Al-Yafta collective: This poem will never die
Al-Yafta collective: This poem will never die
Blog: Beirut's youths are enthusiastic about a collective started in a cafe in the Lebanese capital that promotes art and literature.
2 min read
24 Feb, 2015
The collective started in a cafe in Hamra [Getty]
Poetry is a weapon.
The revolution may not be televised, but it will be written and documented with words and imagery - this is one of the main aims of al-Yafta Collective, according to a youth attending its latest event.
The session had 11 readings in Arabic and English interspersed with music including a rap performance by Mazen el-Sayed, also known as al-Ras ["the Head"].
"No one imagined the collective that started in a Hamra alleyway would spread among the youth interested in literature," said Ihsan al-Azmeh, one of al-Yafta's founders.
A small group invited some friends who were interested in listening or reading to join them. Their meeting soon turned into a regular event that includes music, art and poetry.
What started off spontaneously became a collective, according to Mohammad Haddib, who some say is the mastermind behind the project.
Despite finishing his studies in New York, Haddib follows the accomplishment of his dream from afar. Azmeh met Haddib then they were both performing readings at an event, and their friendship and aspirations developed from there.
Farah Araydi, a founding member and al-Yafta's English editor said she had her first experience of public speaking with the collective. Initially she was shy and suffered severe stage fright, but she was bursting with confidence at the latest event when she read some of her pieces in English.
Asem Bezzi, an English literature student, has witnessed the growth of the collective into its current form. He was captivated by Haddib's energy when he read pieces he had written in Lebanese Arabic. Bezzi also met Haddib by coincidence and listened to his dream about creating a literary movement composed of youth writers.
Despite their various backgrounds and the different languages they write and perform in, everyone involved shares the same interest in using literature to express themselves personally, socially and politically. They also agree the collective is a group effort and has only successfully reached its fourth year because of the support of enthusiasts who appreciate literature.
Mohammad Halawni gets on the small stage in Cafe Younes in al-Hamra Street, where most members of the collective first met. He stands up and reads his own writing to an audience for the first ever time. This is what al-Yafta does.
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The revolution may not be televised, but it will be written and documented with words and imagery - this is one of the main aims of al-Yafta Collective, according to a youth attending its latest event.
The session had 11 readings in Arabic and English interspersed with music including a rap performance by Mazen el-Sayed, also known as al-Ras ["the Head"].
"No one imagined the collective that started in a Hamra alleyway would spread among the youth interested in literature," said Ihsan al-Azmeh, one of al-Yafta's founders.
A small group invited some friends who were interested in listening or reading to join them. Their meeting soon turned into a regular event that includes music, art and poetry.
 |
Everyone involved shares the same interest in using literature to express themselves personally, socially and politically. |
What started off spontaneously became a collective, according to Mohammad Haddib, who some say is the mastermind behind the project.
Despite finishing his studies in New York, Haddib follows the accomplishment of his dream from afar. Azmeh met Haddib then they were both performing readings at an event, and their friendship and aspirations developed from there.
Farah Araydi, a founding member and al-Yafta's English editor said she had her first experience of public speaking with the collective. Initially she was shy and suffered severe stage fright, but she was bursting with confidence at the latest event when she read some of her pieces in English.
Asem Bezzi, an English literature student, has witnessed the growth of the collective into its current form. He was captivated by Haddib's energy when he read pieces he had written in Lebanese Arabic. Bezzi also met Haddib by coincidence and listened to his dream about creating a literary movement composed of youth writers.
Despite their various backgrounds and the different languages they write and perform in, everyone involved shares the same interest in using literature to express themselves personally, socially and politically. They also agree the collective is a group effort and has only successfully reached its fourth year because of the support of enthusiasts who appreciate literature.
Mohammad Halawni gets on the small stage in Cafe Younes in al-Hamra Street, where most members of the collective first met. He stands up and reads his own writing to an audience for the first ever time. This is what al-Yafta does.
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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