Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'
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Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Ramina Books, London, has recently released the “Black Forest” novel by Germany-based Syrian novelist Mazen Arafa.

The story takes place in a city, southern Germany, where a Syrian refugee lives in struggle from “war trauma”. The title of the book reflects the darkness in his spirit caused by the terror he saw during the war and how it still haunts him through nightmares.

One day, the refugee wakes up without a memory, in a safe “European city” that has no people, without knowing how he arrived there. He lives alone with illusions and surrealistic nightmares, and his unconsciousness manifests in worlds of madness and absurdity.

These worlds not only express the terror he’s keeping inside him, but also the cultural trauma of a refugee living in a cold, emotionless western community after he was used to the eastern intimacy and warmth in his country. But his temporary break outside the “mental therapy resort” helps to draw a real image of the social environment he lives in, in an attempt to explain his nightmares.

The protagonist’s fight with his terror eventually leads him to record his story in the “memories’ trees”, a real tree in the forest with a hole that contains a notebook in which passerby write down their stories.

The cover of the 206-page book, is designed by Yassine Ahmadi, and features a painting of the Kurdish-Syrian artist Khodr Abdul Karim.



Saudi Culture Ministry Launches 'Support for Performance' Program for Cultural Nonprofits

Eligible organizations will be selected based on compliance with the ministry’s goals and standards to ensure positive impact in the cultural sector
Eligible organizations will be selected based on compliance with the ministry’s goals and standards to ensure positive impact in the cultural sector
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Saudi Culture Ministry Launches 'Support for Performance' Program for Cultural Nonprofits

Eligible organizations will be selected based on compliance with the ministry’s goals and standards to ensure positive impact in the cultural sector
Eligible organizations will be selected based on compliance with the ministry’s goals and standards to ensure positive impact in the cultural sector

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has launched the “Support for Performance” program to empower non-profit cultural organizations by offering various support solutions based on eligibility and performance measurement, aiming to enhance their participation, impact, and sustainability in the development of the cultural sector.

Deputy Culture Minister for National Partnerships and Talent Development Noha Kattan highlighted the crucial role of non-profit organizations across the cultural value chain, supporting the National Culture Strategy aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

The program is a key enabler of the ministry’s strategy to empower the non-profit sector, aiming to build effective organizations that contribute to cultural development, enhance national values, and increase community engagement.

Applications for support are open during specific periods, with the current application period running until May 15. Eligible organizations will be selected based on compliance with the ministry’s goals and standards to ensure positive impact in the cultural sector.