PETALING JAYA: Since its first iteration in 2016, The Refugee Festival has striven to shine a light-weight on the plight of refugees and the displaced.
Growing from energy to energy over the years, the annual occasion serves as an inclusive platform that showcases the abilities of artists and artisans from these communities throughout Malaysia.
It additionally features as an advocacy software, permitting these communities to marketing campaign for his or her rights whereas expressing their hopes, joys and grievances.
From tomorrow, The Refugee Festival kicks off its eighth outing below the helm of co-directors Mohamed Abdi and Abeera Abdullah. Both are Somali refugees dwelling in Malaysia.
“We have to have steady conversations about why we fled our properties, the challenges we face, and why we got here to Malaysia trying to make a brand new dwelling right here,” Mohamed Abdi advised eNM Lifestyle. “It’s essential given the hate on social media, particularly in opposition to the Rohingya.”
He added that this 12 months’s occasion will characteristic extra illustration from the refugee group than earlier than, with a lot of its itinerary centered round people with lived experiences.
Visitors to the three-day festival will get to expertise poetry readings, dance and music performances, exhibitions and far more. Highlights embody the screening of the movie “The Forgotten Babies” by the Fourth Academy, and cultural dances from Yemeni, Somali, South Sudanese, Palestinian and Burmese performers.
Local refugee theatre firm Parastoo will current a musical theatre efficiency, “Flying Without Wings”; whereas Rohingya artists from Penang, too, will showcase their abilities in a musical efficiency.
Also look out for a compelling theatre play that turns a spotlight on untold tales from the warfare in Sudan.
Furthermore, there will likely be panel discussions on matters akin to refugee integration and psychological well being challenges amongst these populations.
Thanks to the assist of philanthropic organisation Porticus, this 12 months will even see 12 “festivals on wheels”, the place refugee artists and native supporters will carry out and work together with totally different communities in Chinese New Villages, Indian settlements, PPR flats, and different areas.
Starting in July and ending subsequent June, “that is an effort to attach folks on the floor, particularly given the escalation of digital hate in opposition to refugees and migrant staff”, festival founder Mahi Ramakrishnan famous.
Mohamed Abdi hopes Malaysians will attend the festival and present solidarity with the refugee trigger. “These occasions enable folks to understand unity in variety by the totally different cultures that we, as refugees, carry to Malaysia, and have enjoyable whereas studying about others.
“They assist break stereotypes about refugees and present them for who they are surely: human beings with abilities and skills, similar to anybody else,” he concluded.
The Refugee Festival 2024
When:
Tomorrow till Sunday (June 21-23)
Where:
Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall,
1, Jalan Maharajalela,
Kampung Attap,
50150 Kuala Lumpur
For extra data, observe The Refugee Festival on Facebook.
