Poetry, Memory, Resistance
The following weeks present an opportunity to meet and hear Mohammed Moussa, as he launches his poetry collection The face before you, to write poetry on genocide published by Leamington Books.
The face before you is a collection of poetry written under siege and threat of death. Mohammed Moussa is a Gazan writer and journalist and founder of the Gaza Poets Society, the first spoken word group in Gaza.
Moussa writes: “Growing up in Gaza is inspiring for poets – life here is poetry blown into pieces and scattered all over the place.”
Moussa is the founder of the Gaza Poets Society, a community dedicated to poetry and literature in Gaza.
Support them here: Gaza Poets Society is Poetry anthologies, posters, podcasts, and art.
Follow them here: Gaza Poets Society (@PoetsGaza) / X
You can read his statement on writing poetry during a genocide here.
Three events are coming up, in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow:
EDINBURGH 24th Jan 6:30pm George IV Bridge
ABERDEEN 25th Jan 3pm Somerville Books
GLASGOW 27th Jan, 7pm Waterstones Argyll Street
The first event is with Mohammed Moussa and Nada Shawa. This event takes place at Augustine United Church on George IV Bridge at 6:30 on Saturday, 24 January.
Nada Shawa is a Palestinian poet and dancer who moved to Scotland alone at the age of eight to receive treatment for her cerebral palsy, and has lived here ever since. She is the author of Indigenous Soul. Indigenous Soul moves between Gaza and Scotland, memoir and poetry, warm love and crushing grief, family stories and grave injustices, with an impressive succinctness and clarity.
Nada Shawa told Bella:
The evening will include readings and discussion on the genocide in Gaza, the book launch of The Face before you: To write poetry on genocide by Mohammed Moussa, with special guest writer and dancer Nada Shawa. There will be readings from Nada and Moe, followed by a Q and A with both writers.
The second event is at Somerville Books, Aberdeen on 25 January. Unfortunately, this event is SOLD OUT.
The final event is at Waterstone’s, Argyle Street Glasgow on Tuesday 27 January.
The event will be chaired by Henry Bell, author of Red Threads, and the two will be discussing writing poetry during a genocide, the power of words, and more, before Mohammed signs copies of his book.
Book your tickets HERE.
The organiser, Peter Burnett from Leamington Books told Bella:
“We have made these events free, as it is most important to us that as many people as possible hear Mohammed Moussa and Nada Shawa bear witness to the genocide. Note, participants and musicians are being paid for this event, but it is free to you. Ezra Pound once said that literature is news that stays news. And there is something about this poetry that bears witness in a way that news reports cannot.”
“We are delighted to be welcoming Mohammed Moussa to Scotland, and doing this event with Nada Shawa. They have both lost their families, and their homes, their communities and their entire city. What is left is poetry, memory, resistance. Because our politicians are at very best inactive and in general complicit, it is up to people like ourselves, the many supporters of Palestine in Scotland to show solidarity with those who are surviving this genocide. Sometimes we feel powerless, but supporting Gazans by meeting them and showing solidarity is a simple and powerful act. And Gazans such as Mohammed and Nada truly appreciate this.”
“Join us at 6:30pm for a 7pm start at the Augustine United Church on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh this Saturday for an evening to listen, and speak back, for an evening of poetry rooted in witness and resilience. This is a unique chance to meet two writers from Gaza, who are eternally grateful for your solidarity and support.”
Order The face before you online here.