In various venues across Nairobi, a vibrant celebration of culture, resilience, and creativity is unfolding soon. The Palestinian Art Festival is coming: presenting a tapestry of powerful stories and striking images of a unique and ancient land, people and culture.
The Palestinian Art Festival is a celebration of the richness and diversity of Palestinian culture, placed within the context of the tragic conditions that the country has endured for decades and which have been amplified since 7th October 2023. It’s a homage to a people that are currently suffering under an onslaught. The festival aims to raise awareness around the Palestinian decades-long struggle, the tragedy of present-day Gaza and The West Bank and to contribute to the voices of protest worldwide that call for an end to the suffering.
It is a platform for showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Palestine through various artistic expressions. It will not only showcase artistic brilliance but will also highlight the unyielding spirit of a people whose voices refuse to be silenced. Through the universal language of art, festival-goers can stand in solidarity, connecting worlds and sparking conversations about identity, freedom, and humanity. The festival will explore conflict through the medium of art, discovering pathways to understanding and resolution.
Detail of poster “From Ground Zero”, Watermelon Pictures
The Palestinian Art Festival hopes to channel the sadness of the ongoing conflict in Palestine into something more productive. This volunteer-led organisation has been supporting events in aid of Palestine since late 2023, in order to raise funds and to promote awareness, resilience and resistance.This latest iteration of the festival will feature an array of events, including topically relevant film screenings, art exhibitions, animation and culinary events.
Funds raised so far have been donated to The Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, supporting children affected by conflict in both Palestine and Lebanon.The fund provides medical attention to the children who need it the most and helps to relieve the burden on the states’ medical sectors. The fund’s first initiative has been the transportation of critically injured children, with their caretakers, from Palestine to Lebanon, where they can receive the best possible medical, psychological, and social care.
Palestinians, carrying their personal belongings with them, migrate toward areas they believe to be safer. [Mahmoud İssa – Anadolu Agency] via Middle East Monitor
Palestinian Art Festival’s events over the past several months have comprised a series of one-off events. Nairobi will now be treated to a week-long festival with a series of special events, in collaboration with Palestinian artist Rasmi Damo, a talented creator from Gaza who is currently based in France.
Damo is an animation filmmaker, art therapist, educator and is the founder of Fekra Arts Institute and director of Fekra France Association. Founded in 2001, Fekra strives to enrich the cultural and artistic scene in Gaza by running educational and recreational arts programmes for children and youths. They particularly focus on dramatic arts, holding specialized trainings and performances, elevating the children’s talents and reinforcing their skills. These programmes assist the youth to better cope psychologically, emotionally and socially with the situation they have been born into and are growing up living in. Fekra will be the recipient of the funds raised by the festival.
Image via Masharawi Fund Films
While in Nairobi, Damo will work in collaboration with a school here in Nairobi to produce a short animated film. The result of this collaboration will be screened at Unseen Nairobi on 25 January. The screening is open to all and the material and setting will be kid-friendly.
In addition to the animation screening, the festival will include:
Multiple screenings of the Oscar-shortlisted Film “From Ground Zero” (2024).
“From Ground Zero” is a collection of 22 short films made in Gaza. Initiated by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, the project was born to give a voice to 22 Gazan filmmakers to tell the untold stories of the current war on film and has been shortlisted for this year’s Academy Awards in the category for Best International Feature.
The initiative for the film was born amid the conflict with the aim of providing young filmmakers with a vehicle for their craft. Using a mix of genres, including fiction, documentary, docu-fiction and animation, each short film presents a unique perspective on the reality of life in Gaza, capturing the diverse experiences of the Palestinian enclave. Read more about the films.
A Palestinian Brunch by Chef Michael Lama + Panel Discussion + Poetry Recital
As well as a brunch discovering the delicacies of Palestinian cuisine prepared by Chef Michael,, there will be a conversation between Rasmi Damo and African artists (yet to be announced) on Art, Resilience, and Resistance. Paza Sauti will also recite powerful poetry. This will take place at Tribal Gallery on Sunday 19 January.
A spread of Chef Michael’s mezze (Image by author)
A Journey to Palestine Through Food with Chef Michael Lama + DJ Prïss at Chez Sonia
Chef Michael is known in Nairobi for his Middle Eastern cuisine, with the use of fresh, wholesome ingredients, vibrant spices, and slow-cooking techniques that bring out layers of flavor. Dine of Chef Michael’s delectable cuisine while Lebanese-origin DJ Prïss spins the tunes into the night.
Palestinian culture may seem unfamiliar to many in Kenya, however, Coastal Swahili traditions here in Kenya are intertwined with those of the Arab world through centuries of interaction along the East African coast.. You can especially hear this in the music of both cultures, transcending seemingly diverse worlds. The Palestinian Art Festival would like Kenyans to feel these similarities and embody their humanity in order to understand the struggle of Palestinians in the current conflict.
The Palestinian Art Festival hopes to continue these historic artistic interactions, and the legacy of connection between the Middle East and Kenya, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding, while raising vital funds for aid in Palestine . It reminds us that art is not just a reflection of identity but also a tool for dialogue and change. As spectators carry these stories and images forward, the festival stands as a testament to the enduring strength of art in bridging worlds and inspiring hope for a brighter, more unified future.
Tickets can be booked as follows:
– Friday 17 January: Opening Night – From Ground Zero screening + Bites + Q&A | 6 pm | Tribal Gallery | For booking call 0713825250
– Saturday 18 January: From Ground Zero screening + Q&A with Rasmi 3 pm | Unseen Nairobi | Book on mookh.com
– Sunday 19 January: Palestinian Brunch + Panel Discussion + Poetry | 11 am @Tribal Gallery | For booking call 0713825250
– Tuesday 21st: Fundraising Palestinian Dinner with Chef Michael + Dj Prïss | 7 pm | Chez Sonia | Book on mookh.com
– Wednesday 22 January: From Ground Zero screening + Q&A | 6 pm | Two Rivers | Book on mookh.com
Please stay tuned to iN Nairobi and Palestinian Art Festival on their social media channels for further updates. *All proceeds to charity. *