Description
'Music, migrations and sonic cultural preservation in the MENA region,' Centre for Historical Studies, VERA music centre (Groningen) and Concordia University, with Prof. dr. Martin Stokes (King’s College London), Burcu Yasin (Concordia University, Canada) and Dareyn Ensemble.In an increasingly interconnected yet turbulent world, marked by war, displacement, and the challenges of climate change, human mobility has become a defining feature of our time. Within this context, cultural practices emerge as vital means of connection, heritage preservation, and adaptation, offering pathways for both personal and collective resilience.
Music in Motion: Music, Mobility and Citizenship explores the relationship between music and migration, focusing on how sonic practices narrate human movement and foster cross-cultural engagement.
Co-organized by Middle Eastern Studies, VERA Groningen and Concordia University (B. Yasin)
Professor Martin Stokes (King’s College London): ‘1932: The Arab World’s Fair of Music’ Drawing from his Beyond 1932 Project, Prof. Stokes will revisit the historic International Congress of Arab Music in Cairo (1932). This landmark event brought together musicians, scholars, and policymakers to define a modern Arab musical heritage amid colonial and nationalist tensions. The talk will explore how its debates continue to shape contemporary Middle Eastern musical life.
Professor Martin Stokes: ‘Music, Mobility and Citizenship’ Building on his recent book Music and Citizenship (Oxford University Press, 2023), Prof. Stokes will explore how music-making and listening foster new forms of civic belonging. He argues that musical encounters (whether in concert halls, along migration routes, or in digital spaces) offer ways to reimagine citizenship beyond the nation-state, highlighting the political and ethical dimensions of sound in a globalized world.
VERA, Concert by Emine Bostancı
The evening will conclude with a live performance by the Dareyn Ensemble, offering an embodied and affective experience of the themes explored throughout the event. Dareyn Ensemble brings a unique fusion of Turkish maqam music and contemporary soundscapes to the stage of VERA Groningen. Founded by kemenche player and composer Emine Bostancı, Dareyn weaves musical traditions into new sonic languages, a dialogue between heritage, improvisation, and contemporary expression. Founded in Amsterdam by Emine Bostancı (kemenche), the group draws inspiration from the rich musical cultures of the Middle East and Anatolia while reimagining them through new artistic forms.
| Period | 22-Dec-2025 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Festival |
| Degree of Recognition | International |