Stockholm’s Kulturhuset Stadsteatern hosts 'A Night with Buddha'
On Friday 11th of March, the Stockholm theater Kulturhuset will host 'A Night with Buddha', an evening of dance, poetry, music and discussion in memory of the Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021. This commemorative festival has been organized by Zahra Hussaini, Stockholm’s newest ICORN resident, and Hayat Ensafi for the past nine years. Since they were both forced to flee Afghanistan in the autumn of 2021, Hussaini and Ensafi have brought the festival to Stockholm.
Ensafi explains the impetus behind organising this annual event:
The destruction of the Buddha statues was a shocking and cruel act that reminds us of the need to prevent similar acts.We want the importance of ancient heritage to be understood by the public, a sense of public responsibility for the preservation of these monuments to be promoted, and finally, respect for historical heritage to become a universal value which in turn promotes cultural diversity,tolerance, and empathy.
The programme will focus around the importance of common cultural heritage with both Afghani and Swedish researchers, experts and artists participating. A panel discussion will delve into these questions,led by Kerstin Brunnberg, a journalist and former CEO of Swedish Radio, and in conversation with panelists Dr. Malek Sitiz, Maria Dahlström and Khazar Fatemi.
As the transformative power of art is at the root of this event, several Afghani artists who have relocated to Sweden will share their work. There will be poetry readings by Zia Qasmi, Afghan poet based in Uppsala, Sahar Mousa and Mizar Kemal, former and current ICORN residents in Stockholm. Joining them will be another artist in ICORN residence,Ali Thareb, a poet and performance artist from Iraq, currently residing in Jönköping. Finally, Mahboubeh Ebrahimi, a prominent Afghan poet living in Uppsala, will read his work, as well as sing.
A musical performance will also be offered by +93, a group of 12 Afghan young people from Stockholm led by the artistic director and former ICORN resident, Arya Aramnejad, who started the project in 2021.
There is immense significance to this programme being hosted at Kulturhuset, a venue that has long been a stage for free speech, a safe space where freedom of expression is cherished and put in action. This arts institution is also in charge of hosting ICORN artists in residence since the City of Stockholm became an ICORN member in 2012, although the city has been a safe haven for artists since 1998. The city is committed to provide two resident artists a safe haven for two years which includes a monthly stipend, housing, and the facilitation of connections with the cultural community of Stockholm.
The programme will start at 6 pm and will be in English. The event is organised in collaboration with Studiefrämjandet with the support from Kulturrådet.
