Robert Chandler, published Vintage, 2007
Hamid Ismailov is an Uzbek journalist and writer who was forced to
flee Uzbekistan in 1992. His works are banned in Uzbekistan. He has
published numerous books in Uzbek, Russian, French, German, Turkish
and other languages.
Wednesday 11th June: Yang Lian - RIDING
PISCES: POEMS FROM FIVE COLLECTIONS, pub Shearsman, June 2008
After the Tiananmen Square massacre, Yang Lian became a poet of exile
in New Zealand and Australia. He is one of China's most prominent
poets.
Monday 16th June: Haifa Zangana - Women
on a Journey between Baghdad and London, translated by Judy Cumberbatch,
published Texas University Press, 2006
Haifa Zangana is a novelist and journalist and former prisoner of
Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime.
Thursday 19th June: Sulaiman Addonia - The
Consequences of Love, Chatto and Windus, July 2008
This is his debut novel. Sulaiman Addonia is a writer and academic
who lived in Sudan and Saudi Arabia before coming to the UK in 1990
as an Eritrean refugee.
EXILED WRITERS INK MENTORING AND TRANSLATION SCHEME - YEAR
2 APPLICATIONS
Exiled Writers INK mentoring scheme- Year 2
Are you a writer forced to live in exile?
Are you finding it hard to get recognition and published in the UK?
Exiled Writers INK is running a mentoring scheme to match writers
in exile with well known writers in the UK. You will work together
intensively over a year, leading to publications/ readings and new
opportunities. You do not have to have been previously published,
or have a perfect level of English but you do need to be writing at
a high level and ready to accept guidance and constructive criticism
from your mentor. If you are interested, please send 10 poems or 2
short stories and a CV to:
NatTeitler@aol.com or Exiled
Writers Ink Mentoring Scheme, 94 Beaufort Street, London SW3 6BU.
Work will not be returned.
Deadline is June 18, 2008
Exiled Writers INK translation scheme
Are you a writer forced to live in exile?
Are you finding it hard to get translated and published in the UK?
Exiled Writers INK is running a scheme to match writers in exile
with expert translators in the UK. You will work together intensively
over a year, leading to publications/ readings and new opportunities.
If you are interested please send a CV in English and 7-10 poems and
2 short stories in your own language to:
NatTeitler@aol.com or Exiled
Writers Ink Mentoring Scheme, 94 Beaufort Street, London SW3 6BU.
Work will not be returned.
Deadline is June 18, 2008
FUNDED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL
Exiled Writers Ink invites you to
The Grand Night of Exiled Writers
Tuesday 29th April 2008, 6.00- 9.30 pm
12 exciting, emerging exiled writers and the launch of their chap
books
All participants in
Exiled Writers Ink Mentoring and Translation Scheme (Year 1)
The evening will take place at:
Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London EC2A 3EA
6.00-9.30 pm
Music from exiled artists
Refreshments
Publishers welcome
Cost: £3
Shereen Pandit ( South Africa), Abol Froushan (
Iran), Ali Abdolrezaei ( Iran), Sofia Buchuck (
Peru), Vesna Ruzicka-Sehovic ( Sarajevo), Hasan Bamyani
( Afghanistan), Hassan Bahri (Syria), Samira Al Mana
( Iraq), Mir Mahfuz Ali ( Bangladesh), Shirin Razavian
( Iran), Bashir Al Gamar ( Sudan), Mogib Hassan
( Yemen)
Translators: Paul Starkey, Robert Chandler, Fathieh Saudi, Abol Froushan
and Carole Angier
Mentors: Jacob Ross, Moniza Alvi, Graham Fawcett, Martina Evans
Further information: natteitler@aol.com
& jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
FUNDED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL
Review of the Grand Night in Arabic:click
here.
Wednesday 19th March 2008 at 7 pm
Oh! Art and Exiled Writers Ink invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion: Event 6
Searching for the Past
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG (nearest tube: Bethnal
Green)
Free - Refreshments - Perform your Poetry - Bring an object from
your past - PARTICIPATE!
This is an exiled lit cafe event with Somali and other Exiled writers
and musicians, which takes place every 2 months and brings the work
of Somali and other exiled writers to the wider community of East
London.
