{"id":4976,"date":"2015-06-26T01:03:52","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T00:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=4976"},"modified":"2015-06-26T01:03:52","modified_gmt":"2015-06-26T00:03:52","slug":"london-theater-hosts-ramadan-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/london-theater-hosts-ramadan-night\/","title":{"rendered":"London theater hosts Ramadan night"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"London<\/a>Nabila Pathan:<\/strong> Throughout history, a diverse array of traditions and social mores have arisen in the Arab world to compliment the spiritual rituals of the holy month of Ramadan, bringing color, culture and life to communities that celebrate the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. As these festivities engulf the Middle East, some of the diverse sounds, ambience and soulful poetry were this week transported to London as the Rich Mix Theatre hosted \u201cRamadan Night.\u201dA showcase of poetry, sounds and sights, evoking nostalgic moments of the past and present, \u201cRamadan Night\u201d was curated by the Arts Canteen, responsible for introducing emerging and successful artists in both the visual arts and music from the Middle East to the United Kingdom.
\nAser el-Saqqa, the founder and creative director of Arts Canteen, explains the background to the project:
\n\u201cI have been working in the arts and cultural sector in the Arab world and Europe for 10 years and am a firm believer in the need for a more informed understanding of the cultural traditions of the Arab world in the UK. It is out of this conviction that I have curated this night with the support of the Arab British Centre. This wonderful Ramadan tradition lends itself beautifully to sharing with other communities.\u201d
\nHe goes onto explain that the insights for curating the event stem from his own background of being an Arab: \u201cI grew up with Ramadan\u2019s cultural traditions which are still alive in various countries in the Arab world. These include poetry, light displays, street performances, spoken word, theatre, food and music, which compliment and enrich the religious and social aspects of this month.\u201d
\nHighly anticipated performers<\/strong>
\nDescribing the line-up of performers as \u201ccreative and talented artists,\u201d he adds that \u201cthey come from a wide spectrum of different Arab communities, generations and will perform a rich program of diverse genres.\u201d
\nOne of the highly anticipated billed performers of the night was singer and Oud player Najib Coutya, originally from Tripoli in Lebanon, who led an ensemble of musicians, producing songs and sounds that reached back in time through Arabic history. His collection of songs explored the range of Arab Maqamat (modes), Muwashahat (songs set to the text of classical Arabic poetry from medieval Andalusia) and Qudud (folk songs originating from Aleppo, Syria).
\nThe stage was gently lit by candles and Arabic lanterns creating an ambience for audience members to get lost in a world of story-telling and rich musical traditions hailing from across the Middle East. The lantern is an enduring symbol of the traditional Ramadan festivities of Cairo, and dates back more than 800 years.
\nTraditional instruments, such as the oud, the qanun, the violin and percussion, took center stage. Nostalgic moments were created by the early 20th-century documentary footage from the Arab capitals of Beirut, Cairo, Rabat and Jerusalem, projected throughout the performances onto the background screen.
\n\u2018Hope and solace\u2019<\/strong>
\nThe event has been viewed as playing an important role in generating a sense of \u201chope and solace\u201d for diasporic Arabs observing a tumultuous political landscape in regions they hail from. Writing for the online publication yourmiddleeast.com, Mohammad Sakhnini adds: \u201cfor many Damascenes who are going to the event, memories will be revived about Damascus\u2019 old mosques, walls, souks and historic cafes and palaces, the spaces of history which once showed how the holy month of ramadan could be a platform for artistic and musical revival and also a platform for social solidarity and charity crossing religious and class boundaries.\u201d
\nSpeaking to Al Arabiya News, Aser el-Saqqa concludes that it was important for Ramadan Night to be showcased to London\u2019s diverse Arab communities as he hopes it will \u201cenable Arab communities to share a sense of nostalgia for their fond memories of how Ramadan was celebrated in previous generations. It will give them the opportunity to share this great tradition with others who know less about it, in a way which is comfortable and accessible for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

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