Goethe-Institut In Exile hosts Berlin festival of Afghan art

Refuge Worldwide will host the festival's warm-up evening on June 29.

Taking place at ACUD in Berlin Mitte, the Goethe-Institut in Exile's Afghanistan festival will present a range of talks, music and art over three days.

On Friday, 30 June, there will be a concert by Afghan singer Elaha Soroor, accompanied by DJ sets from Farhot, DJ Masta Sai, and Taman Noor. On Saturday, the programme will centre around an assessment of Kabul's cultural scene, featuring actress and director Malalai Zikria, artist Kabir Mokamel, a puppet theater performance of "Hans im Glück", a presentation of cultural and literary magazine "What's Afghan Punk Rock, Anyways?!", a zine workshop and a selection of films.

(Elaha Soroor by Alex Kozobolis)

Sunday's offering includes a children's programme consisting of workshops and Afghan games, as well as a matinee reading and panel discussion. Later in the day,  German-Afghan director Zamarin Wahdad will present her short film "Bambirak." The closing will be a performance by the rap group AK13 and the breakdancers of the Superiors Crew, whose lyrics reflect the traumatic experiences of war and displacement.

For the full programme, head here. To participate in the workshops and children's programme please sign up via email to im-exil@goethe.de.

Alongside the on-site curation, a series of radio broadcasts will be available via Refuge Worldwide, including an interview with Taman Noor live from Oona at the festival warm-up on 29 June. There will also be recordings of musical performances and remotely conducted interview.

The Goethe-Institut in Exile is a platform for "artists in exile who have been profoundly impacted by political conflicts and the disintegration of essential local infrastructures." It is the result of the closure of various Goethe-Instituts, in countries including Belarus, Sudan and Afghanistan.