International Translation Day: Adhaf Soueif in conversation with Amanda Hopkinson

30 Sept 6.30pm – Free Word Centre

On 30 September, English PEN and Free Word will be hosting a celebration of the art of literary translation. The day will culminate with British-Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif discussing her role as an internationally translated author at the heart of the Arab Spring. 

Can translation change the world?

From novelist to journalist, Ahdaf Soueif is here to discuss shifts in register and in genre, and her particular blend of the personal with the political, fiction and history. Come and see the mirror image reversed to reveal a Middle Eastern reality confront its often pale or distorted western reflection. 

With time for a Q&A session to follow Andaf's Soueif's presentation.

Book tickets for the event here.

International Translation Day: Evening Special with Ahdaf Soueif and Amanda Hopkinson (6.30pm) £10; £5 concessions. Free Word centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA

Call 020 7324 2570 or book online

Podcast - Iran Heritage Foundation: Making Connections

http://vimeo.com/20796188

This 8-mins film showcases some of IHF's programmes on Persian language, including the 2010 Shahnameh exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and IHF's Institutional Partnership Programme, which supports Persian studies teaching and curatorial posts at universities and museums. It also describes IHF's digitisation programmes which include the Golha Digitisation Project and a new programme to catalogue and digitise some of the major works held in the Persian manuscript collection at the British Library.

The Shubbak Festival 4-24th July

Shubbak : A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture

The Mayor of London presents Shubbak, the capital’s first ever celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world, showcasing over seventy events in more than 30 venues throughout the city from 4 – 24 July 2011.

Shubbak (Arabic for 'window') offers a wide-ranging programme of visual arts, film, music, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, lectures and discussion.

The festival will feature work by contemporary Arab artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, choreographers and architects based in London and around the world including Algeria, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA.

http://www.london.gov.uk/shubbak

Lecture: Special Maps of Persia

Special Maps of Persia
Lecture

27 January 2011
7 - 9 pm

Brunei Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London, Russell Square, London

A lecture by Dr. Cyrus Alai, focusing on the history of the political
maps of Persia up to the early parts of the 20th century.
Organised by

Iran Heritage Foundation & London Middle East Institute at SOAS


http://www.iranheritage.org/Special_Maps_of_Persia/default.htm#

New resource - The Sudan Open Archive

http://www.sudanarchive.net/


Aims to provide free access to a digital archive of materials about Sudan. It is a special project of the Rift Valley Institute with support from UNICEF, UNEP and the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation. Topics covered include: economic, social and political development in the region, the civil war and peace process; conflict in Darfur. There is also general country information about the history, culture, politics and economy of Sudan. Materials published between 1920-2009.
See more on the Sudan referendum http://electionsinthenews.blogspot.com/

SOAS Report on Forced Child Labour in the Cotton Harvests of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

Click on the picture above to go to the website of the Centre for Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus, where you can download the report.

Arabic Youtube video about ICONEA conference

An Arabic-language video about the recent ICONEA conference held at Senate House, University of London.