FEATURED GUESTS
Ayar Ata was born in Saqqiz in the eastern part of Kurdistan
in 1957. After living in many countries, in 1989 he moved to London
where he studied at SOAS and Middlesex University. “Poetry is
my passport to honest and sweet freedom of expression about my world.
Chinwe Azubuike is a strong female contemporary voice from
Africa, born in Lagos-Nigeria whose origins are from Imo State. She
constantly views herself as a spokeswoman for Nigeria's deprived underclass
and recognises within herself a strong sense of social justice. This
is reflected in her poetry, as her work highlights the complicated
issues and beauty of the people of Africa, especially the plight of
women and children. The bulk of her work focuses on female issues;
of love, life and torture with specific references to ethnic family
traditions within West Africa. She has given various readings at the
Poetry Society and has been published in various publications. She
is currently running a campaign for women, against the victimisation
and deprivation of human rights of "the Widow" in Nigeria.
Said Jama - A well known Somali scholar, essayist and short
story writer, SAID JAMA HUSSEIN Is extensively engaged in Somali literary,
cultural and artistic activities that take place in the UK, Sweden,
Kenya, and Djibouti. He was a contributing senior member of the Editorial
Board of the highly acclaimed bi-lingual periodical magazine "Hal-Abuur"
published in London. Currently he is the vice-president of Somali
P.E.N Centre. A collection of his essays "SAXAN-sAXO" as
well as collection of short stories "Shuf-beel" also in
Somali are awaiting early publication. Most of his short stories and
some of the essays appeared in the Somali papers published in London
and were at the same time adapted and broadcast over the BBC, Somali
Service.
Joohkle is a lute player and singer, who composed the winning
song in the National Somali Prize in 1973. This acclaimed national
prize resulted in him becoming famous throughout Somali territory.
In 1983 he also won the prize for Best Singer with his own compositions
and has subsequently been invited to sing on the radio in Somali.
He came to live in England in 1994, works in modern Somali theatre
productions and has produced two CDs. He was is one of the artist
featured new Somali sound CD available at Oxford House.
Bogdan Tiganov from Brãila, Romania has been published
in various magazines, including Exiled Ink!, Planet Magazine, Chanticleer,
Carillon, Aesthetica, Splizz, Orbis, Krax and Pretext and he has also
been interviewed for Time Out. He has had four books published including
Romanian for Sale, Tarnish, and Fakery.
Further information: Ayan Mahamoud, Head of Somali Art and Culture
at Oxford House ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
and Jennifer Langer, Exiled Writers Ink jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Funded by Awards for All and the Arts Council
SOMALI-EXILED VOICES FUSION PROJECT
The Somali Arts Project and Exiled Writers Ink are offering free
training for Somali and other exiled poets.
Free Training Day for exiled poets to learn to facilitate Poetry Workshops
for a range of organisations.
Monday 11th February 2008, 10.00 am to 4 pm
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 (Bethnal Green tube)
Led by Leah Thorn: performance poet and
experienced training facilitator.
There is great demand for exiled writers to lead paid creative writing
workshops for a range of groups.
This free workshop is an introduction to group facilitation skills.
Lunch and Refreshments
Travel expenses paid. Negotiable from outside London.
Register now.
Send: your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and a
short biography to: jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Oh! Art and Exiled Writers Ink invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion: Event 5
UnSilenced Voices:
exiled and second generation writers speak out on issues of there and
here
Photo: Carlos Reyes-Manzo
Wednesday 30th January 2008 at 7 pm (Postponed from December 2007)
Oxford House Cafe, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG
(nearest tube: Bethnal Green)
Free
This is an exiled lit cafe event with Somali and other Exiled writers
and musicians, which takes place every 2 months and brings the work
of Somali and other exiled writers to the wider community of East
London.
FEATURED GUESTS:
Zahrah Awaleh is British-Somali and was
born in Scunthorpe, South Humberside, now located in North Lincolnshire,
England. The town was a booming steel town when her father arrived
and settled there in the 1950s. She read Arabic at the School of Oriental
and African Studies and returned there to read a Masters in Islamic
Studies after working in Hargeisa, Somaliland with the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA). Her literary work includes a chapter “Daughter
of Diaspora” in the newly published book, Silent Voices (Monsoon
Press, 2007).
