Marhabtayn Syrian Supper Club Fundraiser

IMAGE COURTESY OF MARHABTAYN

Details

Date: 20 May 2023
Venue: E5 Bakehouse
Address:
  396 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH
Time: 19:00
Tickets: £40
Ages: All
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible (Contact venue for further details)

Event Info

Come and join Marhabtayn’s Syrian Supper Club for a night of delicious Syrian food, drink, live music and dance, celebrating the hospitality and vibrant culinary traditions of Syria and its people. The evening will feature live music by Rama Alcoutlabi and Mario Christofi and Dabke with Bashar Farhat.

If hospitality is the language of food, then that makes food the language of love. Food’s sensory invitations awaken precious memories of celebration, welcome and exchange that we carry with us. Whether in celebration or loss, we are reminded of food’s capacity to bring communities together in moments of gathering that nurture not only the body, but the soul as well.

This supper club, organised by Marhabtayn, shines a light on the transformational power that radical acts of hospitality unlock and the many ways in which such practices foster regenerative modes of being together in the world, pointing towards our interconnectedness and interdependence as fragile, earthly beings.

We are pleased to announce that this event is a special fundraiser, where all ticket proceeds from the supper club will go to support people affected by the recent earthquake in Syria. Please note that drinks are not included in the ticket price.

We look forward to welcoming you for a wonderful night of feasting, sharing, and dancing!

This event is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Marhabtayn Syrian Supper Club

Marhabtayn Syrian Supper Club is a group of Londoners – Syrians and friends – working to show solidarity with people caught up in Syria’s conflict and refugee crisis. We put on suppers that raise money for Syria, and showcase the country’s cuisine, culture and hospitality. We send grants to people and groups who need money to deal with some of Syria’s many enormous personal tragedies – disability, displacement, detention, siege and family crises. And we raise money to welcome refugees to London.  

Rama Alcoutlabi

Rama Alcoutlabi is a Syrian peace activist and entrepreneur based in London UK. Proceeding her graduate studies in engineering, she began studies in Classical Arabic singing at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus and after moving to London Rama studied an MSc in research and peace studies at SOAS University of London. After encounters with musicians at SOAS, Rama began regularly performing as a singer around London and together with Mario Christofi, they headline music events, host workshops and produce music available online. 

 

Mario Christofi

Mario Christofi is a multi-instrumentalist from London who specialises in the traditional and popular music of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle east. He started his journey into music as a Bass player and through his diverse exposure to a wide range of music, Mario began learning the instruments and studying the music of the region. He writes, performs and produces Original music available online, teaches various instruments and is currently studying Ethnomusicology at SOAS University of London.

 

Music for Peacebuilding

The academic background Rama has in both music and research for international development inspired her to establish “Music for Peacebuilding” with Co-founder Mario Christofi. The rich experience Rama gained in London opened the door for her to explore social change through music. “Music for all” is an initiative under the umbrella of “Music for Peace building” which is centred around refugee children in London and aims to mitigate child trauma while supporting the integration process through providing free music lessons, performances and workshops.