Tag Archives: maghreb

Six Pillars – The Politics of Tunisian Theatre and Dance

The restored CinéVog building, in a quarter nicknamed 'Aston Villa'

The restored CinéVog, in a quarter nicknamed ‘Aston Villa’

At JAOU Tunis symposium on Visual Culture in an Age of Global Conflict, we spoke to Moncef Dhouib, Tunisian film director, actor & screenwriter. The symposium was at the Bardo Museum, Tunisia as it had been last year, despite attacks on tourists this March by militants.

Dhouib, a veteran actor, screenwriter, producer and puppeteer is a pioneer in the Tunisian performing arts. Dhouib describes his project CinéVog, a local theatre complex model for theatres which he wants to spread across the Maghreb to bring the performing arts back to the people.

Also young Tunisian dancer and choreographer Wael Maghni describes how he reconciled his dance practice with his belief in Islam and the current state of employment and opportunities for dancers and choreographers in Tunisia today. Maghni was on the symposium roundtable ‘Maghreb Condition Report I: The Choreographed Body in Tunisian Culture’. Interviews are in French.

Broadcasts: on 104.4FM in London Tues 21:30hrs, repeats Thurs 16:00hrs

Six Pillars Podcast: Film Director Moncef Dhouib + Dancer Wael Maghni at JAOU Tunis by 6pillars

Six Pillars: Sultan Al Qassemi on the JAOU Conference, Tunis

Six Pillars JAOU Tunis with Sultan Al Qassemi and Chris Weaver by 6pillars

jaousquareAfter the Bardo Museum attacks on tourists earlier this year, JAOU festival and symposium is more than ever set to hold its annual arts events at the Tunis museum in Tunisia. Sound artist Chris Weaver interviews founder of the Barjeel Foundation, UAE and renowned Arab affairs commentator Sultan Al Qassemi about his participation in JAOU Tunis, from Dubai where they are both currently living. “Personally I’m very much intrigued by post-revolution art and culture in Tunisia. Tunisia is constantly now ranked as the only free country in the Arab world, what does that mean for art, does that mean there is a higher ceiling? What about the taboo subjects that we face in the gulf and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, can you broach them? Can you approach them? This is a unique opportunity to witness first hand in Tunisia.” Broadcasts Tuesday 21.30 GMT, repeats Thursday 16:00 GMT. http://www.sixpillars.org

Six Pillars – Lina Lazaar, JAOU Tunis

Six Pillars – Lina Lazaar, JAOU Tunis by 6pillars

jaousquareAhead of a series of JAOU Tunis broadcasts from the arts symposium and conference in May, Fari Bradley & Chris Weaver interview Lina Lazaar, Associate Editor of Ibraaz and founder of JAOU.

Fari Bradley and Chris Weaver will be broadcasting from the 3rd annual JAOU Tunis festival: Maghreb and Middle East Condition Report 2015, Collaborative Geographies and Visual Culture in an Age of Global Conflict.

“As sound artists we are interested in how the medium of broadcast enables the transactions of an open conversation. Through the act of exchange, important catalysts are formed for future ideas and philosophies.”

Previous broadcasts by Bradley-Weaver: Frieze Art Fair 2004-9, Serpentine Gallery 2005-06, Tate Modern 2007, MIMA 2008, BC Columbia 2009, Raven Row Gallery 2011, Art Dubai, UAE 2013-14.

The Kamel Lazaar Foundation hosts it’s 3rd festival of Maghreb arts & culture, JAOU Tunis, May 28-31 around a 2-day public symposium at the National Museum of Bardo in Tunis. After museum visitors were killed by gunmen, the Kamel Lazaar Foundation wrote an open letter stating that JAOU would go ahead despite the brutalities.