كفركلا و غصن الزيتون - Kfarkila & The Olive Branch
Description
Curated by Galerie Kfarkila.
The resilient people of South Lebanon and Bekaa have remained steadfast on their land, enduring repeated waves of destruction to their homes, their livelihoods, and the land they call home.
In light of the recent aggression against Lebanon, which has displaced hundreds of thousands, we have organised a fundraiser to offer support to those affected.
We invite you to an inaugural exhibition and dinner, curated to commemorate Kfarkila—a village of the South, whose soil, olive groves, and people have endured despite every attempt at displacement and erasure. Standing at the gateway to Jabal ‘Amel, Kfarkila remains inseparable from the story of the South, carrying within it generations of memory, sacrifice, and steadfast resilience.
We gather not only to remember, but to affirm that our beloved home lives through us — in our archives, in our art, and in every act of preservation that insists our history is worth telling. Join us as we gather to honour the beauty of the gateway to the South — Kfarkila, her olive trees, and the resilience, culture and legacy of South Lebanon.
Join us on Monday, 8th of June, at 6:30 pm.
Location: City View Function Centre, 925-941 Canterbury Rd, Lakemba
What's on?
Dinner - share a bite of Lebanon’s traditional food & dessert.
Speeches and discussion about South Lebanon (guest speakers TBA)
Screening of a short video edit, created by Ali Cheet & Saida Badreddine
An exhibition of film photographs from Kfarkila in 2000 by Saber Serhan – “Release”
Gallery of artworks by various artists from Kfarkila
Live Oud Performance by Abou Saleh of Bayt Saleh
Fundraising auction
Raffle ticket giveaway
Each ticket includes your seat and dinner for the evening, as well as some special gifts symbolic of our land for each attendee.
We hope to see you there.
Lineup
Hassan Sheet
Hassan Sheet is a lawyer who has dedicated many years to the civic life of Kfarkila. He served as Mayor of Kfarkila from 2012 to 2016 and was re-elected in 2019, a position he continues to hold today. Throughout his tenure, he has played an active role in representing the village and supporting its development, preservation, and community initiatives.
Nick Hanna
Nick Hanna is a lawyer who has acted in numerous high profile cases for Palestine defenders. He is the principal of the law firm, Hanna Legal, and a co-founder of the Civil Liberties Defence Centre, a community legal service founded in response to the unprecedented criminalisation of political expression during the Gaza genocide. Aside from the law, Nick hosts The What & The Why, an investigative journalism project exposing the role of the Israel lobby in undermining democratic rights in Australia, and he wrote and directed The Last Sky, a bold documentary about Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon and the people fighting back.
Mahmoud Mando
Mahmoud Mando is a Lebanese-Australian barrister and human rights lawyer whose family originates from the southern Lebanese village of Kounine. Based in Sydney, he represents individuals and organisations across a broad range of legal matters, including human rights, employment, criminal, family, and commercial law. Through his legal practice, Mahmoud is dedicated to advancing justice, protecting individual rights, and serving the community.
Ali Al Hajj
Ali is a project manager, activist, poet and a Post-Graduate student of Strategic Communication. His activism is woven into his public speaking, political commentary and poetry. Ali won the 2024 Bankstown Poetry Grand Slam has featured on stages such as ABC, TedX, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Writer’s Festival and was published in Poetry & Prints For Palestine and the Muslim Poetry Anthology.
Leila Mansour
Leila Mansour is a Lebanese doctor, poet and spoken word artist. A daughter of diaspora, she grew up in France and immigrated to Australia as a teenager to pursue a Medical degree. Combining a lifelong passion for creative writing and performance arts, she has used spoken word poetry to connect with audiences all over Sydney, from Campbelltown to the Opera House. Leila has performed at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, 4E Festival, Nexus as well as lending her voice to many fundraiser events and Spotify. She is a two-time Grand Slam finalist, winning the bronze in 2023. She was the Austalian Poetry Slam 2022 Sydney Champion and an APS National finalist representing NSW. Her writing has been published in Living Stories, Meanjin, Sweatshop and was featured in the Australian Muslim Poetry Anthology. Her first poetry collection is due to be published later this year.
Aman Al Sayed
Aman Al Sayed is a Syrian-Australian writer and literary author, who has published several collections of short stories and poems. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Literature from Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria. Throughout her career, she has taught Arabic language in both Syria and the United Arab Emirates. She has also contributed to Arab newspapers and cultural magazines in the UAE and continues to publish her literary works and articles across various online platforms. Aman Al Sayed is currently preparing to publish her first novel.
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