Abdi Bahdoon also known as Book of Rhymes, is a young
Somali poet, lyricist and actor whose work appears in Silent Voices.
He has starred in a short film 'Mask Up' and in 'The Bill'. Born in
war-torn Somalia, Abdi was subjected to appalling violence.
Shereen Pandit prize-winning South African born short
story writer. She was a law lecturer and political activist in South
Africa before coming to Britain in 1986, where she completed a PhD
and also taught law. Her first short story won a prize in a literary
competition in 1996. She has since published stories in several literary
magazines and anthologies in the UK and Ireland and has won several
writing competitions for adult and children's writing. She is currently
working on her first novel and a collection of short stories for and
about women in South Africa.
Carlos Reyes-Manzo poet and photographer, was born in
Chile and lives in exile in the UK. His poetry book, Oranges in Times
of Moon, was published in February 2006. In October 2006 he participated
in Sidaja International Poetry Festival in Trieste, Italy. He has
participated in numerous poetry readings. His poetry has been read
on radio and television and published in books and newspapers. He
is currently working on his second book of poetry.
WIN A PRIZE!
Further information: Ayan Mahamoud, Head of Somali Art and Culture
at Oxford House ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
and
Jennifer Langer, Exiled Writers Ink jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Funded by Awards for All
-----------------------
The Project will end with a training day: Oh Art! and Exiled Writers
Ink are offering an important, free workshop for Somali and other
exiled poets
Leading Poetry Workshops
Monday 11th February, 10.00 am to 4 pm at Oxford House, London E2
Led by Leah Thorn, performance poet and
experienced facilitator
There is great demand for exiled writers to lead paid creative writing
workshops for a range of groups.
Learn how to do it!
This free workshop is an introduction to group facilitation skills.
There will be the opportunity to try out exercises and games and reflect
on what works and why.
We will look at issues like building safety in groups and making the
experience inclusive to everyone.
No previous experience is necessary - just a willingness to try out
new things, share your thinking- and have some fun!
Book now.
Send: your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and a
short biography to: jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Exiled Writers Ink invites you to participate in:
4 FREE POETRY WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR REFUGEES AND EXILES
Tuesdays 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2007, 11.00 am to 1.00 pm
Where do you come from, what is your identity?
If you are interested in writing poems about your life experiences
and what it is like to be exiled in a new country, do come along and
be encouraged to find a way into writing. All welcome.
Poetry Writing Workshops with poet and workshop facilitator:
Lynette Craig holds an MPhil in Writing;
she mentors exiled writers and leads workshops for both beginners
and more experienced writers. Her own writing reflects her interest
in the dispossessed, the persecution and exile.
Finsbury Library, 245 St.John Street, ISLINGTON, London EC1V 4NB
Close to corner of St John Street and Skinner Street
Tube: Angel, Northern Line
Buses: 153
Wheelchair access. Disabled toilet.
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOU ARE COMING: jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Exiled Writers Ink is grateful to Islington Libraries for providing
the workshop venue.
Islington
Council
Oh! Art and Exiled Writers Ink invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion: Event 4
Wednesday 24 October 2007, 7pm – 9:30, £5
Breaking the Silence; the Voices of Somali Women
with the great Maryan Mursal and writers: Zahrah Awaleh
and Keena-Diid Caynaane
Maryan Mursal began singing as a teenager in Mogadishu in
1966. As one of the first female singers to make a sucuccses ful as
member of Waaberi band. After the civil she and her young family walked
- out of Mogadishu, across Kenya, through Ethiopia, recrossing Somalia
again and eventually arriving in Djibouti where she was luckily given
asylum by the Danish embassy. Maryan as unique she is one of the few
Somali artist she has two Real world albums on her name.
Zahrah Awaleh is British-Somali; her work includes; a chapter
“Daughter of Diaspora” of newly published book the “Silent
Voices”
Keena-Diid Caynaane -was born in Mogadishu and came to Britain
in 1993 as a refugee fleeing from Somalia. She works for an NGO and
writes literature on the life of Somali immigrants. She recounts beautifully
observed narratives of London life.
