ESCAPE: Aeham Ahmad
AFTER THE ESCAPEFinding home in a foreign land
Aehem Ahmad, the "pianist amid the rubble," had to flee from the civil war in Syria.
In our special online feature, we tell stories about artists who have had to escape from their native countries, and how they have managed to turn their new destinations into home. Or not.
In our special online feature, we tell stories about artists who have had to escape from their native countries, and how they have managed to turn their new destinations into home. Or not.
Aeham Ahmad, PianistESCAPEWhy security is more than just avoiding the bombs
The video of a young man playing the piano in the ruins of Yarmouk, a bombed out district in the Syrian capital Damascus, was broadcast around the world. In it, he sang and played for his people: to comfort and encourage them during the civil war. The young man was Aeham Ahmad, the "pianist amid the rubble."
SECURITY: Saša Stanišić
Saša Stanišić, WriterSECURITYHow one can find home in writing
Saša Stanišić
fled war-torn Bosnia with his parents in 1992. After the Cold War, the multi-ethnic state of Yugoslavia collapsed. People who once lived alongside each other began fighting one another: Croations, Serbs, Bosnians. And that in the middle of Europe.
"You are fortunate if you can have a say in your escape," Saša later wrote.
"You are fortunate if you can have a say in your escape," Saša later wrote.
EXILE: Antonio Skarmeta
Antonio Skarmeta, WriterEXILEHow a new beginning translated into global success
YEARNING: Heinrich Heine
Heinrich Heine, Poet and JournalistYEARNINGWhy some people feel the longing never ends
The number of people who flee their countries is
higher than ever before, according to the UN refugee agency. Fleeing is no new
phenomenon: in 1831, German poet Heinrich Heine fled to Paris to elude censorship
and hostility.
NEW HOME: Judith Kerr
Judith Kerr, Author of children's booksNEW HOMEWhy children's books can also feel like home
London has been her home for over 80 years. Only seldom does she travel to Berlin, where she was born in 1923.
Due to her massive success, she would not have to work as she has sold millions of books. They line the shelves of many a child's room. Yet she continues to write and illustrate children's books to this day. She has published over 30 of them.
FOREIGN HOME: Nneka Egbuna
Nneka Egbuna, MusicianFOREIGN HOMEWhy 'home' can also be a feeling
Nneka Egbuna left her native country Nigeria when she
was 19, and moved to Hamburg. Living in Germany was tough at first, but she persisted:
she learned German, graduated from high school, went to college —
and finally, she
discovered music. To this day, it has been a key influence in her life.
HOW THEIR TALES CONTINUED
Six artists, one fateHOW THEIR TALES CONTINUED
Nneka Egbuna, Aeham Ahmad, Saša Stanišić, Heinrich Heine, Judith Kerr, Antonio Skarmeta — they all had to leave their native countries and try to adjust to life in a foreign country. Have they been successful?
Nneka Egbuna
Nneka now lives in Lagos, Hamburg and Paris — and tours the world with her band. Her home is not limited to one place; she says she doesn't feel completely "at home" anywhere. Instead, for her, "home" is more of a feeling and life is a journey.
Antonio Skarmeta
Antonio Skarmeta returned to Chile in 1989, at a time when Pinochet's dictatorship was coming to an end.
He lived in Germany again from 2003 until 2006, serving as his country's ambassador.
He now lives in Chile with his second wife, whom he met in Germany, and his youngest son. His two older sons remained in Berlin.
Saša Stanišić
Language is his home, and writing is Saša Stanišić's
profession. His debut novel "How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone"
was published in 2006. The young author became well-known all over Germany soon after. Winning
the Leipzig Book Fair Prize in 2014 catapulted him to the bestseller lists.
Saša Stanišić
"I have a very good
memory and that is a real gift for a writer. Without having to refer to a
recording or notes I have made, I can often recall a situation that I once
thought was something worthy to write about or that I would later use. It
doesn't just have to be people, but also places. Since I often change the
places where I'm writing, it's often not possible to remember where certain
parts of texts were written. Strangely enough, though, it's silly little stuff
that I may remember. Then I know precisely what day it was, or where I was. And
that's really nice because it's a narrative about me … When you've focused on a
certain subject for four years and have often been on the verge of kicking it
all into a corner and you're ready to give up, then it really gives you the
courage to keep going."
Heinrich Heine
Heinrich Heine, the German poet wanted for high
treason, died on February 17, 1856 in exile in Paris. His grave is in the cemetery
of Montmartre, the district where he lived for 25 years of his life.
In his last will and testament, Heinrich Heine bade his native country, Germany, farewell – as well as the French people. He was so very fond of them, he wrote, and thanked them for their hospitality.
In his last will and testament, Heinrich Heine bade his native country, Germany, farewell – as well as the French people. He was so very fond of them, he wrote, and thanked them for their hospitality.
Aeham Ahmad
In August 2016, Aeham Ahmad's wife Tahani and his sons were finally permitted to come to Germany — over a year after he escaped Syria.
The family moved into an apartment in Wiesbaden. Aeham Ahmad also owns a piano again.
Judith Kerr
Her partly autobiographical trilogy, which began with "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit," became her legacy. She never wanted to write an autobiography.
Long reluctant to travel to Germany, she enjoyed visiting the country in her later years, when she not only talked about the heroes from her books but also about her past.
Such as here in 2016, with students in Berlin and several refugee children in the audience. Judith Kerr's life journey might have given them courage too
Judith Kerr died on May 22, 2019, age 95. The DW special "After the Escape" was published in December 2017.
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AFTER THE ESCAPE
What happens after the escape?
ESCAPE
A birthday shock
After the Escape
Arrival in Wiesbaden
Music saved him
The burden of having survived
"Why me?"
SECURITY
Fleeing the horror
Germany - foreign, and yet familiar
A thousand foreign words in his head
Living out of three suitcases
Exisiting between worlds
Concrete buildings with a great view
Practice field for street smarts
Registering at the university saved him
EXILE
Chile's September 11
Antonio Skarmeta about the coup in Chile
Chile: Military dictatorship during the Cold War
Murder or suicide?
Torture and death in the National Stadium
Antonio Skarmeta about his escape
Escape to West Berlin
Antonio Skarmeta needs new subjects
"Nothing Happened" — A book about exile
Helping one's parents — or going out with one's girlfriend?
The experience of exile
The Postman
YEARNING
Refuge in Paris
Heinrich Heine: "Night Thoughts"
New freedom in Paris
A stranger in his own country
A German in Paris
Mathilde
German or Frenchman?
Heinrich Heine: "Germany. A Winter Tale"
Arrest warrant
Wanted: Heine, Writer
The 'mattress grave'
NEW HOME
At home in the world of books
Sheltered childhood in Berlin
Escape without return
Escape as an adventure
Judith Kerr on her language dilemma
Tough war years in London
How Judith Kerr became British
Feeling at home in London
FOREIGN HOME
In Germany, Nneka discovers music
From tape recorder to stage
Hip-hop meets dub, soul, reggae and afrobeat
"I like your courage, young lady"
Thoughtful lyrics
Traveler between worlds
HOW THEIR TALES CONTINUED
Nneka Egbuna
Antonio Skarmeta
Saša Stanišić
Heinrich Heine
Aeham Ahmad
Judith Kerr