Original poems written by diasporic Yemeni communities in the UK, and presented in both English and Arabic, will be exhibited across venues in Liverpool during the festival for Yemen in Conflict.

Since 2019, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, the University of Liverpool and the University of Leeds have been working in close collaboration on the Yemen in Conflict project. It asks how storytelling might heighten and enhance both political and public awareness of the situation in Yemen, and how this can lead to wider cultural understanding of diaspora and refugee communities in the UK.

The material created so far includes the creation of a new archive of transcribed and translated Yemeni oral poems and stories that addressed themes of conflict and resolution. A series of national workshops led by guest poets brought members of the UK Yemeni communities together to read, write and perform poems. We commissioned four commissioned poemfilms, a digital exhibition as part of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2020, photography and a documentary video.

Poetry is at the heart of Yemen’s culture and this exhibition marks the journey so far. It features contributions by Yemeni communities in Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham and Sheffield, showcasing the creativity of the Yemeni diaspora in the UK.

Read about Yemen in Conflict here

Venues:

Merseyside Yemeni Community Association, 111 Beaumont Street, Liverpool L8 0XA
Opening times: 12-4pm on Friday 8, Saturday 9, Tuesday 12, Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July

Liverpool ONE, College Lane (by Caffé Nero)
Outdoor display

Toxteth Library, Windsor St, Liverpool L8 1XF.
Opening times: 10am – 6pm Monday and Tuesday. 10am-4pm Saturday

University of Liverpool, School of Law & Social Justice, Liverpool L69 7ZR
Window display

News from Nowhere, 96 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HY
Window display

Image: No Words by Mariam Al-Dhubhani. Poem by Ahmed Abdul Raqeeb Alkhulaidi

We are delighted to be working with so many great partners for the Yemen in Conflict exhibition. Thanks to Merseyside Yemeni Community Association, Liverpool ONE, News from Nowhere, Liverpool Toxteth Library.