Conference in the series Great Capitals of the Medieval Islamic World: Past and present, in which the past and present of Islamic Seville will be analyzed on the basis of the latest scientific findings in archeological studies.

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The film series, held as part of the Nights of Ramadan, deals with topics such as Orientalism, the image of “the other” and the process of migration. Prejudices and stereotypes are discussed, as well as the most current social criticism.  

For the third year in a row, Casa Árabe, the Municipal Government of Cordoba and the Halal Institute have organized this series of activities to celebrate the month of Ramadan, an important socio-cultural festivity for Arabs and Muslims all over the world. At this edition, Casa Árabe will be putting on a special schedule of films, including three animated movies and four fiction features. The session deals with topics such as Orientalism, the image of “the other” and the process of migration. Prejudices and stereotypes are discussed, as well as the most current social criticism. The films “L’orchestre des aveugles” (“The Blind Orchestra”) by Mohamed Mouftakir and “Garagouz” (“Marionettes”) by Abdenour Zahzah will be screened with the cooperation of the Halal Institute.

As part of the Nights of Ramadan celebrations, we will be taking a tour of some of the most distinctive sites in Cordoba from the times of Al-Andalus. It provides an approximate overview of what the capital city of Al-Andalus and most important political and cultural site in the Western world was like one thousand years ago.

The dance company Nesma Al-Andalus Danza, directed by Spanish choreographer Nesma, under the musical direction of Irene Shams, is presenting this new choreographic creation inspired by the history of Al-Andalus, painting a portrait of the poetry of Al-Andalus from the tenth century to the modern day. Arising from the mixture of the cultures existing when intellectual life flourished most in the Arab world, the brilliant civilization of Al-Andalus has left behind an indelible mark on the Iberian Peninsula and the Arab world as a whole, as well as acting as a link for spreading knowledge from East to West. Despite upheaval throughout history, its cultural legacy is fascinating.

From a very personal perspective, at a crossroads between cultures, Nesma uses the full wealth of her moving, contemporary choreographic language to take us on a journey down the trail left behind by the “muwashahat,” poems written in an original, revolutionary form that came about in Al-Andalus, leading to the creation of a musical movement that eventually spread throughout the entire Arab world. Nesma and her dance company embody these “muwashahat” on stage, as of the splendor of the Umayyad caliphate in Cordoba, including exile and the journey across the Mediterranean, from the Maghreb to the Middle East, up to its rebirth. The music, arranged with admiration and respect to be performed by a contemporary jazz group, is made up of traditional pieces from both the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) and Mashreq (Egypt, Syria and Lebanon), with the exception of the song “A... dios” (Exile), by contemporary composer Ali Khattab. 

Nesma draws us closer to an important page in our history, also acting as a mirror for the challenges we face at the present. Above all else, it is a work which casts light on the importance of the arts in society, cultural diversity and freedom of expression. 

El Viaje (The Journey, opening) | Enamorada (In Love) | Abayas | Wallada | Tierra Amada (Beloved Land) | Una Noche Maravillosa (A Wonderful Night) | El Exilio (Exile) | Renacer (Rebirth) | Jovial Ligereza (Jovial Lightness) | Libertad (Freedom) | Pasión (Passion) | Alegría (Joy) | El Viaje (The Journey, end).

In today’s Cordoba, some remains are left behind of a few of the systems which were used to supply, store and drain water from ancient Qurtuba. Throughout this tour, we will visit some of the most notable and get a general overview of hydraulics in Al-Andalus. This tour is being given on the occasion of the Nights of Ramadan.

The speaker intends to review the causes and consequences of the current refugee crisis, dealing with certain focal points of violent conflict that cause human beings to flee in order to save their lives. Within this context, the European Union is partially responsible for creating many of the problems that affect our neighbors and should be a main role-player in responding to this tragedy affecting millions of people clamoring at our doorstep.

Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde is a co-director of the Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action (IECAH). A specialist on security-related topics, peace building and conflict prevention with a special emphasis on the Arab and Muslim world, he frequently collaborates with various media. He is a professor at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a consultant of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the field of peace building and violent conflict prevention. 

Conference in the series titled “Great Capitals of the Medieval Islamic World: Past and present,” in which we will be analyzing the past and present of Islamic Murcia (madinat Mursiya) on the basis of the latest scientific information reported in archeological studies.

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“Tales of Al-Andalus” is a show in which stories from ages past are told in the form of a tale that takes us on a journey back into the world evoked by “The Arabian Nights.” The voice of Jesús Greus and Arabic oud of Luis Delgado, accompanied by music from the era, will allow us to delve further into these tales filled with beauty, imagination and historical accuracy.

