September 3, 2024
Hate the poppy, say hello to the nettle
In "Short years, long days", Samir Madad talks about his home in Afghanistan, the sunlight through the trees around the courtyard and the dramatic journey that lasted for several years - which took him to a tiny town in northwestern Norway.
A hip-hop monologue about being a child on the run
I "Short years, long days", a monologue performance spiced with his own songs, Samir Madad talks about his home in Afghanistan, about the sunlight through the trees around the courtyard and about the dramatic journey that lasted for several years - which took him to a tiny village in Northwest Norway. Short Years, Long Days is a story about being invited to his first Christmas party and having Norwegian grandparents. About discovering hip hop, about wanting a bunad, about living in a shack in Helsfyr. About a father who disappears. And about how the streets of Oslo might as well be the mountains.
Short Years, Long Days is based on Samir Madad and his personal story. A journey from Mazar in Afghanistan to Oslo and Larsnes in Norway. "Hate to the poppy, hello to the nettle". And everything in between.
In 2001, Samir was six years old and fled Afghanistan with his mother, father and older brother. The flight lasted two years. Since 2003, Samir has lived in Norway where he works as a
youth worker, musician and photographer. But when the pandemic knocked on the door and the world closed in, Afghanistan and the journey to Norway pushed themselves forward in the cerebral cortex.
"If you were lucky, you had a roomie. Or a family.
What I had was tons of time.
I had time to think. Time to understand. Time to feel.
I had time to fight the battles that I had been putting off.
I was face-to-face with the scary monsters. In myself.
And the two-year journey...
It started to crack a little"
Samir's story is a tale of having been a child on the run. And about sitting as an adult, in the silence of a lockdown, and for the very first time having to take in "what that kiddie really had to go through".
"We have other things to think about. Other than me. I can't cry now."
Photo: Dag Jenssen
Samir kind of talked to us, and really took us along on his journey. For example, on the train ride. When he talked, I felt like I was there.
Marie in Young Voices about Short years, long days