"When the Bulbul Stopped Singing": A Day of Culture, Resistance, and Solidarity for Palestine and Lebanon in Antwerp
On December 7, 2024, Antwerp will host When the Bulbul Stopped Singing, a full-day gathering of solidarity and resistance for Palestine and Lebanon, dedicated to raising both funds and consciousness. This event in Stormkop and Het Bos is more than a fundraiser – it’s a stand against the ongoing injustices, a cry against the normalisation of violence, and a commitment to amplifying voices that have been silenced for far too long.
How to donate?
Option 1: Buy a support ticket if you can’t attend the event itself on December 7.
Option 2: Buy a ticket in advance so you can enter the event in Het Bos on December 7. We will sell 300 tickets online in advance and 50 tickets at the door.
Option 3: Make a reservation for an activity at Stormkop (ex: brunch) so you can participate on December 7
Option 4: Bring cash to the events in Stormkop and Het Bos on December 7 to buy prints, merchandise, food, drinks…
All proceeds will go to Save the Children, Palestinian Food Sovereignty (Yousef Abu Rabia’s legacy work) and directly to families in Gaza and Lebanon with the help of the Bulbul network. We want to support those caught in the machinery of oppression and to contribute to the ongoing fight for justice.
The event will begin at Stormkop (10h - 17h), where children, families, and all in attendance will engage in workshops, storytelling, music and art. These activities aim to cultivate not just creativity, but also awareness and compassion. A brunch will be served in the mourning so families have the courage to participate in workshops like dancing with Raj’een, weaving and cooking. The day will be filled with music from I am the hug, Bani Adam, Dries Laheye, Stiques and Slumberland. After a morning of connection and reflection, attendees will take to the streets in a symbolic walk to Het Bos (17h - 18h), joining together to continue the day’s mission of cultural resistance.
At Het Bos (18h - 3h), the program transforms into an evening of art, music, and defiance, featuring performances from Palestinian, Lebanese, Sudanese, and Belgian artists who have come together to remind us of resilience, beauty, and the enduring power of finding community across different cultures. Alongside the music, a marketplace will offer merchandise and regional food, and in the Theatre Studio there’ll be a poetry corner with a pop-up library showcasing work by Palestinian and Lebanese writers – all aimed at preserving and celebrating the rich heritage that’s been systematically targeted and erased. In Het Bos Club several musicians and dj’s will play music for the soul: Arto Van Roey, Zino x Jago x Prisca, Nothing left but wind, Zaveriat, Sawt, Mo’min Swaitat and Hussein Shikha. These dj’s and musicians will be guided by Yousra Benfquih and Rashif El Kaoui. In the Theatre Studio people can witness the rich heritage of targeted cultures while listening to soundscapes of Adriaan De Roover, Bert Cools, Indré, Shalan Alhamwy.
When the Bulbul Stopped Singing is an unflinching response to the brutal realities that have unfolded over the past year. We are devastated, but we are not deterred. This event stands firmly against genocide, against the political games that trivialize lives and turn suffering into a weapon. It is an affirmation of human dignity, a rejection of silence, and a collective act of remembrance and resistance.
Join us on December 7 – together, we raise our voices and stand in unwavering solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon.
Program Stormkop: 10h - 17h (make reservations in advance for specific activities)
Walk from Stormkop to Het Bos: 17h - 18h
Program Het Bos: 18h - 3h (you need a ticket to enter)
More info about the participating artists, the schedule and the fundraiser itself can be found on Instagram @bulbul.speaks
