Performing arts
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″Der Vogel Anderswo″ – Elsewhere Bird
Nurturing empathy
A theatre in Leipzig has stuck its neck out and brought a children′s play about refugees to the stage. The main actor fled Syria himself and the story he conjures up out of his suitcase is both educational and funny. An integration project for everyone involved – those from here and from elsewhere. By Inge Gunther
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Turkish actor Baris Atay
Defy the dictators!
Turkish actor Baris Atay plays a dictator in a one-man show that is intended to get audiences thinking. The play has been banned in several Turkish cities, but Atay remains defiant. By Gezal Acer
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Album review: Jon Balke and Siwan – "Nahnou Houm"
Chasing an elusive heritage
Juxtaposing songs in Arabic with others in Spanish and Ladino, Norwegian composer and musician Jon Balke has spent the last ten years experimenting with the music of Muslim Andalusia. Releasing their first album in 2009, he and Siwan are now back with "Nahnou Houm". Review by Richard Marcus
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Interview with Palestinian poet and artist Farid Bitar
″I must either be the voice of sanity or justice″
Palestinian artist and poet Farid Bitar's work was recently included in Smokestack Books' "A Blade of Grass: New Palestinian Poetry", edited by Naomi Foyle. One of the 60 people allowed to enter the Gaza strip for a few hours during the Gaza Freedom March in 2009, Bitar talks to Valentina Viene about his activism and his art
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Interview with Syrian playwright Wael Kadour
A vehicle for integration
Syrian playwright and dramatist Wael Kadour came of age in Damascus a decade before the revolution. His plays speak of life in his home country and social tensions across the Middle East. Interview by Laura Cappelle
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Cairo's Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School
The chance of a lifetime
In early 2017, Cairo's Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School moved into new premises. Adjacent to the perimeter wall of the city's Azhar Park, the new building is also right next to the Genaina Theatre, venue for most of the school's performances. Islam Anwar has the details
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Album review: Anouar Brahem′s ″Blue Maqams″
A gem of an album
Tunisian-born oud maestro Anouar Brahem who has made a career out of defying people's expectations has done it again. His most recent release, Blue Maqams, showcases his skills in a jazz context – the results are simply stunning. Review by Richard Marcus
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Album review
Lost Somali tapes: ″Sweet as broken dates″
Ostinato Records recently released an amazing compilation of Somali music, ″Sweet as broken dates″, which reminds listeners that – despite the prevalent images of a land torn apart by civil war – Somalia was once a country with a thriving cultural tradition. Review by Richard Marcus
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Album review: Rafiki Jazz′ ″Har Dam Sahara″
In life′s every moment
Rafiki Jazz′ latest album, ″Har Dam Sahara″, is one of those rare releases which manages to combine the music of multiple cultures to produce a sound that is both unique and harmonious. Review by Richard Marcus
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Album review
″Love Party″ by Ya Tosiba: Sufi in the house
A wonderfully subversive and witty album, Ya Tosiba′s ″Love Party″ slyly pokes fun at authority and present day life in Azerbaijan. With electronics simulating traditional instruments from the region, it draws on the Sufi ′meyknana′ tradition for its lyrics. Review by Richard Marcus
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Album review
Ya Tosiba′s ″Love Party″: Sufi in the house
A wonderfully subversive and witty album, Ya Tosiba′s ″Love Party″ slyly pokes fun at authority and present day life in Azerbaijan. With electronics simulating traditional instruments from the region, it draws on the Sufi ′meyknana′ tradition for its lyrics. Review by Richard Marcus
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Palestine′s comedy star Reham al-Kahlout
No escaping life in Gaza
Reham al-Kahlout is 19 and has chosen an impossible job: she entertains people in a place where there isn′t much to laugh about. What′s more, she can′t even count on unconditional support from her extended family. Peter Munch reports from Gaza City