يما راجع انا بعيونك غطيني

Mother, I’m returning, cover me with your eyes

-Palestinian Folksong

An afternoon of literature and music for a community overflowing with grief and flooded with hope.

Our beloved Palestine is enduring a devastating humanitarian catastrophe. With every fibre of our being, we mourn the loss of all life entangled in this violence and we condemn the brutality that is unleashed towards the Palestinian people.

As we awaken each day and gather the scattered shards of our heart, eyes brimming with tears, our souls trembling, let us hold each other as we stride, hopeful.

Today, we turn our gaze towards the resilience and unyielding spirit of the Palestinians. In our search for answers on how to keep holding on, how to breathe, how to fall into darkness without breaking and where to find the light again, we look towards Palestinian literature and music.

We will read poetry that holds the collective subconscious of Palestine. We will sing songs that remind us of the uncompromising courage of the Palestinian people.

We will say their names, we will raise their voices, and we will not forget their stories.

This afternoon we open our doors to hold space, to hold each other. We invite you to be a part of the collective, to donate with your heart, and to be immersed in the beauty of Falasteen.

Come as you are, come in peace.

Click here to read our statement

art by: BEESANARAFAT

This program is made in collaboration with Fikra Magazine

Fikra is a Palestinian literary magazine founded in 2022. We publish essays, short stories, poetry, and visual art in both Arabic and English. Fikra Magazine is a platform for Palestinians and by Palestinians. We believe that great stories from the Palestinian community have the power to enrich our readers’ lives and bolster the modern Palestinian cultural heritage.

You can buy Fikra’s first print edition during the event and support Palestinian art!

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