Gims (formerly known as Maître Gims), singer, text writer and music producer, was born as Gandhi Djuna in 1986 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. When he was about two years old, he migrated to France with his family. They arrived as immigrants and lived for years without a regular legal status. Growing up …
Žarko Radaković’s Fear of Emigration (Strah od emigracije) is an essay that explores the emotional and cultural challenges faced by migrants who return to their country of origin. Having spent several years in Germany, Radaković writes from the perspective of someone caught between two worlds: connected to Serbia yet feeling isolated in Germany. The work …
Stevan Tontić’s Sarajevo Manuscript (Handschrift Aus Sarajevo), written after he fled the Bosnian War, offers a haunting reflection on the disintegration of a shared Yugoslav identity and the profound effects of exile. His poetry and essays convey the sorrow, confusion, and moral struggle of witnessing one’s homeland being destroyed while striving to remain true to …
Kazem Haideri is an Iranian poet living in Italy whose evocative and often minimalist poetry has significantly enriched Italian literature. His work, recognised with the Eugenio Montale International Poetry Prize, frequently explores the loneliness, displacement, and spiritual searching that accompany forced migration.Haideri’s poems blend traditional Persian poetic forms with modern European styles, offering a reflective …
Written in the aftermath of Italy’s Martelli Law reforms, Immigrato tells the poignant story of North African migrants striving to find dignity and a sense of belonging in a new country. Methnani’s narrative blends diary-like reflections with social commentary, offering a vivid portrayal of what it means to be “othered” in a society still negotiating …
Read more “Mario Fortunato & Salah Methnani – Immigrato (2006)”
Pap Khouma’s autobiographical novel I Was an Elephant Salesman (Io Venditore di Elefanti) is one of the earliest examples of migrant literature in Italy. The book recounts his experiences as a street vendor in Milan, navigating daily life in a bustling city while confronting racism and bureaucratic challenges.Khouma’s narrative combines sharp humour with self-reflection, offering …
Two Blankets, Three Sheets is a deeply personal and often humorous account of life in a Dutch asylum reception centre. The novel draws on the author’s own experience: after arriving in the Netherlands as an asylum seeker, Rodaan Al Galidi was not granted access to formal language courses and therefore taught himself Dutch while waiting …
Read more “Rodaan Al Galidi – Two Blankets, Three Sheets (2020)”
Originally written in Dutch and published in 2005, The House of the Mosque (Het huis van de moskee) narrates the story of a family living beside a mosque in a quiet Iranian town, where everyday life gradually begins to shift as the Iranian Revolution approaches. At the centre of the story is Aqa Jaan, who …
SIENA
BELGRADE
UTRECHT
SIENA