2015-03-14

With Ramy Essam at literature event on Åland March 21

On March 21, I present the evening program at the Mariehamn Literature Days on Åland. The event is an excellent example of how the library as a public space becomes an important meeting place for the word and its meanings for each of us. This year’s theme: ESCAPE.

At 2:20 pm I will be on stage together with Ramy Essam, the voice of the revolution from Tahrir Square in Cairo in 2011. After censored, he continues his struggle for a free Egypt in a safe haven residence in the Swedish city of Malmö for two years, and through social media. As a rock artist, he sings about the situation in Egypt and is an inspiration to people to stand up for peace and freedom. Read the article about Ramy in The New Yorker, or follow him on Youtube.

Participating in the evening program – Literature as refuge and a meeting place – is among others Linda Olsson, Mårten Westö, Jolin Slotte, Gabriella Håkansson, Lars Sund, Negar Naseh and Sjon. Music: Ramy Essam.

(Assigned by the City of Malmö’s cultural administration during 2015, I report on Malmö’s program for musicians at risk. The focus is on broadening the program from only taking on authors and writers to also offer safe havens for other art practitioners. The assignment will result in a report on the implementation of Malmö’s first program for musicians at risk, and presented in conjunction with an international conference in Malmö in August 2015. Read more about this.)