The concert Our Songs for Tomorrow at Palladium on November 5 november was preluded by a panel discussion, moderated by culture producer Yvonne Rock. The panel consisted of the music students and project participants Manar Wahhab and Nahela Soussan from Palestine, and Nimrod Ginzberg and Dror Haberman from Israel.
– I was very disappointed, in my own life, with the situation between Israel and Palestine. But I wanted to give myself a chance to meet my neighbours. This project could lift me up. To talk to them, to have fun with them, to know that there are people there [in Israel] who are like me, it gives me hope, said Manar Wahhab, Palestine, about how she felt before and after the project.
The joint creating, arranging, practicing and performing of music between the Palestine, Israeli and Nordic music students have been the foundation of the ten days that they have spent together in Malmö.
– For the first time in my life I with patience listened to Arabic music. I was inspired by the beauty. By learning to love their music it was easier to connect, told Nimrod Ginzberg, Israel, of the importance of music for him in this project.
Spending all their time together has, according to the participants, been crucial to succeed.
– In this project we have lived together, not only talked or seen each other in the streets, said Nahela Soussan, Palestine, about the intimacy of the group.
A woman from the audience was interested in hearing what the delegates talked about during their time together and if they touched on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
– With your friends you talk about regular things, so that's what we did, Nimrod Ginzberg explained the conversational topics between the participants.
But naturally the conflict between Israel and Palestine was also discussed.
– At first we just talked nonsense and made friends, then we discussed deeper things, Dror Haberman, Israel, pointed out.
– I talked a lot about my situation, my daily life and they were good listeners, added Manar Wahhab.
The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is so old that it has always been present in the lives of the participants of Our Songs for Tomorrow.
–This conflict is something we were born into, Nimrod Ginzberg said. We didn't create it, we didn't encourage it. If the people can be friends I think it can change from the bottom.
The concert that followed the panel discussion contained everything from complex choir arrangements, amiable thwacking of each other and themselves with plastic tubes, which created both rhythm and melody, to traditional songs in new arrangements and original music written by all the participants during their ten days in Malmö.
