Viva Palestina! A heART filled fest – Enn Zourne Fim Poezi Lar

Please join us for this unique heART-filled event at our islands’ premiere art venue, a beating heart of culture – The Caudan Arts Centre.

Viva Palestina! A heART- filled Fest: Enn Zourne Fim Poezi & Lar will feature:

• Multi-award-winning international docu-film Where Olive Trees Weep
• Mauritian videos about Palestine
• Pop up Poetry: Mauritian writers, poets & slammers reciting Palestinian poets’ words and their own poems dedicated to Palestine
• Mauritian musicians playing the darbuka and guitar – using music as a space for storytelling and hope.
• NaturElle – A fund-raising exhibition – a 30-year retrospective of the late Mauritian artist Bijou
• (100% sales go to Women for Women Palestine)
• Palestinian crafts and goods by local Palestinian owned Olive Branch
• (15% sales go to SSP & Basma Association Gaza)
• A facilitated interactive collective collage heART-poem for Palestine by members of the public

Entry is free, on a donation basis and all proceeds go to women, children, and those in need in Gaza & the West Bank through:

Basma Association Gaza https://basmagaza.com/

SSP https://www.facebook.com/societessp/

Women for Women Palestine https://www.womenforwomen.org/palestine

The HeART of Mauritius for Palestine

Mauritius is so much more than a beautiful tourist destination – at the heart of this island lives a community that cares and stands in solidarity. The true soul of this small island lies in its big heart. At its core there are people, local and foreign who truly care about the world, deeply affected by the injustices, genocides and ecocides occurring across our planet.

For example: the mother of one of the organisers passed away last year.  Bijou, a Mauritian artist painted boldly on oil, deeply inspired by women and nature. During her last days, her dying request was for her paintings to be sold to help women. And so, in the Morisyen spirit of this heART- filled event, we are now fulfilling that wish.

But long before this moment in time, before the escalation (since October 2023) of more than 75 years of ongoing injustice and genocide in Palestine, Mauritian citizens have been standing up for Palestine. One shining example is SOMALP (Solidarite Morisyen Ar Lepep Palestinn – Mauritians in Solidarity with the People of Palestine) – launched in 2020, continuously standing up for Palestine through various conferences, letters, direct actions, marches and cultural events. A year ago, on the 25^th of January along with an artist committee SOMALP organised a Zurne Artistik “Liber Palestinn” – Solidarite Kont Zenosid Israel-US bringing together over 50 Mauritian artists in solidarity with Palestine at the Cafe du Vieux Conseil. The first Palestinian film festival in Mauritius took place in 2015. Mauritians like Ragini Kisnasamy and Alain Ah Vee have even travelled as activists to march in Palestine. So today we stand on the shoulders of a Mauritian legacy of solidarity with Palestine among its people from all walks of life.

We ask that the government hears us Mauritian citizens and residents loud and clear and joins South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel for genocide as well as adhering to the ever-growing international BDS movement with concrete actions. We must remember that Gaza, the West Bank, Palestine are microcosms of a neocolonial world. Diego Garcia is linked to Palestine is linked to Congo to Sudan to Venezuela… and so we are all in this together, especially us citizens of the global south.

Never Again Olive Resistance, a proud member of SOMALP, is a mirror of Mauritian solidarity and caring. Barely a year old, with less than 10 members, but an ever-growing community and collaborators, we have already taken numerous activist actions including 10 direct artivist interventions and held five awareness and fund-raising events in solidarity with so much love — for Palestine, its people, its land. We will never stay silent. Never again is now.  Together we honour Palestinian culture and stand in true solidarity.

 Please join us! Free Palestine! Free us all!

Films

Where Olive Trees Weep

Bulgaria, Italy & California, 2024

1hr 43 minutes

Directors: Maurizio Benazzo & Zaya Benazzo

https://whereolivetreesweep.com/

If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears,”

— Mahmoud Darwish Palestinian poet & writer

This multi award winning docu-film offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo – two highly immensely talented film makers, give an outsider’s perspective nevertheless deeply connected to Palestinians. They offer a human look at life under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, focusing on trauma, resilience, and the fight for justice, through interviews with Palestinians like journalist Ashira Darwish and activist Ahed Tamimi, plus trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté, a holocaust survivor himself and activist for Palestinian human rights. The cinematography is breathtaking in its poignant beauty. This film is powerful in its sensitivity and is an artistic triumph as well as being a strong truth-telling so necessary in our troubled times.

Listwar Palestin / History of Palestine – Platforme Mauricienne Pour la Palestine

Mauritius, 2025

11 minutes

Directors: Platforme Mauricienne Pour la Palestine

https://www.instagram.com/plateforme_mru_palestine

Film shorts in Kreol with English subtitles giving a short history on Palestine. Beginning before the creation of Israel, the films then give an insight into the Nakba – the catastrophe during which Zionist groups expelled 750,000 Palestinians from their homes. From this came the loss of Palestinian lands, and the ongoing siege, occupation and invasions, leading to the current genocide since 2023.  The final short explores how we as citizens of the world can support the Palestinian cause through boycotting and activism.