Part of “Somali Week Festival 07”: Saturday 20th to Sunday
28th October 2007
Oxford House in partnership with a range of organisations is pleased
to present the Somali Week Festival as a part of Black
History Month.
For more information about the Festival Programme, call Ayan Mahamoud,
the Festival Coordinator on 020 7749 1140 or e-mail her on: ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
For bookings contact Magda Budzowska on
mags.budzowska@oxfordhouse.org.uk or 020 7739 9001, extension
1108
About the June 2007 Con-Fest 'Writing Resistance: The Literature
of Exile'
by Freddy Macha
http://freddymacha.blogspot.com
Monday, 13 August 2007
And Now...
London, Thursday, 21st, June 2007.
The hall is quiet.
The only sound is music. Music is food. Except?
Apart from the ongoing music we are being confronted with gloomy slides.
Wailing women. Dead children. Dead camels and cows. Burnt houses.
Withered men. Displacement. Corpses. Non-fictitious horror.
The morbid and inhuman face of Darfur.
You can hear him playing different instruments, saying nothing; the
photographs speak loud and clear. This is the work of Ahmed Rahman
a gifted musician from Sudan. See him in action, above, photo taken
by Anne Marie Biscombe.
Rahman was part of a whole array of writers and artists invited to
perform at the Human Rights Centre in East London on this special
Thursday in June put together by Jennifer Langer of Exiled Writers
Ink! An organisation of refugee writers. Her own family was expunged
by the Nazis during the Second World War.
We heard powerful stories. It is arduous telling them all. Of a man
who had been shot in the throat during a demonstration in Bangladesh.
A passionate writer with a whispering voice, due to that fateful bullet
wound.
Mir Mahfuz’s poem “Seeking Shelter” was recited
to an attentive audience:
."...He is an alien
On this barbaric shore,
Gazing into land
He doesn’t belong to,
But he has nowhere to go
Beyond this coast.”
Of Alfred Cordal the poet from Chile who ushered our souls back to
the work of one of my favourite poets, Pablo Neruda. Neruda who won
the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Cordal, in a similar spirit,
re-affirmed that words define our identity, woes, joys and self expression.
There was a dance from Iran by Ziba Karbassi, the lady in red. Gallant,
flowery, flamboyant, long, like Ziba’s graceful limbs.
Plus surprises.
How often do you hear pleasant stuff from Afghanistan? All we ever
get are images of sad, veiled women, arid terrains, angry blokes,
guns and bombings. Hassan Bamyami, offered us a taste of this troubled
country’s music. He wailed. Jamaican singer, Bob Marley once
said he began singing when he was born, by crying. Mr. Bamyami from
Afghanistan reminded us of a birth.
Then it was time for Ahmed Rahman.
The other day I saw a poster that was calling for donations:
“If this Darfur woman doesn’t go to the well to
get water his children will die; if she goes to the well she will
be raped.”
You hear of bad things.
Then you meet those who have been there.
Ahmed Rahman’s music and huge kaleidoscopic reflections on the
gargantuan screen were appalling. I followed him backstage.
“I knew most of these people.” Ahmed whispered, “It
is very difficult…”
He excused himself and stepped away. It is very disturbing seeing
a grown up man crying.
Here I was, witnessing a Darfur close up…
Oh! Art and Exiled Writers Ink invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion: Event 3
War and Peace
with Somali, Bosnian and Iranian writers and musicians
www.flickr.com
Wednesday 15th August 2007 at 7 pm
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG (nearest
tube: Bethnal Green)
This is a new exiled lit cafe event with Somali and other Exiled
writers and musicians, which takes place every 2 months and brings
the work of Somali and other exiled writers to the wider community
of East London.
FEATURED GUESTS:
Darija Stojnic
Darija Stojnic is from Sarajevo, Bosnia, Former Yugoslavia where
she lived until the outbreak of war in Sarajevo in 1992. She came
to England as a refugee in 1993. She now works as a counsellor having
completed a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with specialisation
for refugees. Darija writes short stories some of them having been
published in SaLon, The Big Issue and in the anthologies Crossing
the Border and The Silver Throat of the Moon (published Five Leaves).
