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Trafika Europe 6
with European Arab focus
EDITOR’S WELCOME
The term
Arabesque
can refer to two distinct decorative
styles, as it shifts from the ancient Islamic world to
Renaissance Europe. So too, Arab authors in Europe may
find their styles and concerns evolving, consonant with
their complex, intercultural role. In the present climate,
it’s also worth recalling that Arab writers have been
enlivening European letters for quite some decades. The
six contemporary European-Arab writers who make up the
focus of this issue represent quite a range – from hip family
drama to mystical tales, from semi-fictionalized
reportage
to popular song. What these authors all share is a keen
awareness of their role between cultures – a perspective
well worth sampling in the light of current events.
Faïza Guène
, a product of the Paris
banlieues
, has been
hailed as “the defining new voice of a generation” (The
Guardian) for the savvy she brings to French culture from
her Algerian origins.
Ibrahim al-Koni
, currently living in
i
editor’s welcome