Shahrazad - Stories for life

Yesterday 800 students gathered at Sola High School, Norway, to hear Guest Writers Manal Al-Sheikh (Iraq/Stavanger) and Norwan (Afghanistan/Stavanger) talk about human rights and freedom of speech in their respective homelands. The event was held in relation to the school’s annual International Day.

ICORN Coordinator Marianne Hovdan was also present to talk about ICORN and Stavanger City of Refuge. She said that both authors enjoyed speaking to such a large, young audience.

– Their presentations made a big impression on the students, with many of them eager to talk to Al-Sheikh and Norwan afterwards, reported Hovdan.

At Sola High School there are pupils from all around the world, and after the presentations they served foods from their own countries. Prior to the event the students were given assignments related to the subjects addressed in Al-Sheikh and Norwan’s presentations, with a quiz being held at the end.

It’s been a busy time for Tendai Tagarira. The former ICORN Guest Writer of Aarhus, Denmark, has recently finished an animation based on A Can of Worms, the opening poem of his collection of protest poems Mugabe Must Go. Created together with the Portugese director Vitor Lopes, the film is set to hit the festival circuit this year. Watch the trailer and read the poem that it is based on.

The Zimbabwean writer has also founded Denmark’s first African TV show. Called African Rainbow, it broadcasts weekly to about 1,2 million people in the greater Jutland area. Tagarira is directing and hosting the show, which aims to confront negative African stereotypes common in Europe. Watch episode one, two and three online.

In addition to this, Tagarira fronts a weekly radio show on Aarhus radio 98.7 Mhz called African Vibes, where guests like Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and Fat Joe have been in the studio to offer their take on African politics.

Since arriving in Denmark, Tagarira has written several books. An overview can be found on his Amazon author page.

Paris Marrakech, the latest work from Ali Amar, ICORN Guest Writer in Ljubljana, is out now. Co-written by French journalist Jean-Pierre Tuquoi, the book explores the extravagant, almost incestuous, relationship between France and Morocco.

Is Marrakech the XXI district of Paris? Winston Churchill once referred to the city as ’the Paris of the Sahara’, a description still valid today. French politicians, intellectuals and superstars frequently visit Marrakech. In a riad in the medina or by the poolside of a luxury hotel, pacts and alliances are forged against the backdrop of a city in change.

Paris Marrakech is available in French and published by Calmann-Lévy.