SEBA KAYAN „Dengbêj – Genesis of a Soundteller“

At the heart of Seba Kayan’s practice lies a methodology of „disruption,“ where she challenges the entrenched relationship between the Orient and Occident, as defined by the concept of „Orientalism“ outlined by Palestinian researcher Edward Said. Through sound, performance and disruptive techniques, she explores politically charged aspects of cultural identity, blending „Oriental“ samples with techno to transform cultural perspectives.

In the listening Session „Dengbêj – Genesis of a Soundteller“ Seba delves into the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly the Dengbêj tradition of oral expression in Kurdish culture in the context of collective memory. A „Soundteller“ – is the tradition of oral expression, which, as the only path to the survival of a language facing extinction under oppression, formed the foundation of traditional Kurdish music. By engaging with archival material and collective improvisation processes, she seeks to make this tradition accessible to a Western audience while honoring her ancestors and their collective memory.

Seba Kayan invites audiences to reconsider the ways in which cultural heritage is preserved, remembered and interpreted, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse narratives that shape our world. An evening of connection, sorrow, exile, love and resistance – dedicated to the Art of Dengbêj.

photo by CYTRO CYTRO