Celebrating world class arts and humanities

Performances from a poet, a playwright and a musician were part of our annual research showcase for arts and humanities at Durham, a subject area ranked in the world top 30. Poetry, drama and music Kayo Chingonyi, who teaches on our creative writing MA, read the title poem in his collection Kumukanda , which translates as 'initiation'. He compares the traditional coming of age rituals of the Luvale tribe of North Western Zambia with his own experience of growing up in the UK. Abir Hamdar, who specialises in Arabic Studies, read a passage from her play Wasafuli al-Sabr (I am Waiting for You) . Based on interviews with female cancer patients from across the Arab world, Abir's play is the first dramatic work to focus on Arab women's experiences of cancer. Musicologist Hector Sequera reconstructs incomplete Renaissance vocal music from lute sources. He played an excerpt of a William Byrd consort song on his lute from the original lute manuscript, and then a recording of the same piece reconstructed for viol consort and voice.