UK indie publisher Comma Press, famous for its ‘The Book of’ series that includes The Book of Gaza, is to bring the work of Palestinian writers to the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 18 August.
Entitled Voices of Resilience, the publisher describes it as a “defiant” performance of writing by Palestinians that will include extracts from Atef Abu Saif’s Don’t Look Left: A Diary of Genocide, published by Comma Press and now translated into 13 languages.
There will be a a cast of Scottish and international readers and performers, led by the Scottish-Syrian actor Firas Ibrahim. Ibrahim will read from Abu Saif’s diary, with poetry performed by Ahmed Nehad, Nada Shawa, Noor Hemani and Basma Ghalayini. The performances will be accompanied by traditional oud music from Ahmed Adnan and a visual score from Gazan filmmaker Hossam Abo Shammallah.
The event is directed by the British-Palestinian artist and theatre director Dani Abulhawa in collaboration with Comma Press.
Shawa, a poet from Gaza who lives in Scotland, said: “I am delighted to participate in Voices of Resilience, especially at this most dreadful and sad time personally. Raising the voices of Palestine, I believe, is defying those who wish to exterminate us.”