Fri 23 Jan 6:30–10:30 pm
Discussion, Readings, Spoken Word

Sat 24 Jan 1:30–10:30 pm
Lecture Performance, Discussions, Music Programme with Choir Concert Actions, Concert Performance and DJ Set

About the Festival

The festival concludes the exhibition of the same name and is dedicated to the political, artistic and intellectual legacy of Eslanda and Paul Robeson, two exceptional figures of the 20th century. Their commitment to anti-colonial movements, equality for Black people and internationalism continues to resonate today.

In light of growing social inequality, rising nationalist tendencies and cultural and political narrow-mindedness, the programme examines how artistic practice can open up spaces for criticism, imagination and solidarity. International artists, spoken word artists, scholars and musicians combine historical perspectives with contemporary issues: from the political voice of Paul Robeson and the archives of resistance to Black feminist internationalism and the resonances of these socialist and postcolonial struggles in today's forms of art and activism. The festival examines the role of art as a force for social change.

Friday, 23 Jan

6:30 pm
Welcome

Johanna M. Keller (project director Akademie der Künste, project lead and co-curation)

Introduction

Lina Brion and Anujah Fernando (artistic directors, curating and academic research)

Taking Sides – On Art and Activism

Panel Discussion DE/EN
With Vasyl Cherepanyn, Sami Khatib, MALONDA
Moderation: Aida Baghernejad

9 pm
Voicing the Struggle

Readings and Spoken Word in Cooperation with Haus für Poesie DE/EN
With Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Koleka Putuma, Armeghan Taheri, Temye Tesfu

Saturday, 24 Jan

Discursive Programme

1:30 pm
Cold War Frequencies and Robeson’s Machines (Or, When the Future Was Still Possible)

Lecture Performance EN
With Louis Chude-Sokei (joining online)

2:30 pm
Archival Vibrations – Politics of Sound

Panel Discussion EN
With Heiner Goebbels, Valmont Layne, Shana L. Redmond
Moderation: Edna Bonhomme

4:30 pm
The World in Relation: Re-Thinking Internationalism

Panel Discussion EN
With Charisse Burden-Stelly, Maxim Matusevich, Doreen Mende
Moderation: Edna Bonhomme

Music Programme

from 7 pm
Riding the Dragon

Chor Concert Actions with100 singers, featuring works by Neo Muyanga, Hanns Eisler, and others
With Chor 360° & Kammerchor of ChorWerk Potsdam, Der Richardchor Neukölln
followed by Q&A EN
With Neo Muyanga (composer, artistic director)
Moderation: Julia Gerlach

Programme (order tbc):

Hanns Eisler, Auf den Straßen zu singen, Op. 15 (1928, text: David Weber)
Hanns Eisler, An der Moldau (1956, text: Bertolt Brecht (1943))
Hanns Eisler, Billigung der Welt (excerpts) (1934, text: Bertolt Brecht)
Neo Muyanga, The Weight of Our Time (2025, world premiere)
Riding the Dragon (traditional Chinese song, arranged by Neo Muyanga; from the repertoire of Paul Robeson)
Human Rights, Articles 1, 3, 19, 24, 28 (music by Axel Christian Schulz; languages: German, English, Zulu)

Interludes and choreography: Neo Muyanga

PUNGWE: Bodied Notes Between Spaces

Concert Performance
Instruments: Feedback, Voice, Vinyl, Tape, Electronics, Mbira
With Robert Machiri & Eiliyas

DJ Set

With Lynnée Denise

Participants

Aida Baghernejad, Edna Bonhomme, Charisse Burden-Stelly, Lina Brion, Vasyl Cherepanyn, Chor 360° & Kammerschor of ChorWerk Potsdam, Louis Chude-Sokei, Lynnée Denise, Anujah Fernando, Heiner Goebbels, Sami Khatib, Valmont Layne, Robert Machiri & Eiliyas, MALONDA, Maxim Matusevich, Doreen Mende, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Neo Muyanga, Koleka Putuma, Shana L. Redmond, Der Richardchor Neukölln, Armeghan Taheri, Temye Tesfu

“Every Artist Must Take Sides – Resonances of Eslanda and Paul Robeson” is a project by the Akademie der Künste in collaboration with the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, and the Haus für Poesie, Berlin.