She also works as a journalist writing a column for Bosniak Post which
is published in Norway.
Aar Band
Aar’s music is ultimately influenced by social and political
issues. Aar (meaning male lion in Somali) is a musician from Somalia
now living in the UK. Aar’s debut album was called Maanta, ('today').
Aar sings about the plight of the Somali people, how civil war and
corruption has affected them and their country and yet a sense of
positivism pervades his music with strong messages of peace, unity
and progression for a better world. His subtle use of traditional
Somali rhythms mixed with modern rhymes and instruments has made Aar’s
sound unique. Aar will perform with his Algerian colleague from the
Aar band and Said Hussein will play the lute.
Mahdad Majdian
Mahdad Majdian is a poet from Iran whose work explores the themes
of freedom, resistance and the delicacy of life. He has performed
his work at a range of venues in London.
Further information: Ayan Mahamoud, Head of Somali Art and Culture
at Oxford House ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
and Jennifer Langer, Exiled Writers Ink jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
Funded by Awards for All
Oh! Art and Exiled Writers Ink invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion: Event 2
Across the African Divide
with Somali and Algerian writers and musicians
Photo: Stanley Langer
Wednesday 27th June 2007 at 7 pm,
Oxford House Cafe, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG
(nearest tube: Bethnal Green)
This is a new exiled lit cafe event with Somali and other Exiled
writers and musicians, which will take place every 2 months and bring
the work of Somali and other exiled writers to the wider community
of East London.
FEATURED GUESTS:
Hudaydi - king of the oud and poet
Tahar Lamri - Algerian born poet exiled in Italy
Mohamed Bashe Hassan - author of two recently published
books
Further information: Ayan Mahamoud, Head of Somali Art and Culture
at Oxford House ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
and Jennifer Langer, Exiled Writers Ink jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
EXILED WRITERS INK IN ASSOCIATION WITH ENGLISH PEN INVITES YOU TO
AN EXCITING CON-FEST (CONFERENCE-FESTIVAL)
WRITING RESISTANCE: THE LITERATURE OF EXILE
THE VOICE OF EXILED WRITERS
Image: Maryam Ashrafi
Thursday 21st June 2007
The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA
COFFEE – 9.45 to 10.00
WELCOME
10.00 to 11.00 – OPENING SESSION
Exiled Writers in a Conflicted World
How do exiled writers negotiate and mediate conflicted internal and
external spaces?
Readings and discussion by the writers:
Moris Farhi
Gillian Slovo
Saadi Yusef
11.00 - 12.15
The Eye of the Exile: Writing in the Exilic Space
Martin Orwin – Three Contemporary Perspectives of Exile in Somali
Poetry
Omar Garcia – (Re)structuring communities: The Cuban Nation
in Exile
Marta Niccolai – Representation of Post-Colonialism by African
Exiled Writers in Italy
Predrag Finci – On Returning
LUNCH 12.30 to 1.30
1.30 – 2.45
Exilic Identity and Language
Chair: Fathieh Saudi
Ana de Medeiros -The Impossibility of Return: Voice, Language and
Exile in Assia Djebar's work.
Yang Lian – The Poetics of Lonely Resistance
Jacob Akol – Burden of Nationality: Memoirs of an African Journalist,
Writer and Aidworker
3.00 - 4.15
Women Without Shadows: Women's voices
Fadia Faqir - Shahrazad Strip-Searched
Aydin Mehmet Ali – Breaking Taboos
Rouhi Shafii – Censorship and Iranian Women Writing in Exile
TEA (4.15 to 4.45)
ALSO HAPPENING DURING THE DAY
Workshops
11.00 to 12.30
Across the Divide of Individual and Collective Memory
Listen to a little poetry by Ziba Karbassi and Jennifer Langer, women
with Muslim and Jewish backgrounds. Share their Box of Memories and
bring your own. Create a collaborative Memory poem with a person from
a different culture, country, language or background.
3.00 to 4.15
Voices of Passion!
Ney player Muniser Unver and poet Evlynn Sharp offer the words of
Rumi and Ibn 'Arabi with musical accompaniment.
Your imaginative response will be invited.