A fabulous gift for a song | The daring of a woman sultan and the royal harem | The popularity of books in Cordoba | The poet and chess | Zahra the favorite’s nostalgia in Madinat al-Zahra | Caliph Harun Rashid’s curiousness

The Palatine city of Madinat al-Zahra, considered a masterpiece in the art and architecture of Al-Andalus, was built at the orders of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III to complete his political and ideological program During this visit, we will discover the site’s layout and urban planning, as well as the messages conveyed to us by its architecture and rich decoration. This tour is being given on the occasion of the Nights of Ramadan. 

Conference in the series Great Capitals of the Medieval Islamic World: Past and present, in which we will be analyzing the past and present of the capital of the Zirids and Nasrids on the basis of current scientific innovations in archeological studies. 

Traditionally, the Islamic cultural heritage in Spain has been considered to include exclusively the historical and artistic heritage from the era of Al-Andalus. However, within the framework of today’s view of heritage, it should also include the manifestations, customs, representations, knowledge and techniques acquired by expressions of religious faith in Muslim communities from both the past and present. During Ramadan, many of these rituals, customs and traditions converge, making it an excellent month to discuss these representations in an objective, scientific manner.

Sol Tarrés holds a PhD in Social Anthropology and is a professor of Anthropology at the University of Huelva, as well as a member of the Andalusian Academy of History. She is a specialist in the field of religious diversity in Spain (Islamic faith), the cultural heritage of religious minorities and the religious expression of death. She has formed part of and directed various domestic and foreign projects related with these subjects, including a map of religious minorities in Andalusia and in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, the first results of which are found in the book  Encuentros, diversidad religiosa en Ceuta y en Melilla (Encounters: Religious diversity in Ceuta and Melilla, Icaria, 2013). She has had over fifty works published, including articles, books and chapters of books, the most notable of which include Guide for the Management of Religious Diversity in Cemeteries and Funeral Services (FPC, 2013), And Who Are You (For)?:  Religious minorities in Andalusia (Icaria, 2010), Muslim Cemeteries in Spain: Places of otherness (Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales, 2012), and From Popular Religiosity to the Religion of the Andalusians and Religious Diversity:  25 years of Religion Anthropology in Andalusia (1985-2010) (Signatura Demos, 2011).

Likewise, she has formed part of such entities as the International Seminar of Experts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the topics of racism and Islamophobia, and the Seminar of Experts for the “Management and safeguarding of immaterial heritage in the Mediterranean.”

“The Adventures of Prince Achmed” is the oldest animated feature film to be preserved (it premiered in 1926). The story is based on “The Arabian Nights,” especially the tale of Prince Achmed and the fairy Paribanou, which appears in The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. 

“Said’s Journey” is an endearing animated short subject film that relates the experiences of Said, a Moroccan boy who crosses the Straits of Gibraltar. When he gets to the other side in the land of opportunities, Said discovers that the world is not as pretty as he had been told.

The artistic and cultural heritage developed throughout five centuries of Islamic rule in Cordoba was transcendental. Both structurally and decoratively, Qurtuba left an important legacy behind in the city that could still be seen after the Christian conquest and remains present even today. On this tour, we will become familiar with some of the finest examples of Cordoba’s Mudéjar style, which includes the headquarters of Casa Árabe itself.

“The Blind Orchestra” is a fictional film set in the early years of King Hassan II’s reign, in which Houcine, an admirer of the new king, leads a very popular orchestra. He lives with his wife Halima in the family home, a place full of life and some very original characters who crisscross each other’s paths to the pace of the orchestra and its traditional dancers, known as the Chikhates. The musicians are forced to pretend they are blind in order to perform at parties reserved for women amongst the most conservative families. Mimou (Houcine’s son) falls in love with Chama, the neighbor’s maid.

Mokhtar makes a living as a puppeteer. He is assisted by his son Nabil, to whom he teaches his trade. At the wheel of an old van, he travels to the few schools spread around the Algerian countryside, facing the prejudices and obstacles placed before him. 

Décor tells the story of Maha, who has always been a movie lover and now works as an art director. She is an expert at creating a world of images. The pressure at her work is on the rise, but she is able to imagine another life far away, which gets Maha caught between two realities: the first resembles the movie sets she designs, and the other what is supposed to be her real life. As she begins to confuse one world with the other more and more, the line between imagination and reality starts to grow blurry, and for the first time ever she must decide what she truly wants to do.