Çiler Ilhan
(Turkey, 1972) writes novels, essays, reviews and translations for various newspapers and magazines. She studied international relations and political science in Istanbul and hotel management in Switzerland. In 2006 she debuted with the short-story collection Ruya Tacirleri Odasi (Chamber of Dream Merchants). Surgun (Exile, 2010) won the EU Literature Prize and was published in 24 countries. Its short stories - some of which are only a page or two in length - form a novel in which ordinary Turkish citizens speak about feeling alienated from their homeland, their families, and the community to which they belonged. In 2021 she published Nisan Evi (Engagement), a novella about lives lost under the weight of power factors in eastern Turkey.
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Archive available for: Çiler Ilhan
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Scatterlings
What does it mean when you have to leave your country of origin to start a new life in another place? Writers Abdelkader Benali and Rešoketšwe Manenzhe tell stories about migration and displacement, based on their latest books. Çiler Ilhan moderates the conversation.
In her debut novel Scatterlings (recently published in the Netherlands as Zwervelingen), Manenzhe wrote about the disintegration and displacement of a biracial family as a result of the racist 1927 Ontuchtwet, which criminalised biracial relationships.
Stories of migration also take centre stage in De opdracht van de Moor (The Assignment of the Moor), Abdelkader Benali's new novel to be published in January 2025: stories of travellers, refugees and fortune-seekers that form the basis of an ambitious project: moving flood-threatened Venice to a safe desert in the Middle East.
Rešoketšwe Manenzhe is a poet, short story writer and novelist. Her short stories and poems have appeared in the Kalahari Review, Fireside Fiction, Praxis Magazine, Lolwe, FIYAH, and the 2017 Sol Plaatjie European Union Anthology, among others. She holds a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Her debut, the historical novel Scatterlings (2020) is set in 1927, when South Africa passes the Immorality Act, prohibiting sexual intercourse between white and black people. Those who break the draconian new law face imprisonment.
Abdelkader Benali is an award-winning writer, poet, playwright and curator. His 1996 debut, Bruiloft aan zee (Wedding By the Sea), was an immediate success. His second novel, De langverwachte (The Long-awaited) won him the prestigious 2003 Libris Literature Award. Benali's subjects vary, but sports and the migrant who never really feels at home are recurring themes. He has written novels about his great passion of running, about his travels, and about migrants' cultural identity. His new novel De opdracht van de Moor (The Moor's mission) is published in January 2025.
Çiler Ilhan writes novels, essays, reviews and translations for various newspapers and magazines. In 2006 she debuted with the short-story collection Ruya Tacirleri Odası (Chamber of Dream Merchants). Surgun (Exile, 2010) won the EU Literature Prize and was published in 24 countries. In 2021 she published Nişan Evi (Engagement), a novella about lives lost under the weight of power factors in eastern Turkey.
Scatterlings is curated for Writers Unlimited Festival 2025 by Ilonka Reintjens.
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Book of My Life: Çiler Ilhan in conversation with Charlotte Remarque
Writers tell us about their favourite book: the book that inspires or touches them, that set their artistic, moral or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone. Interview: Charlotte Remarque.
Çiler Ilhan talks about The Woman Has No Name by Turkish journalist, best-selling author and women's rights advocate Duygu Asena (1946-2006), a novel about growing up in Turkey. It is the story of a young woman who rebels against what she sees as unjust traditions and customs in modern Turkey. From an early age, she tries to break away from strict morals. Consequently, her search for passion and an identity of her own causes problems. When this book was published in Turkey in 1987 with the title Kadının adı yok, it was initially banned. It has since gone into reprint 40 times and has been released translated in several countries.
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What Will They Say, Meltem?
About literature, poetry, feminism and violence - with Müesser Yeniay, Çiler İlhan, Sanem Kalfa, Meltem Halaceli & Canan Marasligil (moderator)
In What Will They Say, Meltem?, Meltem Halaceli, Müesser Yeniay and Çiler İlhan discussed what role literature and poetry can play in bringing to light violence against women. This event was the live finale of a series of podcasts with the same title by Winternachten programmer Meltem Halaceli. Domestic violence against women and LGBT-groups has increased worldwide and femicide has become a growing problem. Struck by this reality, Meltem Halaceli went in search of her family's feminist values and made a podcast about them. Her mother's eyes were opened by novels and poetry by Turkish, Russian and American authors who wrote about the unequal status of women. In her podcast, Meltem spoke to writers, poets and experts and asked them how they use their knowledge and literature to bring violence against women into the open.
In this live event we first of all met Turkish poet Müesser Yeniay, who recited a number of new poems. In the introduction to her latest collection Sevgiliyle Daimi Konuşma (Endless Conversation with the Loved One) she wrote: "For many Eastern women, poetry is the only place she exists." What does that mean for her poetry? The second guest was Çiler İlhan, who moved to the Netherlands from Turkey in 2017. She spoke about her latest novel Nişan Evi (Engagement House), in which women are seen as commercial objects - a body and nothing more. Her earlier book Sürgün (Exiled) won the EU Literature Prize and was translated into 20 languages. Jazz singer Sanem Kalfa framed the conversation with live music. Canan Marasligil, a translator and writer, moderated the event.
We concluded this program with a screening of the Writers' Monument. Like every year, The Theatre of Wrong Decisions has made made an updated version of their 'digital monument' for the journalists and writers who were murdered. The monument could be seen during the opening of Winternachten, to stand still together, reflect and realize how many people worldwide sacrifice their lives simply by holding the pen and wanting to tell the truth.
English spoken.
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Dakota's Winternachten Story Festival: Stories from Afar
With: Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen, Arshia Sattar, Çiler Ilhan, Duygu Alkan, Francis Broekhuijsen, Jhilani Wijsman, Mark Kalsbeek, Shagun, Turks koor Escamp, Wieteke van Dort
The Winternachten Story Festival at Theater Dakota came to its festive conclusion on Sunday afternoon. 'Stories from Afar' was a large and varied programme with stories, music and dance from and about India, Turkey and the Dutch Indies. The programme had two parts: before the intermission you chose one of three country programmes, each in a separate room. You heard music and stories of writers and local residents about their country of origin.
The India programme included an appearance by writer Arshia Sattar. She's an expert on the Ramayana and a great storyteller. Dancer Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen, pupil of Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee Guru Geetanjali Lal, performed with a music ensemble consisting of Viresh Kisoendajal (tabla), Lehra (sitar), Martijn Barendregt and Shivant Jhagroe (harmonium) en Ilyas Nadjafi (vocals).
The Turkey programme included appearances by writer Ciler Ilhan, currently famous for her story collection In Exile, and vocalist-ud player Duygu Alkan. Wieteke van Dort told the most beautiful stories about the Dutch Indies. After the break came a stunning finale for all visitors. Francis Broekhuijsen introduced performances by all the above-mentioned and more artists in the great hall of Theatre Dakota: music by Hindi pop band Shagun, the choir Turkuaz from Escamp and The Hague-based singer-songwriter Jhilani Wijsman. When you reserved tickets, you also chose the country programme that takes place before the intermission. Your ticket was of course also valid after the break.
