São Paulo – Presenting and discussing Muslim culture is the proposal of event "Muslim Culture and Identity”, to be promoted at the Carmo branch of the Social Service for Commerce (Sesc), in São Paulo, on Wednesday (11) at 6:30 pm. To discuss the matter, historian Peter Demant should promote a chat, to be followed by a musical presentation by the Lebanese Sami Bordokan.
“The number of Muslim refugees [visiting Sesc] is growing,” said the program coordinator at Sesc Carmo, Débora Rodrigues Teixeira. According to her, among the partners at the organisation is the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which sends many groups to the Sesc, where they receive Portuguese classes, food and are allowed to participate in all activities offered.
Over the last months, according to Débora, Sesc Carmo has received many groups from Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, mostly Muslims. That is why the Sesc Carmo idea of bringing a specialist to speak about the matter arose. “We want to expand the knowledge people have of the Muslim culture,” said the coordinator.
To elaborate the historic scenery of Muslims, Demant, who is the author of book “The Muslim World”, should speak about several matters, among them the expansion of western adepts and the Muslims in Brazil. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world.
Demant is a historian from the University of Amsterdam and a professor at the University of São Paulo (USP). He was also the senior researcher at the Harry S Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has lived in Brazil for 10 years, is an associate professor at the Department of History at the College of Philosophy, Literature and Human Science at the USP and is responsible for the Middle East area in the International Conjecture Analysis Group at USP.
Musician Sami Bordokan plays the lute, an Arab string instrument, in partnership with musicians Cláudio Kairouz, William Bordokan and Maurício Mozayek. Tickets to the debate and the musical presentation are free.
Service
“Muslim Culture and Identity”
Date: August 11th
Time: 6:30
Site: Sesc Carmo
Address: Rua do Carmo, 147
Telephone: (+55 11) 3111-7000
Site: www.sescsp.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
