
16 September 2024: As part of a newly launched series of discussion sessions aimed at exploring the role of art, culture, and literature in peacebuilding, the Tamadon Foundation hosted its inaugural event in Yemen. The session brought together an impressive gathering of prominent Yemeni artists, writers, and cultural figures to discuss how creativity can contribute to fostering trust and dialogue in a conflict-torn society.
The discussion focused on the ways literature and art can express the suffering of the Yemeni people and turn these experiences into pathways for building bridges of trust and peaceful dialogue between warring factions. Participants also examined how to combat hate speech, promote tolerance, respect human rights, and embrace cultural diversity. Key topics included strategies for integrating art, literature, and culture into peacebuilding programmes on local, national, and international levels, as well as fostering collaboration among creatives and cultural institutions to amplify their role in promoting peace.
The session was moderated by renowned writer Lamia Al-Eryani and featured celebrated novelist Wajdi Al-Ahdal, who spoke about “positive realism” and its potential to influence audiences towards peace. Prominent artist Iman Ibrahim also contributed, sharing insights on the role of art in advancing values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The event was opened by Dr. Hamdan Dammag, co-founder and leadership member of the initiative. In his welcome speech, Dr. Dammag outlined the objectives of the discussion series, emphasising its role in supporting cultural and artistic expression as a means of fostering tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He highlighted the importance of involving artists and intellectuals in peacebuilding efforts, urging them to offer hope and remain engaged despite the challenges of conflict.
Attendees contributed valuable insights throughout the hour-and-a-half-long session, covering topics such as successful examples of cultural contributions to peace and the challenges faced by artists and intellectuals working in this field.
The event was attended by a distinguished group of Yemeni writers and creatives, including Ibtisam Al-Qasimi, Ahmed Al-Salami, Ahmed Baidar, Amani Hussein, Tawfiq Al-Shanwah, Dhekra Al-Baram, Shehab Al-Zeyadi, Abdulqader Sabri, Ali Al-Asad, Fikriya Shahrah, Lamia Al-Eryani, Layla Al-Sayaghi, Maleeha Al-Asadi, and Nashwan Mohsen.
This inaugural session marked a significant step in connecting Yemeni culture and creativity with the broader mission of fostering peace and reconciliation, setting the stage for future discussions in the series.