Workshop: L’altra lingua – The language my mother does not speak.

Description

Free writing course for lovers of language(s) Writing is fascinating and challenging. Especially when the language you write in is not your own – but the one in which you want to find a new home. The author Usama Al Shahmani has experienced this himself. His books written in German have a poetic power that is unique in current Swiss literature and enrich it. In this writing course, Usama Al Shahmani will share his experiences with other immigrants, but also locals; with people who enjoy writing and want to experiment with the German language. The course is open to everyone who wants to tell stories in a new language that is not their mother tongue. The form of the texts is free. Poems, prose, plays, or essays can be written. The writing course is free for participants (travel expenses will be reimbursed) and is offered by Babel-Literature Festival Bellinzona in cooperation with the Kornhaus Libraries Bern. Location: Kornhaus Library, 3rd floor, Kornhausplatz 18, 3011 Bern More information and registration: brikela.andrea@kob.ch or by phone at 078 808 52 20 Usama Al Shahmani born in 1971 in Baghdad and raised in Qalat Sukar (Nasirija), studied Arabic language and modern Arabic literature. In 2002, he had to flee because of a play and came to Switzerland. His first novel "In der Fremde sprechen die Bäume arabisch" was followed by the novels "Im Fallen lernt die Feder fliegen" and "Der Vogel zweifelt nicht am Ort, zu dem er fliegt" as well as the anthology of Swiss poetry "Ein Seidenfaden zu den Träumen". Last autumn, his novel "In der Tiefe des Tigris schläft ein Lied" was published, for which he was honored with the Literary Award of the City of Zurich in 2025. His books are published in many editions, have received multiple awards, and have been translated into various languages. In 2022, he participated in the 46th Days of German-Language Literature in Klagenfurt. Usama Al Shahmani lives in Zurich. With kind support from: Federal Office of Culture | Canton Ticino | Vinetum Foundation Source: Kornhaus Library License: CC BY-SA 4.0