A story by Marjolein and Fabiola
Amsterdam, 5th of May, 2017
180 Amsterdammers: Make Food, Not War
Amsterdam is home to 180 nationalities. That’s a world record. For the Freedom Feast on the 5th of May at De Hallen Amsterdam, the Prince Claus Fund and the OBA invite 180 Amsterdammers from different nationalities to share a meal together. These 180 Amsterdammers left their homelands and headed to Amsterdam for various reasons: some for love, a longing for happiness, some because of an untenable political situation, or simply by happenstance.
By sitting around the table together, the guests can enjoy food, art and culture from all over the world. The Slovenian dancer and choreographer Christian Guerematchi performs a special dance in which the Flag of Compassion plays a central role. Guerematchi takes his own past as the starting point for his choreography, in which issues such as identity, freedom and equality play an important role. Guerematchi danced at the National Ballet of Slovenia and thereafter in Kiel, Germany. In 2006 he moved to the Netherlands and worked with several choreographers. In 2012, he received a 'De Zwaan' award for the 'most impressive dance performance' for his role in the dance production Rocco. At the end of Guerematchi's dance, artist and radio maker Fabiola Veerman declaims the Manifesto Flag of Compassion.
Dinner is prepared by Prince Claus Laureate, chef and food activist Kamal Mouzawak (Lebanon), the culinary duo Nadia Zerouali and Merijn Tol, and Chefs Zina Abboud, Ziad Asaad and Joudy Asaad from Syria. For several years, Kamal Mouzawak is successfully bringing people from different communities together in Lebanon through cooking and sharing meals. During the Freedom Feast, Mouzawak speaks about his message ‘make food, not war’ and the powerful connections made through sharing food, as well as the importance of sustainable farming and production. Nadia Zerouali and Merijn Tol are featured in the NTR programme Op zoek naar de Granaatappel (Looking for the Pomegranate).
With this Freedom Feast, the freedom and diversity of the capital is tastefully celebrated.
Marjolein Frijling, Hoofdredacteur AmsterdamFM
Fabiola Veerman, Presentatrice AmsterdamFM
