Cultural forum 2020/21

Hugenottenkirche, Bahnhofplatz 3, Erlangen

Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799), was born in Guadeloupe as the son of a French nobleman and a slave. As his father’s favourite son, he enjoyed a classical education in Paris, learning to fence, ride and play the violin. He excelled in them all. He caused quite a stir in Parisian society, admired by women and envied by men. However, ‘white’ Parisian society always let him know that as a ‘mulatto’ he could never truly become one of them.
As a composer, Boulogne is seen as setting an example for Mozart to follow, and even Beethoven is said to have been influenced by his work. However, Boulogne has never been accepted into the canon of classical music. The evening will concentrate on Joseph Boulogne’s fight for recognition and integration, at the same time as questioning the racial exclusion mechanisms that influence canonisation processes.
Piano and chamber music played and sung by Lou Denès (soprano), Katharina Jungwirt (violin) and Christoph Orendi (piano).
The evening will be introduced by Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, member of the European Parliament.
The event is run in cooperation with the city of Erlangen as part of the Black History Weeks. Entry is free of charge.

Picture: Joseph Boulogne de Saint-George
© gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France

Stadtbibliothek, Marktplatz 1, Erlangen

Alice Hasters is a black woman with one white parent. She was born in Cologne in 1989. She is often praised for her good German, people reach out and touch her hair without asking and her body receives attention whenever discussion turns to the sexual traits of black women. ‘Where are you really from?’ Every time someone asks about her ‘real’ origins she can’t help but feel like an outsider. Alice Hasters herself refers to her personal experience with day to day racism as similar to an insect bite or instances of microaggression: barely visible, bearable when seen individually, but unbearable when they accumulate.
A stupid joke, a secret thought, a casual prejudice – we are all racist. We learn to differentiate ourselves from others based on our origins and skin colour at such a young age that we don’t even realise we’re doing it. White people have the privilege that they can remain blissfully ignorant their whole life. How can you come to terms with your own identity, however, if you are not white? Alice Hasters’ book is an intense, personal report reflecting how casual racism affects all areas of life.
Her book calls on white people to become aware of their casual thoughts, words and behaviour, as even what is meant as a friendly comment can reveal a deep-seated racism. Once white people learn to understand how their words affect the people they are speaking to then we will finally have a good basis to talk about racism.
The event is run in cooperation with Erlangen city library and the city of Erlangen as part of the Black History Weeks. Entry is free of charge.

Picture: Alice Hasters © H. Henkensiefken www.pixxwerk.de

Wassersaal der Orangerie, Schlossgarten 1, Erlangen

Ali Moraly (*1979) is a Syrian violinist and composer who lives in Berlin. He studied music at the High Institute of Music and Theatre in Damascus, specialising in the violin. After fleeing to Germany, he continued studying and has since completed his Master’s in violin at the Karlsruhe University of Music.
He was accepted into the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra whilst still studying for his Bachelor’s degree, and was also a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said. He performed in the Middle East, in Europe and in the USA.
In violin pieces he composes himself, Ali Moraly is inspired by his own personal story and migrant background and covers what it was like to be a classical musician in post-colonial Syria and what it is like to be a Syrian musician of classical music in Europe.
The compositions represent the most important stages of his odyssey from fleeing Syria to arriving in Germany to gaining German citizenship. At the same time, Moraly’s music and the accompanying texts are his way of exploring and coming to terms with his own identity and expectations of society. Again and again he finds himself forced into the role of the ‘refugee’ who often finds himself bombarded with questions without being entitled to ask questions himself.
For Ali Moraly, music is both a way to escape and a way home. If anyone asks where he comes from he replies ‘I come from Bach.’

Großer Hörsaal, Bismarckstr. 1a, Erlangen

The workshop is aimed at young refugees who would like to explore issues relating to identity, discrimination, beliefs/faith and participation in society. The aim of the workshop is to encourage all participants to recognise here is a place that belongs to you, where topics that move you are important. Make the place you are your place!
The workshop is led by young people with a migrant background as part of the project ‘DO Dein Ort’. The project is a model project run throughout Bavaria and organised by ufuq.de and the Bavarian Youth Ring (Bayerischen Jugendring (BJR)) with the aim of using political education offered outside the school environment to empower young refugees and encourage participation in local communities.

Day 1

Topic I: Identity
Topic II: Discrimination and Racism

Day 2

Topic I: Religion and lifestyle
Topic II: Participation
The event will be run in collaboration with the Office of Equality and Diversity.

© Ufuq e.V.