Music story: “Fisticuffs. The stories of the women’s wrath” | Agnieszka Aysen Kaim

Cast: storytelling – Agnieszka Aysen Kaim, accompanied by – Mateusz Szemraj (classic guitar and ethnic string instruments)

Women’s time is “post-adventures” – consequences of men’s adventures celebrated by poets. In the background of men’s activity, women may curse, give in to the wishes of their fathers and brothers, like Fata Awdaga from “The Bridge on the Drine”, or quietly retire, when “the other woman” appears, like Iranka Hajjat from the short story by Mahbube Mirquadiri “A Gift from the Journey”, or rebel, like Queen Vashti.  While weaving, embroidering, or crocheting, epic women accumulated anger and planned revenge, though the latter not always brought relief.  The stories also include ones that are closer to us, from the other side of the wall or fence, from courtrooms, accounts of nameless wives and daughters, and female refugees fleeing their countries. Thus, you will hear traditional, literary, and personal narratives. Intense and uneasy stories told from the woman’s perspective, disregarded in the official discourse.

Agnieszka Ayşen Kaim – orientalist, translator, lecturer, and story teller. She chose Oriental Studies as a result of her Turkish origin. She translates because this is the quickest way to move between two cultures. She tells stories and lectures to explain the two cultures’ complexity, their values, traditions, as well as personal stories.   The projects of Grupa Studnia O. address broadly understood oriental topics, particularly Turkish and Persian, reaching for epic poetry and traditional tales unknown in Poland, but also personal stories of well-known Poles connected to the Orient.  Kaim is also the author of a book for children and youths, “Bahar means Spring” (Poławiacze Pereł, 2014, Third Prize in the Book of the Year competition 2016 PS IBBY).

Mateusz Szemraj – graduated from the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, classical guitar class of Professor Ryszard Bałauszko. Also plays electric guitar and ethnic instruments: al oud, tar, and the Polish cimbalom. Two-time holder of the artistic scholarship of the Minister of Culture and Art. Winner of Polish and international guitar competitions. Collaborated with the orchestras of Warsaw’s National Opera and National Philharmonic, Świętokrzyska Philharmonic, and Sinfonietta Cracovia. Participated in the recording of film and theater music. Among others, performs in Sentido del Tango and MOSAIC bands.

Yiddish Cultural Center, 15 Andersa St.

Free admission

This event will also be broadcast online – for details, please visit: www.festiwalsingera.pl