About the event

How do we best tell stories about exile and activism through comics? Join us for an evening focused on the art of comic-making, exile and activism.

Through a focus on Sudan and Sudanese exile, we will explore the power of the comic as a tool of activism and as a means of telling stories about activism. The event will include the Norwegian launch of Cardboard Camp: Stories of Sudanese Refugees in Lebanon, a graphic novel depicting the lives and struggles of refugee protesters in Beirut.

Program

• Refugees and Political Voice in Exile – Introductory remarks by Maja Janmyr

• #Khartoon! – Introductory remarks by Khalid Albaih

• A panel discussion with writers and activists

• Q&A

Speakers

Maja Janmyr is Professor of International Migration Law at the University of Oslo, and an Associate Fellow at the American University of Beirut. She is a leading expert on refugee protection in Lebanon and the broader Middle East and has in her research explored self-organization – refugee committees, protests and sit-ins – among Sudanese refugees and migrants in Beirut. Maja is one of the creators of Cardboard Camp.

Khalid Albaih, born in Romania and raised in Qatar, is an award-winning artist based in Oslo. He is the founder of the acclaimed platforms getfadaa.com, Sudan Artist Fund, and Sudan Art and Design Library. His has been commissioned by prestigious organizations such as Amnesty International and showcased at Documenta while also being featured in renowned publications like The Guardian and Aljazeera. With his diverse artistic contributions, Khalid Albaih continues to make a profound impact in bridging the global art scene and the fight for human rights.

Yazan al-Saadi is a Syrian-Canadian writer, researcher, journalist, editor, and comic zealot. He is currently based in the alluring (yet callous) city of Beirut. He has seen too many airports and often dreams of electronic sheep. Yazan is one of the creators of Cardboard Camp.

Omar Khouri is a multidisciplinary artist working in comics, painting, video games and film. He is one of the founders of Samandal Comics, a Beirut based comics collective and publisher. He served as one of Samandal’s editors and contributing artists for more than 10 years. Omar is one of the creators of Cardboard Camp.

Teresa Pepe is Associate Professor in Arabic Studies in Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo. She is also the current chair of the Center of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at UiO. Teresa Pepe's research interests span across Arabic literature, media, popular culture, sociolinguistics, and the relation between aesthetics and politics.

Cardboard Camp

Cardboard Camp: Stories of Sudanese Refugees in Lebanon is available in Arabic and English on this website. It is developed as part of the REF-ARAB project at the University of Oslo, funded by the Research Council of Norway’s independent projects (FRIPRO) program, grant number 286745.

The REF-ARAB project

This event is part of a series of events marking the conclusion of the REF-ARAB project. During spring 2023, the project team organizes a range of events to celebrate and showcase the research the project has given rise to, as well as to discuss future research avenues. Read more about the events here.