Experience Ritual, a powerful new anthology celebrating Muslim-Australian identities through poetry in concert.

Ritual in concert, features live readings from seven poets weaved in and out of music by Persian music ensemble, Avaye Rood, led by composer Behzad Ansari.

Witness an unforgettable celebration of language, culture and music.

Ritual Concert is in partnership with Sweatshop Inc and features Poets:

Munira Tabassum Ahmed has had her work published in Pleiades, Frontier Poetry, Best of Australian Poems, Liminal and Cordite. She was a 2022 Kat Muscat Fellow.

Mualla Aydoğan is a Turkish-Australian writer from south-west Sydney. She has a Bachelors of Communication from Western Sydney University and a Masters of Arts in Writing and Literature from Deakin University.

Ferdous Bahar is a Bengali-Australian woman from Western Sydney. She obtained a Bachelors of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney. Ferdous’ creative and critical works have been published in SBS Voices and kindling & sage magazine.

Meyrnah Khodr is a Lebanese-Australian writer from Bankstown. She completed a Bachelor of Education at Western Sydney University. Meyrnah has been published in SBS Voices.

Adrian Mouhajer is a queer non-binary Lebanese-Australian writer, fighter and editor from Lakemba. They are currently working on their debut essay and poetry collection as the recipient of a 2024 Affirm Press Mentorship.

Rania Omar is a lived experience advocate for mental health, disability and domestic violence. She has performed extensively at Bankstown Poetry Slam and recently published an audio story in Stories From Here (Outloud, 2024).

Yahya Tresor Djomani-Ousmane is in his fourth year at the University of Wollongong, pursuing a double degree in Science and Commerce. The dualities of Yahya’s African-Australian upbringing and Islamic faith have shaped his artistic practice.

Come 1 hour earlier to be part of:

Ceremony - BAC Courtyard 1pm

To clear the air and our spirits, join us for a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by local Aboriginal Elders.

A ceremony and interactive discussion about connecting and understanding Country and a way forward for multicultural Australia.

Culture X Festival 2025 is in Partnership with Bankstown Arts Centre and Create NSW