Kader Abdolah

(1954, Iran) is the pen name of Hossein Sadjadi Ghaemmaghami Farahani. Since his debut De Adelaars (The Eagles) in 1993 he has navigated between two worlds, the Netherlands and the country of his birth. Abdolah grew up in a harsh, Islamic region. Since he was twelve he read western literature and caught the scent of freedom. While studying physics in Teheran, he joined a secret leftwing party. In 1980 he published two collections of short stories clandestinely under the name Kader Abdolah. In 1988 he fled Iran and ended up in the Netherlands where he has since published a large body of works consisting of novels, short story collections and collected columns, published under the pen name Mirza in de Volkskrant. In Papegaai vloog over de IJssel (Parrot flew over the IJssel, 2014)four migrant families build a new existence in typically Dutch villages along the river; in Salam Europa (2016) the Shah of Persia travels through Europe late in the 19th century, accompanied by a large following of bickering courtiers.
(2017)Archive available for: Kader Abdolah
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Kader Abdolah & Funda Müjde: Literary Contraband
With: Funda Müjde, Kader Abdolah
Just picture this amazing duo: writer Kader Abdolah and cabaret artist, actress and columnist Funda Müjde. Both personally recommend their favourite book. They tell you specially why you should read it. They use their most beautiful words to describe that one book, a book from their native country that has not yet been translated into Dutch, but which should have been translated ages ago.
Kader Abdolah made a plea for the epic poem Shahnameh (Book of Kings) written between 977 and 1010 by Persian poet Ferdowsi.
Funda Müjde gave praise to the historical novel Şu Çılgın Türkler (These Crazy Turks) by Turkish dramaturgue and novelist Turgut Özakman (1930-2013).
In this program, Writers Unlimited shines a spotlight on books that remain undiscovered in the Netherlands, great books that have not yet found their way to the Netherlands or the rest of the world. The writers take up the challenge to convince you - and hopefully a publisher - that their chosen books must be translated.
It was twice the treat, because Abdolah and Müjde know how to seduce, entertain and enthuse an audience. A unique pair. It became a marvellous and compelling Saturday afternoon at the festival in The Hague.
Right after the performance, Funda Müjde en Kader Abdolah were at the Van Stockum Bookshop in the lobby for a booksigning session.
Source archive materials: Collection EYE Filmmuseum
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Oxfam Novib PEN Awards
With: Bejan Matur, Hassnae Bouazza, Kader Abdolah, Leila Chudori, Lionel Veer, Tom van der Lee
With the PEN Awards, Oxfam Novib and PEN Nederland honour writers, journalists and film makers who, going against the tide and sometimes risking their own lives, search for the truth and spread it. Tom van der Lee, of Oxfam Novib, gives a brief introduction about the significance and the importance of the price. After the award presentation by Dutch human rights ambassador Veer, writers from various parts of the world talk to each other about women's rights and sexuality. Hassnae Bouazza talks to Leila Chudori, who tells about the antiporn legislation in Indonesia, and to Bejan Matur on honour killings in Turkey. Are these practices a result of increasing Islamisation or is there another cause? Can women publish about these things in their home countries? With a final word from Kader Abdolah. In English.
Hassnae Bouazza replaces Naema Tahir, who had to cancel for health reasons. -
The Dutch Spring
The Arab Spring created a stir in the Netherlands. Perhabs secretly we long for a Dutch Spring too. What would our country look like after such a spring? Writers, tell us!
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VPRO De Avonden
In the square in front of the theatre there is De Kas. The whole evening Jeroen van Kan talks with writers at the festival for the VPRO radio programme De Avonden Live. Visitors are allowed to peek freely and listen in. In Dutch and English.
21.17: Bernice Chauly
21.35: Ghalia Benali
22.05: Bejan Matur
22.15: Rodaan Al Galidi and Chika Unigwe
22.35: Nazmiye Oral and Kader Abdolah -
My National Anthem
With: Christine Otten, Geert van Istendael, Gibi Bacilio, Jaap Blonk, Kader Abdolah, Michaël Zeeman, Theodor Holman
Holland is no longer the country it used to be. Are we ready for a new national anthem? Six writers and poets from The Netherlands and abroad present their personal alternative on this afternoon.
Writer/commentator Theodor Holman, Gibi Bacilio from Curaçao, writer and rap-poet Christine Otten, Kader Abdolah and the Flemish writer Geert van Istendael sang their new national anthems for our country. Michaël Zeeman talked to the writers and poets in an effort to reinvent the nation. Dutch spoken.
On this page, you can listen to the sound recordings.
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Winternachten Tilburg
With: Ed van Eeden, Etienne van Heerden, Kader Abdolah, Quito Nicolaas
An evening with the South-African writer Etienne van Heerden, the Aruban poet Quito Nicolaas and the Dutch-Iranian writer Kader Abdolah. On their image of Holland. Moderated by Ed van Eeden. Dutch spoken.
Tickets 013 4561111
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Winternachten Rotterdam
With: Gibi Bacilio, Kader Abdolah, Marylin Simons, Michiel van Kempen
Why did the Antillian poet Gibi Bacilio and the Surinamese writer Marylin Simons return to their home countries after a long stay in The Netherlands? What made the Iranian fugutive writer Kader Abdolah choose for Holland? Dutch spoken.
Tickets: 010 425 50 50.