Who Am I? North African Narratives
Who Am I? North African Narratives
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An exploration of North African creativity in the North West of England, Leeds and beyond. Join Jessica El Mal (Manchester Morocco) of the Arab British Centre chair a panel with Hannaa Hamdache (Leeds/Algeria) Mohammad Sultan (Manchester/ Libya) to find out more about their work, engage in cross-community dialogue and celebrate North African heritage and its impact on contemporary diaspora identities in the UK.
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, 17th June 2025
- 📍 Venue: Leeds Civic Hall
Programme Highlights:
- Traditional & Contemporary North African Dance
- Performance by Katy K
- Panel Discussions on Migration & Identity (featuring Jessica El-Mal, Hannah Hamdache and more!)
- Art exhibition showcasing North African Stories (featuring Zizi Jones & Mo Sultan)
Partners:
- Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
- Leeds City Council Migration & Cultural Engagement Teams
- Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Communities in Leeds
- North African Artists, Filmmakers and Cultural Historians.
Jessica El Mal is a British-Moroccan curator, artist and writer with a particular interest in ecology, globalization and migration. Her work addresses global structures of power through critical research, multidisciplinary projects, and speculative future imaginaries. She is the co-director of A.MAL Projects, an art and research initiative between North Africa and Europe which has hosted residencies, exhibitions and events in the UK, Morocco and Egypt as well as the curator at The Arab British Centre. Both her curatorial roles and research as a PhD candidate at University of Leeds interrogates digitality, new media and experiences of migration.
Hannaa Hamdache is an artist and curator of mixed English and Algerian heritage from Nottingham, UK. Based in Leeds, she works to make the arts open for all through the use of humour and education. Her practice explores the idea of play: playing with context, the exhibition and the everyday. Currently, she is investigating her own personal context and heritage through family archival photographs, film and food.
Mohammed Sultan is a Manchester-based creator and the founder of Vintage Libya, an initiative dedicated to preserving and showcasing Libyan cultural heritage. A storyteller, curator, and archivist, Mohammed brings a unique perspective to his work, with experience in exhibitions and spatial design.
A collection of unique prints and surface patterns inspired by ancient Egyptian drawings. Ideal for printing on eco-friendly fabrics, wallpapers and products. https://www.neferzizi.com
’ Ever Evolving’ -An opening performance by KTK -Katie, also known as KTK, is a freelance dance teacher, choreographer, performer, and all-around creative artist of Egyptian heritage. Her piece 'Ever Evolving' is a glimpse into her fun and unique creative expression.
Katie thrives on challenging limitations in a society that often prefers to label, title, and box.
Her message is ‘ never give up - that way you never lose’.
Location
Civic Hall Calverley Street Leeds LS1 1UR, Leeds LS1 1UR