Most recent articles by Astrid Kaminski
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Music festival on the Greek island of ChiosOpportunities for reflection
An inspirational idea from a violinist and a composer has led to the establishment of a new music festival on the Greek island of Chios. Their idea is to help build bridges between refugees and islanders – and maybe make the hard winter a little easier to bear. By Astrid Kaminski
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Interview with the Egyptian choreographer Adham HafezThe disappearance of the kiss
One of the highlights of Berlin's recent Return to Sender theatre festival was a performance of the futuristic piece "2065 BC" by the internationally renowned Egyptian choreographer Adham Hafez. Astrid Kaminski spoke to him about national identities and the arts scene in Cairo
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The emancipation of men with Turkish rootsA closed society viewed from inside
Men in Germany with Turkish roots are starting to break their silence and talk about their problems and how to overcome them in self-help groups and on stage. These "Supermen" have also now made their debut in Turkish literature. By Astrid Kaminski
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Prince Moulay Hicham el Alaoui of MoroccoThe diary of the red prince
The Moroccan Prince Moulay Hicham el Alaoui has penned a diary about his life in the palace and his exile, thereby creating a scandal in the royal household. Astrid Kaminski read the book
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A literary anthology of the Gezi protestsGezi lives!
In "Gezi – A Literary Anthology", a volume of essays that was recently published in German, 19 Turkish authors and a photographer reflect on the motivation and dynamics of the Gezi movement. By Astrid Kaminski
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The Lebanese magazine "The Outpost"Road map to an uncensored world
The pan-Arab magazine "The Outpost" is produced on a quarterly basis in Beirut. Only one year after its establishment, it is already attracting international attention. Astrid Kaminski took a closer look at the magazine and spoke to its editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Nehme, about its success
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Interview with the composer Marc SinanA modern-day Bartók of Turkic music
Dede Korkut, the best-known of the epic stories of the Oghuz Turks, and the music that goes with it form the basis of Marc Sinan's new docu-fictional musical theatre production, "Dede Korkut – The Story of Tepegoz". Astrid Kaminski spoke to the composer
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Street Children in MarrakechThe Oasis of Sésame Garden
Some 10 million tourists visit the Kingdom of Morocco every year. But very little of the income they generate trickles down to the socially disadvantaged. In Marrakech, a lone restaurateur is making a real difference to the lives of street children. A report Astrid Kaminski
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"Serenade" by Zülfü LivaneliTurkish Plea for Tolerance
In his novel "Serenade", the composer, singer and author Zülfü Livaneli writes about Armenian, Jewish and Muslim identity, mirrored in 20th century Turkey's history and the crimes of the Second World War. A review by Astrid Kaminski
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The ''On Marche'' Festival in MarrakeshThe Ethic of Dance Is a Shock for Many
The eighth contemporary dance festival "On Marche" is taking place in Marrakesh this year. In spite of the fact that there is still considerable resistance to the idea of dance, the festival still manages to turn public places into open stages which are enthusiastically received by the public. By Astrid Kaminski
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Civil War and Cultural Protest in Syria''The Revolution Has Become an Orphan''
As the military conflict in Syria continues to escalate, the commitment of many peace activists and creative professionals in Syria is going more or less unnoticed by the media and in western public consciousness. An essay by Astrid Kaminski
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Post-Migrant Literature in Germany''The time has come to speak out very, very loudly''
The writers duo Marianne Salzmann and Deniz Utlu are pioneers of Germany's post-migrant literary scene. In this interview with Astrid Kaminski, they talk about 'transcultural perspectives', the meaning of subculture and anti-Semitism in Germany