The evening centres on a screening of Salamiyah, Lady of the Land, a documentary by Syrian Cassette Archives that journeys through the musical life of Salamiyah, a city in central Syria shaped by song, memory, and centuries of cultural exchange. Following local musicians, poets, and keepers of the rababa and ataba traditions, the film explores how music carries collective memory, preserving stories of place, identity, and belonging in the face of war, displacement, and cultural loss. Produced by Syrian Cassette Archives, the film reflects the project's ongoing commitment to documenting and safeguarding Syria's cassette-era musical heritage while creating new ways to listen to and engage with Syria's cultural history.
Following the screening, filmmaker and Syrian Cassette Archives co-founder Yamen Mekdad will be joined by invited researchers and cultural practitioners for a panel discussion exploring archives as acts of cultural resistance, the preservation of sonic heritage, and the role of music in carrying memory across generations. The discussion will be moderated by SyriaUntold, an independent media platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering critical conversations on culture, identity, and social justice.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Film screening followed by a talk with the film-makers.
The evening centres on a screening of Salamiyah, Lady of the Land, a documentary by Syrian Cassette Archives that journeys through the musical life of Salamiyah, a city in central Syria shaped by song, memory, and centuries of cultural exchange. Following local musicians, poets, and keepers of the rababa and ataba traditions, the film explores how music carries collective memory, preserving stories of place, identity, and belonging in the face of war, displacement, and cultural loss. Produced by Syrian Cassette Archives, the film reflects the project's ongoing commitment to documenting and safeguarding Syria's cassette-era musical heritage while creating new ways to listen to and engage with Syria's cultural history.
Following the screening, filmmaker and Syrian Cassette Archives co-founder Yamen Mekdad will be joined by invited researchers and cultural practitioners for a panel discussion exploring archives as acts of cultural resistance, the preservation of sonic heritage, and the role of music in carrying memory across generations. The discussion will be moderated by SyriaUntold, an independent media platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering critical conversations on culture, identity, and social justice.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Film screening followed by a talk with the film-makers.