Abeer Soliman
(Egypt, 1977) made her debut in 2010 with Diary of an Old Spinster, which was such a success that it was sold out very soon. In the book – based on the blog of the same name that she wrote – Soliman tells how it is to live as a single woman in Egypt. 'It is the diary of a liberated woman, seen from the perspective of my generation,' she says in the introduction. Her aim is primarily to open the eyes of her countrymen, who often condemn single women in word and deed. Elderly single women without children often face problems in Egyptian society. According to official figures, in 2009 2,700 Egyptian women committed suicide because they couldn't cope any longer. In addition to being a writer Abeer Soliman is a columnist with the newspaper Baladna and a business development manager. Moreover, she is working as a literary agent for Noon Organisation.
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Archive available for: Abeer Soliman
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The United Nations of Fish
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
'The United Nations of Fish, A Fundraising Dinner'. Writers read from their work during dinner, as a fundraising event for the newly opened Rumata Art Space. The evening is organised together with Janet deNeefe, director of the Bali book festival. The four writers on tour for Writers Unlimited will perform together with 'Aisha the little chef', Sese Lawing and local poets. Ticket price is Rp 200,000, to be purchased via eventrumata@gmail.com.
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Writing in the Era of the New Media - Makassar
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
A programme with Abeer Soliman (Egypt), Tinrity The Naked Traveler (Indonesia) and others. Detailed information will follow soon.
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Community Programme: Poet vs Politician- Makassar
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
In the opening debate of Poets VS Politicians, eight writers - both international and local - will read from their work, and will be in a discussion. The local participants are Shinta Febriany, Hamran Sunu, Hendra GST, and Herna Aladjai. A debate in Indonesian with help of translators. How do writers see politicians?
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Opening Makassar International Writers Festival 2011
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
The opening night of the festival. With a short movie screening of 'Tribute to Mohammad Salim'. Salim is the translator of the classical maniscript of 'I La Galico'. The distinguished poet Sapardi Djoko Damono will perform this evening. Rodaan al Galidi will read from the classical manuscript, together with three Indonesian poems. Detailed programme will follow soon.
Tickets: Limited seat, contact eventrumata@gmail.com. -
Readings and music - Kuala Lumpur
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
An evening with reading and music. Eight writers will read from their work in the original language. English translations will be projected on screen simultaneously. With Gündüz Vassaf (Turkey), Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia/USA), Abeer Soliman (Egypt) and Rodaan al Galidi (Netherlands/Iraq), Dain Said (Malaysia), Kee Thuan Chye (Malaysia), Chua Guet Eng (Malaysia), Uthara Sankar SB (Malaysia) en Dipika Mukherjee (India). Writer Bernice Chauly is the MC.
Venue: 'No Black Tie', 17, Jalan Mesui, Kuala Lumpur. -
Opening programme - Kuala Lumpur
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
The opening programma in The Annexe Gallery in Kuala Lumpur consists of readings by the authors, and a panel discussion. Part one stars at 10.3am, part two at 2.30pm. Admission is free. The four writers invited by Writers Unlimited will participate: Gündüz Vassaf (Turkey), Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia/USA), Abeer Soliman (Egypt) and Rodaan al Galidi (Netherlands/Iraq). They will perform together with the Malaysian authors Dain Said, Kee Thuan Chye, Chua Guet Eng, Uthara Sankar SB and the Indian writer Dipika Mukherjee. The discussions are moderated by the Malaysian writers Amir Muhammad and Umpagan Ampikaipakan. Admission is free.
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Reading at Taylor's University - Kuala Lumpur
With: Abeer Soliman, Gündüz Vassaf, Maaza Mengiste, Rodaan Al Galidi
The first performance in this tour is in Kuala Lumpur in the Experimental Theatre in Taylor's University. The writers will read from their work, and talk with the students and other visitors. The four writers invited by Writers Unlimited - Gündüz Vassaf (Turkey), Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia/USA), Abeer Soliman (Egypt) and Rodaan al Galidi (Netherlands/Iraq) - will perform together with the Malaysian authors Dain Said, Kee Thuan Chye, Chua Guet Eng, Uthara Sankar SB and the Indian writer Dipika Mukherjee. All writers will read in their own language, and their texts will simultaneously be projected on screen in English translation. Admission is free.
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Villa Escamp Literair: Abeer Soliman and Iman Humaydan
With: Abeer Soliman, Djûke Poppinga, Iman Humaydan
Two writers from the Arab World, Abeer Soliman from Egypt, and Iman Humaydan from Lebanon. Both are socially engaged, and concerned with the position of women in their countries. Abeer Soliman has been staying in the Netherlands since December, and is surprised about the Western image of women in the Arab world. Scarf or no scarf? Oppressed or not? Iman Humaydan is a writer who also works as a researcher, journalist and an environmental and human rights activist. For the months of January and February she is a writer in residence in The Hague, as a guest of Kosmopolis The Hague (www.kosmopolisdenhaag.nl). In this period she gets to know the city, and the Dutch perspective on her country. Is she surprised about our ideas on women in the Arab world? Iman en Abeer will read from their work. They will talk with each other and with the audience. The programme will be moderated by Djûke Poppinga, a literary translator Arabic-Dutch. The conversation will be in English, when necessary translated into Arabic and Dutch.
Villa Escamp is on the corner of the Leyweg and the Melis Stokelaan, Leyweg 795, 2545 HA Den Haag, Reservation is necessary, through info@villaescamp.nl or +31 (0) 70 359 57 79 (Wednesdays through Sundays 12.00-17.00 hrs).
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Old Ideals
Adriaan Van Dis, Maaza Mengiste en Abeer Soliman wrote books on ideals. Van Dis' novel Tikkop relates the history of two white men who as students got involved in the international resistance against Apartheid in South Africa. Mengiste wrote The Lion and the Emperor about the Ethiopian revolution which started in 1974 with the dethroning of emperor Haile Selassie. Soliman is working on a book about three generations in Egypt, the generation of the Nasser revolution, the 1970s, the generation of the exploiters and the present 'lost' generation. Joris Luyendijk talks to the writers about the loss, rebirth and clash between old and new ideals. In English.
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Wintercafe 2: VPRO De Avonden Live
Can literature help is in imagining new possibilities of becoming a better and happier 'Mensch' In VPRO's De Avonden poets, musicians and writers offer the audience a glimpse of ther own Utopia. With readings by Rodaan al Galidi and Thomas Möhlmann. The writer Iman Humaydan tells of how against the backdrop of violence, one can hold on to the belief in a better world by going deeply in people's small stories. In her narrator's performance Abeer Soliman imagines the stories of those small people. Singer songwriter Lotte van Dijck, together with Peter Akkerman, takes the audience right through performances to her own musical Utopia. Hosts: Jeroen van Kan and Catherine van Campen. Broadcast live by VPRO Radio 6. In Dutch and English.
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How Literature Changes the World
Indonesian Lily Yulianti Farid and Egyptian Abeer Soliman both have a dream. Abeer Soliman is a writer, blogger and storyteller She wants to breathe new life in the 'old' art of narration, as well as fight traditional ideas in Egyptian society about the role of women. Lily Yulianti Farid is a writer and journalist. By means of literature and the performing arts she wants to make Indonesian women aware of their subordination. Paul van der Gaag talks to the writers about the question whether literature and art can change society and how high our hopes may be. In English.
