art and culture

13:40

4th Festival for Palestine Cultural Days organized by Tiro Association for Arts, Lebanese National Theater, and Istanbouli Théâtre was held in Tyre, Lebanon. Many artists received awards as part of the festival. The festival honors Najwa Najjar and Leila Khaled while the theatre play named, “Freedom Tunnel” got credits by the audiences.

13:00

We spoke to Moroccan writer Zahra Azz about strong female characters in her novels and her new project.

10:41

Women of Halabja and Duhok held an art and handicraft exhibition in Halabja. Female painters draw attention to the pain faced by women in their paintings.

11:47

Author Ghaid Al Gharb wins the Katara Prize for Arabic Novels in the unpublished novels category. “I make my voice heard thanks to this prize.”

16:00

Buka Baranê (Rainbow or Bride of Rain) is a Kurdish tradition mostly performed by children. The children, who hold a stick symbolizing the bride, visit house by house to make it rain. Children living in the Şexani neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah continue to carry on this tradition. “We want it rains,” the children said.

12:30

Iraqi Symphony Orchestra opens its curtains after a two-year closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Musician Nur Mihemed states that women have a strong bond with music, “Women should be supported.

11:08

Rahaf Shamaly has done something in Gaza that many people have not dared until now. She sings in the streets of Gaza.

09:29

Theater İmge draws attention to violence against women by stating a theatre play named “My Name”, the story of Meryem who uses her self-defense when she faces violence. Meryem faces violence for years but she keeps silent. When she sees her husband sexually abusing her daughter Gülsüm, she uses her self-defense and kills her husband. We also learn the story of Meryem’s grandmother Ayşe and her mother Hatça.

14:58

Musician Parvin Bahmani, known for her lullabies, died at the age of 73 in Iran. She had reportedly suffered from many health problems.

09:55

106 years have passed since genocide was carried out against Armenians in 1915. Feride Sewme learned what had happened to the Armenian and Christians during the genocide from her parents and now she tells her children what their grandparents faced to “Not forget those days.” Feride Sewme also drew attention to the fact that the mentality has not changed since the Ottoman period.

11:07

Mosaics of the church of the Elibiskê village were reportedly stolen and then sold. Esmehan Ehmed, the head of the Historical Site Management in NE Syria, holds Turkey responsible for the situation, “We want to bring back stolen and sold mosaics.”

16:37

The 7th Pomegranate Festival kicks off in Halabja. Many agricultural products and Kurdish dishes have been also exhibited at the festival.

12:32

“Women should read books,” says award-winning writer Saja Hamdan.

12:45

70-year-old Saliha Ebdi Mustefa makes Kofi (a kind of scarves worn by Kurdish women) to earn a living and to preserve century-old Kurdish women’s tradition.

09:51

Kurdish women still preserve the local dresses left by their mothers and grandmothers to wear them on special occasions such as weddings, feasts, and celebrations. They call on the young generation to embrace their culture.

14:56

Mudan İbrahim is an artist who combines painting with embroidery to create unique works of art.

09:00

“Flamenco is not just the dance or the music of pain. It is feeling, emotion, love, anger, pain, and joy.”

15:13

Nearly 40 women held a handicrafts exhibition in Sharazoor. 18 women exhibited their handicraft products at the exhibition. “Actually, each product at the exhibition has a historical meaning and story.”

12:47

3rd Stêrvan Young Women’s Festival was held in Kobanî. At the festival, women sang Italian, Arabic and Kurdish songs and performed folk dances. Internationalist artists also took the stage.

10:54

Kurdish director Viyan Mayi’s film named “Semay Jiyan” was shot in Germany. The film telling the stories of women will be screened soon.