Be inspired by the beauty and universality of mystical poetry along
with music of the Ney flute in this creative writing workshop.
THE CREATIVE SPACE (5 pm to 6.30)
Hosted by Richard McKane, poet and translator
Ziba Karbassi - Dance of Mourning and Poetry - Iran
Mir Mahfuz Ali - poet - Bangladesh
Hassan Bamyani - poetry and music - Afghanistan
Alfredo Cordal - performance poet - Chile
Others tba
BOOK TABLE
DRINKS
7 pm :
Evening event
Exiled Writers Ink in association with Amnesty International
Writing Pain and Resistance in Exile
Once in the UK, exiled writers are not free of the shackles of the
conflict and oppression prevalent in their country but remain intimately
connected with the struggles, expressing their anger and pain through
their art. Frequently this art serves to empower the artist through
the voice of resistance but is it effective in shifting consciousness
in the country of origin?
Exiled writers from Palestine, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan will
read from their work and then discuss the issues.
‘In Memory of Darfur’ is a new musical composition with
multi-media by the Sudanese musician: Ahmed A. Rahman.
Writers:
See below for biographies
- Hamid Ismailov – Uzbekistan
- Ghada Karmi - Palestinian
- Fawzi Kerim – Iraq
- Hilton Mendelsohn – Zimbabwe
- Music and multi-media: Ahmed A. Rahman from Sudan
Expressions of Pain and Resistance in Exile
Hamid Ismailov
Ismailov's novel, The Railway, originally written before he left Uzbekistan,
was translated into English by Robert Chandler and was published in
2006. A Russian edition was published in Moscow in 1997. His forthcoming
novel, will be entitled Comrade Islam and is about a poet in Uzbekistan
who ends up in the Taliban's ranks when the Americans bombarded Afghanistan.
Born in 1954 in Kyrgyzstan, Ismailov is an Uzbek journalist and writer
forced to flee Uzbekistan in 1992 when he came to the UK. He now works
as head of Central Asia and Caucuses Service at the BBC World Service.
His works are banned in Uzbekistan. He published numerous books in
Uzbek, Russian, French, German, Turkish and other languages. Among
them are collections of poetry: "Sad"(Garden)(1987), "Pustynya"(Desert)
(1988), of visual poetry: "Post Faustum" (1990), "Kniga
Otsutstvi " (1992), novels "Sobranie Utonchyonnyh"
(1988), "Le Vagabond Flamboyant" (1993), "Hay-ibn-Yakzan"
(2001), "Hostage to Celestial Turks" (2003), "Doroga
k smerti bol'she chem smert'"(The Road to Death is bigger than
Death) (2005) and others. He translated Russian and Western classics
into Uzbek, and Uzbek and Persian classics into Russian and some Western
languages.
Fawzi Karim
is a poet born in Baghdad in 1945. In 1968 he graduated from the University
of Baghdad and published his first poetry book Haith Tebda' al-Ashia'a
(Where Things Begin). He migrated to Beirut in 1969, where he published
his second collection Arfa'au Ydi Ihtijajan (I Raise My Hand in Protest).
He returned to Baghdad and published his third collection Junun min
al-Hajar (Madness of Stone), and two books of non-fiction, one on
exile and the other on the Iraqi author, Admon Sabri. In 1978, he
migrated to London where he still lives. In exile, he published three
more books of poetry. His Selected Poems was published in 1995 in
Cairo. In 2000 his Complete Poetry was published in Damascus by Dar
al-Mada. In addition to his regular writing for newspapers on classical
music and on painting, he edits his own quarterly al-lahdha al-Shi'iria
(Poetic Moment).
Ghada Karmi
Her memoir, is entitled In Search of Fatima: a Palestinian Story and
her forthcoming book is Married to Another Man, Pluto, June 2007.
She is a research fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
at the University of Exeter, England. She was born in Jerusalem, but
left with her family in 1948. She was brought up in Britain, and gained
a doctorate in the history of Arabic medicine from London University.
Hilton Mendelsohn
was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 1970 in a racially segregated country.
