Conversations

Malek Jandali, Mona Simpson & James Gelvin

  • to This is a past program

Syrian musician Malek Jandali and his cousin, award-winning writer Mona Simpson, will discuss the uprising in Syria and how their heritage informs their creative work. Jandali is an acclaimed pianist and composer considered to be among the most versatile and creative musicians in the Arab world. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Freedom of Expression award for his song “Watani Ana (I am my Homeland),” as well as his activism in the Arab Spring movement. Simpson is the author of Anywhere But Here, The Lost Father, A Regular Guy, Off Keck Road, and most recently My Hollywood. Jandali and Simpson will be joined by UCLA professor James L. Gelvin, an American scholar of Middle Eastern history and renowned expert on contemporary politics in Syria.

All Hammer public programs are free and made possible by a major gift from the Dream Fund at UCLA.

Generous support is also provided by Susan Bay Nimoy and Leonard Nimoy, the Simms/Mann Family Foundation, The Brotman Foundation of California, Good Works Foundation and Laura Donnelley, and all Hammer members.