Nobody can deny that there is a growing need to protect the openness of our society in these volatile times. Violent terrorist attacks from right-wing extremists and fanatical “jihadists” alike have become all the more common even here in Europe.

Everything from political associations and newspaper editorial houses to music clubs, refugee shelters and even schools in our own neighbourhoods are the targets of appalling attacks.

In Arabic, as spoken in Syria, there is a word that embodies the idea of a free society: meshwar. It means to go out, to be seen, to meet. But also to go on a journey.

This is precisely what the 14th edition of Clandestino Festival is all about. We create a journey that makes it possible for artistes and audiences to meet in the public sphere. In order for meetings of cultural value to proceed in an open society, the society itself must be open for all, regardless of cultural, religious or sexual identity.

What is new this year is that the festival will move between urban and rural environments under the selfsame weekend. As a departure from previous years, we are presenting two cultural events that coincide during the last weekend of July 2016 in a dynamic flow of unforgettable performances, and that continue to spread out over the rest of the year.

The first of our concert series kicks off on 26 January 2016 where we will host Cairo’s exciting underground electro-shaabi music: Maurice Louca, and The Dwarfs of East Agouza. Furthermore, we will have the DJ team Sublime Frequencies in the house.

Clandestino – it is not only about protecting the open society, but also creating a space for a public figure who is as yet unknown. This is the meaning of Clandestino. Something that takes place in secret, under cover, but that now flourishes and comes forth in meshwar.