Afghanistan Festival
In the second half of 2023, the Goethe-Institut in Exile was dedicated to Afghanistan's cultural scene and the Afghan diaspora. The country focus on Afghanistan was opened with a festival from 30 June 30 - 2 July 2023. Theater performances, readings, panel discussions, concerts, a radio programme, workshops and a participatory street art project were part of the programme.
Here you will find selected content on the country focus Afghanistan and the highlights of the opening festival.
Please take a look at the complete festival programme here:
Festival Programme
Here you will find selected content on the country focus Afghanistan and the highlights of the opening festival.
Please take a look at the complete festival programme here:
Festival Programme
PICTURE GALLERY AFGHANISTAN FESTIVAL
The three-day opening festival (30.6.-2.7.2023) of the country focus Afghanistan offered an interdisciplinary programme. Elements of traditional and contemporary culture were presented as well as current discourses of the diaspora. One focus was on making Afghanistan's diverse female and diverse art and cultural production visible.
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TV and radio journalist Sohayla Asghary hosted the opening ceremony of the festival. -
The opening ceremony was musically accompanied by rubab player Fazila Zamer and tabla player Ustad Feraydoon Meyazada. -
The Kunsthaus ACUD and its courtyard invited people to exchange ideas over Afghan food and tea. -
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The crowning finale of the first evening was the DJ sets by Farhot and Masta Sai. The music producer Farhot played music in which he combines elements of traditional Afghan music and pop culture. -
The artist and calligrapher Abdul Wahab Mohmand led a workshop combining calligraphy with painting. -
Puppeteer and director Abdul Haq Haqjoo showed his interpretation of the Grimm fairy tale "Hans in Luck", which focuses strongly on the situation in his home country Afghanistan. -
Shir Khan Ahmadzai, Wieland Jagodzinski, Homan Wesa and Abdul Haq Haqjoo discussed puppet theatre in Afghanistan after the theatre performance. -
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Some cultural workers and participants of the festival met again after a long time - like here the journalist Zainab Farahmand, who moderated the panel "On the diversity and preservation of culture in Afghanistan around in exile". -
In the theatre performance "Fear and Hope" (director: Frishteh Sadati), young people from the theatre ensemble AWA recount their journey to Europe, regaining power over their own narratives piece by piece. -
The writers Naeema Ghani and Marina Mohammadi read from the anthology "My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women" (MacLehose Press, 2022) and discussed current issues and challenges with Ibrahim Hotak and the audience. -
The singer and harmonium player Maschall Ander, who has been fascinated by music since her childhood, thrilled the audience with her songs in Paschto, Dari, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. -
In a paper theatre workshop led by Shir Khan Ahmadzai and Mohammad Karim Asir, the participants made their own stages and figures. Afterwards, small scenes were performed. -
The panel took stock of the current situation of Afghan writers in Germany. Participants in the discussion were Hadia Armaghan, Taqi Akhlaqi, Mohibullah Zegham, Dr. Mohammad Dawood Wafa and Sur Israfil. -
In the theatre performance "Shar-e Naw in Berlin" (directed by Mina Jawad), Nasrin, an Afghan migrant in Germany, visits her exiled friend Spozhmai in Berlin. An ordinary evening quickly turns into a profound exploration of their identities against the backdrop of colonised norms, prejudices and stereotypes. -
Interviews
Artists who actively participated in the program of the opening festival Afghanistan give insights into their artistic work and share personal experiences.
Panel recordings
Have you missed an event? Here you will find recordings of selected content.
