The wonders of multilingualism #4: how to spell (de)colonisation ?
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Anyone who today do not speak English will often feel left out. We live in a world where this language has become dominant in a broad cultural sense. Within education too, English is in many places an obvious choice second language. Speaking English – at least in this part of the world – seems to be the prerequisite for economic participation.
Language can also play an important role politically, as a lever for resistance to oppression or as an instrument to change a culture. Colonisation and migration, territorial conflicts and identity issues have a major impact on the language that communities (are allowed to) speak and develop.
The Wonders of Multilingualism series explores a different aspect of our multilingual society each time. Short artistic and literary interventions fuel conversations among spectators, which we deliberately make space for.
For this fourth session of 'The wonders of multilingualism', we cover language and power by looking through the lens of (de)colonisation. How does it manifest itself in language? How do writers free themselves from the colonial impact on language as part of their cultural and everyday life? How do you talk about colonisation in Arabic? Three guests – all of them with links to the MENA region – will cover these questions in three different languages (Dutch, French and English): theatre-maker Salim Djaferi, writer Rachida Lamrabet and researcher Ilham Essalih.
As always, not everything will be translated, but we will look for a balance and hope that attendees can help each other.
Org. Passa Porta and Kaaitheater.
picture © Helena Verheye
Coming soon at
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Slam in 1210
Are you between the ages of 16 and 21? Do you like good lyrics and are you rhythmically inclined? Do you feel like sharing your stories, ideas and past with an audience in your own way? During Slam in 1210, you get the chance to work with all these ingredients (and many more).
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Open Mic: Passa Porta and Cantine Josée
This summer, a new edition of Cantine Josée, a versatile and festive meeting place for and by the residents of Sint-Joost-ten-Node, will take place. Team Josée will set up its tents in Saint Francis Park this summer. In collaboration with Passa Porta, this edition will conclude with a series of slam workshops for young people and an Open Mic.