Hekayyatna: 1001 Tongues
A day for the textures of language, for shifting dialects and the untranslatable. A day for spoken word, music and workshops rooted in the SWANA experience.
SWANA holds a lot of languages, and Arabic holds dozens of dialects in its fold. Sunday is for that texture: Armenian, Kurdish, Farsi, Amazigh, Albanian, Turkish, dialects that shift between one city and the next, words that don’t translate and don’t need to.
Come along to hear spoken word and music from a line-up of singers and choirs. Threaded through the day is a weaving workshop, led by Amira Dabboussi, and a calligraphy workshop led by Nayab Ahmed.
Bring the language you dream in, and the one you argue in.
Hekayyatna means ‘our stories’ in Arabic and building community through storytelling is at the heart of Hekayyatna’s beliefs. Their events draw on One Thousand and One Nights, which most English-speaking audiences have met only through histories of translation. Where layers of fantasies have been added to it: veils and lamps and a fixed, timeless Middle East that was romanticised and never real.
1001 Movements takes back the number, because 1001 is not meant for counting the number of stories, but rather for showing how there are countless voices and narratives of the SWANA experience.
Hekayyatna produces live events, productions and participatory experiences across London and beyond, aiming to bring people together to explore the questions that matter through conversation, creativity and shared discovery.
This event is part of the Southbank Centre’s Riverside Sessions, running throughout the summer as part of our 75th birthday celebrations. Curated by young people, the programme invites audiences of all ages to explore youth as a mindset, not a number.
Need to know
1pm: Albanian Cassette Archives
2pm: Riwa Saab
2.20pm: Hasna
3pm: YAZ
3.40pm: Mo Hasan
4pm: Bint Mbareh
5pm: Special guest
Access
This event might be crowded and feature loud sounds. If you need access to a rest space, ear defenders and sensory packs, please let a member of staff know.
To discuss any access issues or requirements, call us on 020 3879 9555 or email [email protected]
For your visit
This event is held at the Riverside Terrace Southbank Centre
The Riverside Terrace is open all day, every day*.
*If you’re attending an event on our Riverside Terrace, check the event listing for start and finish times.
Plan your visit
The Riverside Terrace is an outdoor space overlooking the River Thames, on Royal Festival Hall, Level 2.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Through the glass from Riverside Terrace on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.