MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Amed (Diyarbakır)- The Women’s Association for Culture, Art and Literature (KASED) will hold a festival called “Women’s Surfest” in Amed’s Sur district from September 29 to October 5, 2024. At the festival, many cultural and art activities will take place for women.

Aimed at providing a space for women to get involved in art, the association also aims to preserve the historical and cultural memory of Sur, the ancient heart of Amed.

On September 29, the festival will kick off with a concert at the Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Sur with the participation of Armenian and Kurdish women musicians. The festival will feature activities for children, panels, storytelling workshops, concerts and a fashion show displaying traditional clothes. In addition, the fifth anniversary of the KASED will be celebrated at the festival.

“We call on all women and children to attend the festival,” said Saliha Ayata, a trainer of the KASED.

‘We have worked for women for five years’

The association has provided cultural and art activities for women and children for five years. “We have worked for women for five years, providing many courses such as language, music, painting and halay for women and children,” Saliha Ayata told NuJINHA. “The main reason why we work particularly in Bağlar (Another district of Amed) and Sur is that the women and children in these districts have no opportunity to get involved in cultural and art activities. As the association, we will keep supporting women and children in all facets of life.”

‘This festival will bring different native languages together’

Our main aim is to bring all women in Sur together, Saliha Ayata stressed, adding: “We aim to fight against the assimilation policies implemented in Sur. On September 29, the festival will kick off with a concert of a Kurdish and an Armenian woman at the Surp Giragos Armenian Church. At the festival, all women can sing songs in their native language. This festival will bring different native languages together. We will also organize art activities for children, panels, storytelling workshops, concerts and a fashion show displaying traditional clothes. The festival will kick off at the church and end at the Cemil Pasha Mansion.”

‘We will say no to the murder of children’

A song written by women for Narin Güran, an 8-year-old girl who was reported missing in Amed on August 21, 2024 and whose dead body was found on September 8, will be sung at the festival. “The murder of Narin tears our heartstrings. At the festival, we will say no to the murder of children.”