50 Years of Goethe-Institut in Bangladesh

by Judith Mirschberger
October 3, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1855/50-years-of-goethe-institut-in-bangladesh

2011 is a year of anniversaries. While the Bangladeshi nation commemorates 40 years of independence, Goethe-Institut, the German Cultural Centre, is celebrating its very own anniversary: 50 years of Goethe-Institut in Bangladesh. Since 1961, it has promoted the study of German language and encouraged cultural exchange between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

In 2010 alone, more than 950 persons attended a German language course at the Goethe-Institut –the majority of them either students, who are planning to pursue higher studies in Germany, or young men or women, who have to demonstrate a basic proficiency of the German language to join their spouses in Germany. In the field of secondary education, Goethe-Institut furthermore supports five schools in Dhaka and Chittagong to include German language classes into their curricula within the framework of the initiative "Schools: Partner for the Future".

In addition, almost 50 cultural programs were organised in 2010: exhibitions, concerts, theatre plays, lectures and film screenings attracted over 10.000 visitors.

Besides, the Goethe-Institut is also a favourite place to hang out for young people, who are not studying German or attending one of the cultural events. They either browse the broad media offer of the library with 5.000 fiction and non-fiction books in German and English translation, CDs, DVDs and magazines, or enjoy their time in the two cafés located inside the institute.

To mark its anniversary, the German Cultural Centre arranged a colourful and varied cultural program open to everyone and free of charge, which will take place in Dhaka and Chittagong from October 8 to 13 . Highlights will be the photography exhibition "One Day in Germany", the theatre play "Metamorphosis" and two concerts by "Jens Friebe and Band".

"One Day in Germany" consists of a selection of 50 photographs that were all taken on May 7, 2010, an ordinary Friday. That day, 432 photographers of the professional association "Freelens" travelled to every corner of Germany to shoot what happened in front of their cameras: in schools and living rooms, at football grounds and airports, in parliaments and discos. Passing by villages and cities, the photographers searched for motives representing Germany. The outcome is a complex portrait of German society telling more about the Federal Republic than many history books and piquing the beholder's curiosity to explore Germany.

The theatre play "Metamorphosis", based on a novel by German-language novelist Franz Kafka, was first staged at the Goethe-Institut in 2005 by the troupe of the Centre for Asian Theatre, following a workshop on light design. Six years after its premiere, the production, telling the story of a young travelling salesman who wakes up one morning to discover that during the night he has been transformed into a monstrous vermin, returns to its roots and will be staged once again at Berlin Hall within the framework of the anniversary.

At the close of the anniversary celebrations, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh will present Jens Friebe and Band. Jens Friebe, born in 1975 in Luedenscheid, is a German musician and music journalist. After playing for several years with rather unknown bands, he released his debut album "Vorher Nachher Bilder" (literally: pictures of before and after) in 2004, which was well received by critics, especially because of its ambiguous German lyrics. Apart from the independent pop and classic singer songwriter influences, critics also pinpointed synthpop, Neue Deutsche Welle and euro-disco as references for Friebe's style. On stage, Jens Friebe and Band will be joined by one of the pioneer bands of alternative rock music in Bangladesh, Black, who have recently published their 4th album.

For further information including the anniversary program click HERE.

Judith Mirschberger is the Director, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh

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