History of Palestine

Episode 1: Palestine before 1947

1 minute 20 seconds

Episode 2: The nakba / the catastrophe

50 seconds

Episode 3: War, occupation, and empty promises

1 minute 40 seconds

Episode 4: Occupation and Israel’s oppression

1 min 50 seconds

Episode 5: Gaza and blockade

1 min 30 seconds

Episode 6: Palestine, our responsibility, our lesson

1 min 45 seconds

Music Videos

Child of Gaza — Mo Pase la Rivyer Tanie

Mauritius, 2024

4 minutes 58 seconds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQkC_C1Xztc

The melody and words of this song are an adaptation of a traditional Mauritian lullaby sung to all children on our islands and now, in spirit to all the children in Gaza, the West Bank…

The words of the poem, especially written in 2024, are also dedicated to all Palestinian children and their loved ones The names appearing on this video are only some of the names of the tens of thousands of children killed in the current genocide in Gaza since October 2023. The numbers keep rising. May these innocent souls never be forgotten.

Concept, Vocals & Poetry – Tania Haberland

Concept, Vocals & Lyrics – Mélanie Pérès

Concept & Translations – Lindsey Collen

Acoustic Guitar – Hansley Bhugmonea

Percussions-Jaysley Bhugmonea

Piano – Randy Ramos

Team coordinator Nitin Bhugmonea

Music recorded and produced by Gary Bhujun

Video – Terry Westby-Nunn

With the collaboration of NuZwé Music Hub R Piano Studio Swatt Studio

SOMALP (Solidarite Morisyin Ar Lepep Palestininn)

La Chasse à la Colombe — Ras Max & Manar Raje

Mauritius, 2024

3 minutes 56 seconds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAolJ529S3M

Author: Ras Max

Composer: Pete Rich

Illustrator: Rhom

Montage: Milla

A powerful music video featuring the rap of French artist Ras Max and the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Palestinian singer Manar Raje, accompanied by gut-wrenching animation visuals by Mauritian illustrator Rhom. The mixture of anger, sadness and hope in the voices sizzle alongside searingly truth-filled words and images, creating an emotional as well as educational experience. Artivism in action!

Poets, Writers, Slammers & Musicians

Dalia Afaneh

A Palestinian from Nablus living in Mauritius, Dalia Afaneh carries her homeland in her heart despite the distance. She strives to introduce those around her to Palestine – its history, beauty, and culture – so the land remains alive in memory, no matter how far she may be.

A member of Never Again Olive Resistance.

Christopher Amurat & Taz Virahsawmy

Mauritian artists using music as a space for storytelling, memory, and solidarity.

Tofer is a Mauritian musician, filmmaker, and cultural practitioner. Music sits at the heart of his work, where voice and guitar are used to express identity, resistance, and shared humanity. Alongside music, he works with image and storytelling, drawing from cultural heritage to amplify voices that are too often unheard.

Taz is a Mauritian singer and multidisciplinary artist. Her practice moves beyond sound and words, exploring identity, resilience, and collective memory through creative process. Rooted in culture and community-based work, she uses art as a space for expression, connection, and social engagement.

Lindsey Collen

Lindsey Collen is an activist in Lalit and in Solidarite Morisyin avek Lepep Palestinn. She is also a novelist, published in some 5 or 6 languages. She writes some poems, too.

Tania Haberland & Fabrizio Dalle Piane accompanied by the kalimba

Tania Haberland is a biophiliac award winning poet, artivist, body-worder, integrative counsellor & member of Never Again – Olive Resistance.

Fabrizio Dalle Piane is a former European karate champion, somatic coach, body worker, movement artist & member of Never Again – Olive Resistance.

Together they are The Technology of Tenderness. For Viva Palestina they will be presenting a series of fiercely tender poems by Palestinian poets in English & Italian accompanied by the kalimba.

Janamodini accompanied by the didgeridoo

“Art born of breath and love” Janamodini is a Didgeridoo player, Performer artist, Poet and Painter. After years in the corporate world, she discovered the Didgeridoo instrument in 2016 and it ignited the spark in her to embrace her vulnerability. With this nature’s gift, she imbues soul, spirit, peace and love through her art work to the community in Mauritius and beyond.

Dini Lallah

Dini Lallah is a short story writer, translator, and permaculture gardener within a community of cultivators. She has been a graphic designer, teacher, and activist since the student movement of the 70s, to the more recent struggle for data privacy. Dini believes in all Peoples’ right to self-determination from colonisation.

Denis Larhubarbe

Denis Larhubarbe, also known as Hadad is a 3D artist, drummer of 6 black coffins and sani zekra as well as a darbuka player.

Mushirah

Mushirah Luidialam is 26 years old and a rapper. Her rap aims to raise people’s awareness and stand up to the current rap scene that is misguiding today’s youth.

Shama A. Rahman

Shama Abdool Rahman is a Winner of the Edouard Maunick poetry prize and published author. Shama’s work traces, in unflinching honesty and raw emotion, the fiery journey that many women live unseen. With a background in English literature and a career in finance, she writes with a rare blend of intellect and heart.

Anita Ramgutty

As a writer and consultant, Anita Ramgutty (Wong) works at the intersection of research, public policy and storytelling. She also teaches and consults in communication, ethics, and human resources.

Zainab Soyfoo

Zainab Soyfoo believes in storytelling as a way of bearing witness to life. A Mauritian writer, educator, and slam artist, she uses poetry to bridge memories and keep history alive.

Umar Timol

Umar Timol is a Mauritian author, poet, and portrait photographer. He has published four poetry collections, two novels, and a book of portrait photography.