He worked for the Zimbabwe Chronicle and his poetry and short stories
were published in various periodicals. He moved to London in 1998,
continuing to write and co-founding a group of exiled Zimbabwe writers
'Writing Wrongs'. By this time the social and political situation
in Zimbabwe had deteriorated with an escalation of the violent oppression
of the opposition and many of his former colleagues were forced to
leave the country. He began work with the opposition party 'The Movement
for Democratic Change' and human rights organisations, 'The Freedom
for Zimbabwe Campaign', 'The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum' writing
and publishing articles critical of the Mugabe regime. He also co-founded
the charitable organisation Weizimbabwe. He continues to write poetry
and is working on a play to be staged at the Blue Elephant Theatre
in London with the Writing Wrongs Group.
Ahmed A. Rahman
Cost of CON-FEST includes Middle Eastern lunch and evening event
- £20
- £10: students and unwaged,
- unemployed asylum seekers: free
To register, send a cheque made payable to:
Exiled Writers Ink
31 Hallswelle Road, London NW11 0DH
The evening event is free but needs to be booked in advance through
Jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
REFUGEE WEEK: FREE EVENT
Tuesday 19th June 2007 at 7 pm
Exiled Writers Ink with Borders Bookshop Islington
Borders Bookshop in the N1 Shopping Centre, Parkfield Street, Islington
N1 0PS
Tube: Angel
WRITING ACROSS BORDERS
Gillian Slovo
South African born Gillian Slovo is the author of ten novels
as well as a family memoir, Every Secret Thing. Her novels include
Red Dust, winner of the RFI Temoin du Monde prize which has also been
made into a film, and Ice Road which was shortlisted for the Orange
Prize. Her new novel, to be published in 2008, is about what it is
to be a foreigner in Britain.
Exiled Poets:
Iranian born: Shadab Vajdi
She has had numerous collections published in Persian. Closed Circuit
(translated into English from the poet`s Persian works by Lotfali
Khonji), was published in London and Boston (Forest Books, 1989).
Collections of her work have also been translated into German and
Swedish.
Faziry Mafutala, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo
He has lived in the UK since 1996, having had to flee becasue he was
under threat. This arose as a result of becoming involved in the political
activities of the main opposition party whilst working at the Ministry
of Education in DRC. His poetry is inspired by the story-telling tradition.
Chaired by: Carole Angier
The biographer of Jean Rhys and Primo Levi. She
is working on a new book, and writing and translating refugees' and
asylum seekers' stories.
A Mouthful of Africa
Exiled Writers Ink: part of Word from Africa
Thursday 7 June 2007 at 7 pm
Oxford House Theatre, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG
Nearest tube: Bethnal Green
painting by Ze Tubia
'A Mouthful of Africa' is a collaborative theatre production focusing
on stories of African political, social and edible food. The African
exiled writer/performers portray the ambivalent imagery of memories
of home food and yearning in the place of exile. Their concerns of
the personal interact with the political significance of food in areas
disrupted by war and migration, with edible food being an integral
part of the production!
There will be post-performance discussion and an opportunity to enjoy
an African buffet.
The exiled writers and poets are:
Handsen Chikowore, Shona speaking poet from Zimbabwe,
Shereen Pandit, journalist and prize-winning fiction writer
from South Africa,
Said Hussein, Somali story-teller and translator,
Tsehay Alemayehu from Ethiopia, who writes fiction in both
Amharic and English.
Producer: Isabelle Romaine Director: Ernst Fischer
Cost: £10 to include food and £5 concessions.
PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE BY SENDING A CHEQUE MADE PAYABLE TO EXILED
WRITERS INK at 31 Hallswelle Road, London NW11 0DH www.oxfordhouse.org.uk
The Spiro Ark together with Exiled Writers Ink
Sunday 13 May 2007, 7.00 for 7.30pm
In the Footsteps of the Word Gatherer
On a rare visit from France and performing in English and French:
Yvan Tetelbom: the Jewish performance poet
born in Algeria with Polish roots and exiled in France.
Accompanied by Cristiane Bonnay: classical
accordionist, born in Dakar, Senegal.
