04/11/2026
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04/11/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4: The Embassy of the State of Palestine, in collaboration with the Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), hosted a panel discussion on Monday evening as part of celebrations marking the National Day of Palestinian Women and honouring renowned Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour.
The event brought together distinguished Palestinian women and a Kuwaiti participant residing in Kuwait, highlighting the role of women in preserving Palestinian identity and the Palestinian narrative through culture, education, heritage and cuisine.
The panel featured Hooda Shawa, Lamies Al-Shakhsheer, Faten Abu Ghazaleh and Sawsan Daana, and was moderated by Reem Shurrab, Media and Communications Officer at the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
The evening opened with a piano performance by young Taya Muath Al-Shanaq, who performed “Zahrat Al-Mada'en” (Flower of the Cities), the famous song performed by legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz. Her performance captivated the audience and received an enthusiastic response.
The programme also included the screening of a documentary featuring inspiring Palestinian women from within Palestine, highlighting their experiences and remarkable success stories.
Preserving Palestinian Identity Through Literature
During the panel discussion, writer Hooda Shawa, an author of children's and young adults' literature and founder of TAQA Productions, a theatre production company in Kuwait, spoke about her journey as a writer.
Shawa said she began her writing career around two decades ago after noticing that the books and school reading materials used by her two daughters were predominantly in English. This inspired her to begin writing stories in Arabic for children and young adults.
During the event, she read from her new book, “My Grandmother's Key,” which highlights the role of grandmothers as guardians of Palestinian memory. The presentation was accompanied by a musical performance featuring puppets.
Shawa has received several awards in recognition of her contributions to children's literature.
Palestinian Embroidery and Cultural Heritage
Faten Abu Ghazaleh, representing the Palestinian Heritage Centre and daughter of the late Siham Abu Ghazaleh, spoke about efforts by Palestinian women to preserve and promote Palestinian heritage, particularly traditional embroidery.
She highlighted the role played by her late mother and other Palestinian women in establishing initiatives to protect and showcase Palestinian cultural heritage, including traditional embroidery, which remains an important symbol of Palestinian identity.
Palestinian embroidery has been featured in more than 60 exhibitions over the years, she said.
In 2021, UNESCO inscribed the art of Palestinian embroidery on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising the cultural significance of the tradition and contributing to international efforts to safeguard it.
Cuisine as Part of Palestinian Identity
The discussion also focused on Palestinian cuisine and its role in preserving cultural identity.
Chef Sawsan Daana, founder of “Matbakhi,” which specialises in traditional Palestinian cuisine, spoke about the deep historical roots of Palestinian food traditions.
She stressed the importance of documenting and sharing Palestinian culinary heritage online to introduce audiences around the world to traditional Palestinian cuisine and ensure that these traditions continue to be passed on to future generations.
Education and Music
Veteran educator and music teacher Lamies Shakhsheer emphasised the importance of education in Palestinian society, describing knowledge and academic achievement as powerful tools for preserving and strengthening the community.
She highlighted the achievements of Palestinians in education and their contributions to educational institutions in different societies.
Shakhsheer also stressed that music remains an essential component of education and culture and plays an important role in preserving the identity of any people.
Ambassador Tahboub Thanks Participants and Kuwait
At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Kuwait, Rami Tahboub, thanked the young pianist and the participating women for their contributions and the valuable insights they shared with the audience.
The Ambassador presented bouquets to the participants as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation for their efforts in promoting Palestinian culture and identity.
Ambassador Tahboub also expressed his appreciation to the State of Kuwait, HH the Amir, the Kuwaiti government and the Kuwaiti people for their continued support for the Palestinian people and their national cause.
He further thanked the Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), represented by Amer Al-Hunaidi and Ofelia Vardanyan, for their collaboration in organising the event.
The panel was attended by several Arab and foreign ambassadors and diplomats accredited to Kuwait, along with members of the Palestinian, Arab and international communities and Kuwaiti guests.
The event highlighted the continuing role of Palestinian women in preserving and passing on Palestinian identity through literature, education, music, traditional heritage and cuisine.
