-----The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is proud to present the third edition of the annual World Nomads series, showcasing the art and culture of Lebanon throughout the month of May. The month-long, multi-disciplinary series will once again celebrate transculturalism in the twenty-first century and exploring the crossroads of culture and identity.

-----Lebanon’s central location where East meets West on the Mediterranean’s eastern shore has made it a place where different beliefs and influences converge to shape a rich cultural voice. As with West Africa in 2008 and then Haiti in 2009, the latest edition of World Nomads will showcase outstanding Lebanese music, cinema, literature, architecture, and visual arts that have come to inspire audiences and artists worldwide. Highlighting acclaimed artists working in both Lebanon and the U.S., this unique series will explore the diverse landscape of Lebanese art through performances, talks, screenings, and gallery exhibits.

-----Lebanon’s rich heritage has long captivated imaginations around the world, and the extraordinary Lebanese diaspora has broadened the cultural landscape and enriched global discourse. The powerful interplay between the memory of homeland and life in new societies has shaped the work of important contemporary Lebanese artists. World Nomads Lebanon will present preeminent artistic voices expressing their cultural identity, including Wajdi Mouawad, Bernard Khoury, Nabil Nahas, and Elias Khoury, among others.


List of Events

( For complete information, please visit: http://fiaf.org/events/spring2010/2010-05-world-nomads-lebanon.shtml )


1 May

Opening Concert: Bassam Saba Ensemble | 8pm | http://bit.ly/aXINnd

To kick off World Nomads Lebanon, the acclaimed Bassam Saba Ensemble brings their unique sound—a mix of classical/folk Arabic music combined with classical western influences—to FIAF for an evening of performance and celebration.


2 May

Literature: Elias Khoury | 1pm | http://bit.ly/bEZw8g

Renowned Lebanese author Elias Khoury will present and read selections from his newly published book White Masks.

Literature: Rawi Hage | 3pm | http://bit.ly/9P4pp8

Award-winning author, photographer, and visual artist Rawi Hage comes to FIAF to discuss his approach to writing and the ways in which his multicultural background has influenced his unique voice.

Literature: Alexandre Najjar | 5pm | http://bit.ly/bCjCHs

Award-winning Lebanese author Alexandre Najjar will discuss his multi-faceted career and read from some of his works.


3 May

Literature: Alexandre Najjar en français | 4:30pm | http://bit.ly/cPl5BK

Alexandre Najjar returns to FIAF for an intimate discussion, in French, of his prolific career and writing process, discussing specifically his role as a writer investigating the historic past and present of Lebanese culture.


6 May

Architecture: Bernard Khoury | 7pm | http://bit.ly/aItkqn

Join us at FIAF for a lecture by Beirut-based architect Bernard Khoury. Khoury will present his built works in Beirut, as well as his conceptual projects. A dialogue will follow, pertaining to the philosophy behind his work, which seeks to “reflect elements of the national character” and respond to the landscape, as well as the cultural and economic climate of the city.


13 May

Architecture: Public Spaces - Memory, Boundary, Catastrophe | 7pm | http://bit.ly/aP9XPc

FIAF welcomes professors Roldolphe el-Khoury, Hashim Sarkis, and architects Makram el Kadi and Ziad Jamaleddine for this talk on public space in Beirut.Panelists will address questions of memory and urban trauma as they relate to divisions in the city and diminishing conditions for these public spaces.


19 May

Performing Arts: Wajdi Mouawad | 7pm | http://bit.ly/bClVNG

Celebrated author, director, actor, and storyteller Wajdi Mouawad comes to FIAF for a special evening dedicated to his brilliant and poetic work. Born in Lebanon, Mouawad was forced to flee as a child, travelling first to France and then to Montreal before finally moving to Quebec where he has lived since 1983. Since his exile from Lebanon, Mouawad has used writing to explore themes of exile, war, and identity, stressing the belief that “there can be no theater without stories.”


20 May

Architecture: Modern Architecture in Beirut - Reconstruction & Cultural Identity | 7pm | http://bit.ly/anbwro

Architects George Arbid, Steven Holl, Amale Andraos and Dan Wood will participate in the final discussion in this series. In moderated conversation, speakers will explore post-civil-war planning and reconstruction, addressing questions such as historic preservation, conservation, and the conflicts inherent in the present reconstruction of Beirut.


21 May

Performing Arts: A Reading with Wajdi Mouawad & Jane Birkin | 7pm | http://bit.ly/cMQ5kX

Acclaimed author Wajdi Mouawad will be joined by iconic film and music figure Jane Birkin for a special reading of his work. In this evening performance, Birkin and Mouawad, joined by their art and commitment to humanitarian works, will take to the stage to read Mouawad’s The Sentinel—written personally for Birkin—in addition to other works.


24 May

Talk: An Evening with Carlos Ghosn | 7pm | http://bit.ly/d9n9NH

Brazil-born Lebanese businessman Carlos Ghosn comes to FIAF for a special talk to close the World Nomads series. Currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Ghosn has been recognized as one of the world’s most important business leaders by Time magazine, CNN, the Financial Times, and European CNBC. In this intimate evening, business luminary Ghosn will speak about how his successful career has been shaped by his global outlook.


Art / Galleries

Nabil Nahas: Cedrus Libani - Roots & Memory | FIAF Gallery | May 1-29 | http://bit.ly/b9s0Nz

Lebanese-American artist Nabil Nahas, whose work has been exhibited all over the world, brings his striking, large-scale works—including a few new pieces—to FIAF’s Gallery. Inspired by the beauty of nature and the rich complexity of Middle Eastern culture, Nahas uses natural elements such as trees—in particular the cedar, symbolizing Lebanon—to present his personal vision of his homeland.

My Umi Said... | Kleio Projects | May 7-28 | http://bit.ly/bTvW8x

Through their work, these artists will explore issues pertinent to Lebanon’s current social and political landscape in inventive, playful, and surprising ways. Using painting, mixed media installation, video, and photography, each artist will challenge themes related to identity by exploring the ways in which it is considered in Lebanon, a country celebrated for its rich diversity.


CinémaTuesdays | Showtimes vary | http://bit.ly/bl3vbQ

(Tuesdays in May - visit link for film descriptions)

4 May: 'Out of Life' (Hors la vie) 12:30, 4, 7:30pm

11 May: 'Once Upon a Time: Beirut' (Kan Ya Makan Beirut) 12:30, 4, 7:30pm

18 May: 'The One Man Village' (Sema'an bel Day'a) 12:30, 4, 7:30pm

25 May: 'The Road North' & 'The Last Man' (Double Screening) 12:30 & 7pm

25 May: Short films at 4pm

· 'Tripoli Quiet' (Trablos Al-Hada)

· 'Tomorrow 6:30 '(Bokra Sitteh W’Noss)

· 'A Sheherazade Tale'

· 'Wednesday'



FIAF will present World Nomads Lebanon in partnership with PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, ArteEast, Alwan for the Arts, Architizer, and Kleio Projects.

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