In this episode we speak with the poet Rajaa Ghanem about the cities she grew up in such as Beirut and Damascus, and about her decision to publish her poems after her return to Palestine.

Rajaa Ghanem is a poet born in 1974 in Damascus. She lived between Beirut and Damascus until her return to Palestine in 1995. Since her return, Ghanem published her poems online and in-print on several Arabic and Palestinian magazines. She published two poetry collections: Sayyidat al-Bayad (The lady of whiteness) (2014) and ’An al-dihk, al-guitar al-burtuqali wa al-harb (On laughter, the orange guitar and war) (2019). Besides her poetic writing, Ghanem has performed in theater and works as a facilitator for creative writing workshops.

Listen via:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Produced by the PalREAD – Country of Words project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC)

Interviewer: Tala Halawa

Writer, Producer and Editor: Ibrahim Abdou

Host & Concept Design: Refqa Abu-Remaileh

Sound Recording: Arts Faculty Studios at Birzeit University

Sound Editing & Design: Ziad Fayed

VO Recording: Gianpiero Tari

Music: “The Astounding Eyes of Rita” by Anouar Brahem (ECM Records, 2009)

Cover Art: Alexandra Sophia Handal

Production, logistics and technical support: Sowt