Organised by Second Home
Join Iranian collective Only Voice Remains for a collective listening session and workshop in light of current events in Iran and Kurdistan.
About this event
Only Voice Remains is a womxn-led Iranian collective operating with transnational queer and feminist values.
In response to the current events and protests happening across Iran and Kurdistan, they are building an archive of sound material including voice notes from friends and family inside Iran, protest sound recordings as well as artistic responses such as poems and songs.
Their mission is to organise sonic protests that transcend physical borders, connecting activists across the world, to help build a mutual narrative and strategy of resistance.
Join us at Second Home Spitalfields as we come together for a collective listening session to hear the compilation of sound material by Only Voice Remains. Whilst listening, the audience will be invited to respond through a workshop of writing and creating.
The evening will be a safe space for reflection, expression and communication. After the listening session there will be time for everyone to process through music, food and togetherness.
Food will be available from Mana’s Plant based Persian Cuisine. For Iranians, food goes beyond merely sustenance. It is first and foremost an expression of love, of warmth, of hospitality, of community, and a celebration of their rich cultural heritage. Vegan chef Mana is dedicated to using food as a tool to bring people together and to support the cause.
A selection of vinyl records will be played by Syrian Cassette Archives – an initiative to preserve, share and research sounds and stories from Syria’s abundant cassette era (1970s-2000s).
The aims of Only Voice Remain are
1. To archive what is happening under the Islamic Republic of Iran and prevent the erasure of feminist, queer, religious and ethnic marginalised narratives.
2. To build networks of solidarity and critical dialogue around gender and ethnic struggles.
3. To emphasise the intersectionality of the moment for freedom and the networks of oppression that uphold each other across the region.
4. To create ground for further action through collective reflection and discussion.
How can we seize the potentials of this moment, at a time when we can have conversations that once seemed unreachable, and process shared uncertainties regarding the future?
This event is a safe space by & for members of BIPOC and LGBTQ communities but open to all. Please get in touch via email if you have any accessibility needs or questions.
Please also note that the event will be audio recorded and archived by Only Voice Remains. Attendees who would not like the recording of their voice to be used can opt-out by advising the event organisers at any time.