Introduced by: Jennifer Langer, founder
of Exiled Writers Ink
At the Spiro Ark Centre – 25-26 Enford St, W1, £5
For Bookings: The Spiro Ark
25-26 Enford Street, London, W1H 1DW
Tel: 020 7723 9991, Fax: 020 7723 8191
Email: education@spiroark.org
Web site: www.spiroark.org
Yvan Tetelbom – was born in 1947 in
Port Gueydon, Algeria and has Polish, Algerian and Jewish roots. He
is currently exiled in France. Before becoming a poet, he trained
as an actor and singer, performing in France, Hungary, Israel and
the Palestinian territories. His most recent anthology of poetry is
entitled 'Prayers and Confessions'. His work has been widely broadcast
on regional, national and international radio and television and he
has performed his poetry at national and international literary festivals
and events in a wide range of venues and countries.
His grandparents fled from Poland because of the pogroms at the beginning
of the last century. They spoke Yiddish mixed with Kabyle (an Amasigh
language) while he learnt French at school. He had a carefree upbringing
in a Kabyle village by the Mediterranean in spite of the war in which
the Algerians were engaged against France. Relations were good between
the Jews and Kabyles and even during the War of Independence the Jews
helped those revolting against the French occupation. However, because
of Middle East tensions, bad feelings towards the Jews developed causing
the Teltelboms to leave for France in 1962.
Cristiane Bonnay – was born in Dakar
(Sénégal) and studied in Chambéry, at the Hannover
Conservatory of Music and with Frederich Lips in Moscow. She has won
numerous prizes including the President of the Republic prize and
the World Accordion Cup in Auckland. She currently teaches at the
Académie de Musique, Prince Rainier III and at the Menton Conservatoire.
She also established the Association for the Promotion and Development
of the Accordion.
Oh! art based at Oxford House, Bethnal Green and Exiled Writers Ink
invite you to
Somali and Exiled Voices Fusion Launch
on Wednesday 25th April 2007 at 7 pm at Oxford House
Cafe, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG (nearest tube: Bethnal Green).
This is a new exiled lit cafe event with Somali and other Exiled
writers and musicians, which will take place every 2 months and bring
the work of Somali and other exiled writers to the wider community
of East London.
Our featured guests are:
Ali Ahmed Rabi 'Seenyo’ poet, song writer, playwright
and director
Ziba Karbassi, exciting young Iranian poet
Botaan, poet
They will be accompanied by Dararamle, one of the most famous
lute players and vocalists in Somali society.
The evening will be chaired by Dr Martin Orwin, Somali specialist,
of the School of Oriental and African and Studies (tbc).
Translation of some of the Somali work by Said Jama.
REFRESHMENTS
If you are a Somali or other Exiled writer, poet or musician and
wish to take part on this open mic Café, please email:
Ayan Mahamoud, Head of Somali Art and Culture at Oxford House ayan.mahamoud@oxfordhouse.org.uk
or Jennifer Langer, Exiled Writers Ink director jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk
EXILED WRITERS INK MENTORING AND TRANSLATION SCHEME
(Arts Council funded)
Exiled Writers INK mentoring scheme
Are you a writer forced to live in exile?
Are you finding it hard to get recognition and published in the UK?
Exiled Writers INK is running a mentoring scheme to match writers in
exile with well known writers in the UK. You will work together intensively
over a year, leading to publications, readings and new opportunities.
You do not have to have been previously published, or have a perfect
level of English but you do need to be writing at a high level and ready
to accept guidance and constructive criticism from your mentor. If you
are interested, please send 3-5 poems or 2 short stories and a CV to:
NatTeitler@aol.com
or Nathalie Teitler
Exiled Writers Ink mentoring scheme
240a Clapham Road
London SW9 OPZ
work will not be returned.
Exiled Writers INK translation scheme
Are you a writer forced to live in exile?
Are you finding it hard to get translated and published in the UK?
Exiled Writers INK is running a scheme to match writers in exile with
expert translators in the UK. You will work together intensively over
a year, leading to publications, readings and new opportunities. You
need to have a strong track record of publications, or recognition
in your own country. If you are interested please send a CV and 3-5
poems and 2 short stories in your own language to:
NatTeitler@aol.com
or Nathalie Teitler
Exiled Writers Ink Translation scheme
240a Clapham Road
London SW9 OPZ
work will not be returned.
