Palestinian poet/activist Rafeef Ziadah to tour NZ in April

Media release

NZ Palestine Solidarity Network

Poetry "a form of survival" for Palestinian poet and activist Rafeef Ziadah, to tour NZ in April

“There’s something extremely powerful about the role of art in sustaining us as human beings,” says London-based poet and activist Rafeef Ziadah “And if you look at social movements generally, what we remember of them is the poetry, the music, the art, the theatre — those moments generate a specific art form.”

Rafeef is a Palestinian performance poet and human rights activist and is visiting New Zealand and Australia in April 2017. Her New Zealand tour is hosted by the NZ Palestine Solidarity Network.

Her performances of poems like ‘We Teach Life, Sir’ and ‘Shades of Anger’ went viral online within days of their release. She received an Ontario Arts Council Grant from the Word of Mouth programme to create her debut spoken-word album Hadeel. Since releasing her album, she has toured many countries, performing poetry and conducting workshops.

In the words of acclaimed UK film director, Ken Loach: "Rafeef ’s poetry demands to be heard. She is powerful, emotional and political. Please read her work and see her perform. You cannot then be indifferent to the Palestinian cause."

She is touring with musician Phil Monsour who features on her album 'We Teach Life'. Her Auckland show is supported by local poet Mohamed Hassan and a dabke dance troupe.

PUBLIC SHOWS:

Christchurch – 7pm Friday 7th April 2017, Knox Church, 28 Bealey Ave, free entry/koha.

Auckland – 6pm Sunday 9th April 2017, Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School, 16 Howe Street, Freemans Bay. Tickets $30/$20 available from eventbrite.co.nz.

Rafeef will be available for interviews on April 7th and 8th and 9th.

Release ends.

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