A festival for South Asia & the Muslim World
Apr 28, 2022
First story
Hello! My name is Tanya Daud and I am the Founder of Qissa’ Go, a theatre collective which is focused on literature and languages from South Asia, as well as Aleph Collective, its parent body that focuses on creating awareness amongst communities, groups & individuals, as well as conflict resolution using a variety of mediums.
We are based in the UAE but our focus of work on both counts is centred on South Asia and the diaspora, or as in the latter's case, also extended to the Muslim world at large.
This year we are bringing all our programming under Aleph Collective and working to put together a festival in May 2020.
You can view our work under Qissa' Go here - Instagram.com/qissagoofficial AND Facebook.com/qissagoofficial
With Qissa' Go our attempt is to create a pan-South Asian outlook, develop a sense of pride and ownership in this identity, work on issues of importance and those that challenge us in the region, as well as cultivate new storytellers so that we can put out our own narratives in the world. It has been three years since we started and work has given rise to a community of artists who now find an audience, are able to learn and collaborate, as well as find an audience.
Of the several programs we have done, this is one:
In 2018, we started working on the Climate Crisis in South Asia and its diaspora, and as a first step put up an original theatrical production, which was showcased at SIMA Performing Arts in Al Serkal Avenue as well as at the Jameel Arts Centre. On Sep 20th, during the Global Climate Strike Week, we launched the Community Outreach phase of this campaign. This will entail working with our partners across South Asia, as well as with those in the UAE.
We have performed at several venues within the UAE such as at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, for the guests of the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, within Al Serkal Avenue, Jameel Arts Centre, and several others).
As for Aleph Collective, we have big plans and are reviving it with a festival in the coming year but two things that we have done under it are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I56_WkpbcUU&t=5s and https://www.thenational.ae/uae/campaign-aims-to-break-down-barriers-betw...
--
The reason that I have written all of the above is that we are looking to build a team for the festival, as well as, try and reach out for sponsorships and grants, so that our South Asia & Muslim world at large-focused, travelling festival, can see the light of day and we can do critical work within our communities here in the region. Art and culture are known for fostering healthier, more equitable communities and I hope posting it in the World Pulse community will be of help.
I look forward to reading your comments!
Warm Regards,
Tanya