Future events

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The Ahl-e Haqq, also known as Yarsan or Kaka’i – the People of Truth

The Kaka'i - also known as Yarsan or Ahl-e Haqq - ' The People of Truth' 

11 November 2011 from 6pm

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

**Admission free**

**Food and refreshments by Della's Kitchen**

This is the third event we have organised to celebrate Kurdish religious minority communities - in 2009 we organised an evening dedicated to the Yezidis and in 2010 an event focused on the Faylee Kurds. This year's event celebrates the Kaka'i - also known as the Yarsan or Ahl-e Haqq - 'the People of Truth.'

Music is a central feature of this religion and we will hear both from speakers with specialist knowledge of the religion and also from Kaka'i musicians. We will also be exhibiting work by a noted Kaka'i artist.

Dr Golmorad Moradi was born to a nomadic Kurdish Yarsan family in Iranian Kurdistan. He is President of the Cultural Association of the Ahl-e Haqq (Yarsan) Community Abroad. He was formerly a lecturer at the University of Heidelburg.

Dr Yiannis Kanakis is a musicologist and research fellow at Exeter University’s Centre for Kurdish Studies. His current research explores the ways that the Yarsan’s main religious and social codes and communal self-perception are contained in, and conveyed through, music – and, in particular, ritual music.

Guest of Honour: The guest of honour will be Mr Falak Aldeen, formerly minister of culture in the Kurdistan Regional Government, and a prominent member of the Kaka’i community

Musicians: Arash Moradi on Tanbour (lute) and Fariborz Kiannejad on Tombak (goblet drum)

Artist: The artwork on display is by Kaka’i artist Salar 

Gulan is very grateful to Levenes, our main sponsor for their generous support for this event

Runaki 3: Festival of Kurdish culture and art, 25-27 March 2011

The third Runaki Festival organized by Gulan and Della Murad took place during the weekend of 25-27 March 2011 at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG (nearest tube stations: Liverpool Street or Bank).

The main events over the weekend included:

FRIDAY 25 MARCH

Film: ‘The First Movie’ – followed by Q & A with director: Mark Cousins

SATURDAY 26 MARCH

Concert, featuring Kurdish singers Olce, Micael and their groups

SUNDAY 27 MARCH

Contemporary Dance performance by Karwan Omar

Poetry Gala, featuring the work of Sherko and Fiaq Bekes and others

Download information about the poets and poems featured at the poetry gala here

Throughout the weekend we hosted an exhibition by contemporary Kurdish artists and film makers:

Artists: Rebwar Saeed, Ismail Khayat, Simko

Silk Screen Prints: Layla Faylee

Photographers: Soran Nachashband, Ako Maroof, Rostem Agah         

Film makers: Binevsa Berivan and Sarwar Mohamad Amin     

Download information about the artists and film makers here

Past events:

Tuesday 30 November: The Faili

A celebration of the culture of the Faylee, their costume, music, poetry and art

Thursday 30 November 2010 at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

The evening included a presentation by Dr Majeed Jafar, and a panel discussion with Dr Munira Omid and Bettool Molkshabi. 

The Faylee are Shia Kurds, whereas most Kurds are Sunni Muslims.  There are estimated to be some one million Faylee living in their homeland in North Eastern Iraq and Western Iran, the land of Elam. They have suffered many years of persecution and expulsions from Iraq which has threatened their culture.

Runaki 2 - Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 April 2010

Runaki! – A celebration of Kurdish life and culture

The programme included an exhibition of works by contemporary Kurdish artists including: ceramics by Ronak (artist based in Suleymania); photography by Shahrouz Sharifi and Hawri; and paintings by artists including Cemo, Hayder and Simko.

See pictures from Runaki 2 here

RUNAKI 2!- DOWNLOAD THE FULL PROGRAMME

 

Saturday 24^th April 2010

• 3:30pm   Film: “Hejar (Big Man Little Love)”, director Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask
• 5:00pm   Discussion arising from the film – reconciliation between Kurds and Turks
• 7:00pm   Concert of Kurdish music featuring Nasiri Razazi, the Zahawi Brothers & Harim Jaff

Sunday 25th April 2010   

• 3:30pm  Film: “Return to Kirkuk”, director Karzan Sherabayani
• 5.00pm   Discussion arising from the film - community reconciliation following the ethnic cleansing of Kirkuk and other areas. Panel including the director, Karzan Sherabayani
• 6.00pm      Kurdish dance group performance/ Percussion workshop with Ayra and Nayi by Awat
• 7.00pm      Music event with Kurdish group Lost Melody

Runaki 2 was held at Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG.

Yezidism - An ancient Kurdish religion: a view from inside - Tuesday 24 November 2009

Yezidism - An Ancient Kurdish religion: a view from inside was held at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG on Tuesday 24 November 2009.

Gulan was delighted to welcome Dr Khanna Omarkhali, a Yezidi priest who who spoke about this ancient Kurdish religion. This was a rare opportunity to hear about this mysterious ancient faith and its links with other creeds.

The evening also included a film about the Yezidi people, Yezidi music with Nahro Zagros, a panel discussion with Professor Christine Allison, University of Exeter, and Della's Kitchen famous Kurdish food.

Coverage of the event in Persian

 Download further information about Yezidism - An ancient Kurdish religion: a view from inside

Event flyer

Information about Dr Khanna Omarkhali's presentation

Sample of Yezidi poetry

** NEWS: BBC Persian TV coverage of this event can be found here

*** Photos from the evening can be seen on our Gallery Pages

Runaki! A Celebration of Kurdish life

The first Runaki festival was held on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March 2009 at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG.

Runaki means light in Kurdish. The aim of the festival was to help a wide range of people see Kurdish culture in a new light. It was a weekend festival of Kurdish culture organised by GULAN and St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace and curated by Della Murad. It included music, dancing and percussion workshops, discussions, films, painting and Kurdish food.

"The Runaki 2009 Festival showed our British friends the beauty and richness of Kurdistan's heritage, by enabling them to discover our artists, fashions, history, music and cuisine. I congratulate the organisers of this very successful, small but beautiful festival and look forward to seeing many more."

-Ms Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman
High Representative to the UK, Kurdistan Regional Government

The programme for Runaki 1 can be downloaded here

Babylon Late

Gulan and Della organised a fashion show of Kurdish dress in the Great Court of the British Museum on Friday 27th February as part of the Babylon Late events.

22 photos from the fashion show at the British Museum can be found in the Gallery showing a range of Della's designs.