MESSAGE

   
    The Qafila-t-as-Salam does have no message, it is the message itself. It is a fact, it proclaims no aims, represents no concern, doesn't take anybody's side, is the sum of the participants view. That Africa is the topic of the Qafila-t-as-Salam doesn't have to be proclaimed, it results through it's beeing. It needs no justification - the justification results through the fact that people from all over the world come together to the Qafila-t-as-Salam. So the first agreement is: no ideology, no religion, no philosophy is better than the other, nobody will press anyone into ones ideology, religion or philosophy of life.

   
  AIM

   
    The Qafila-t-as-Salam is no instrument of propaganda to whatever or whomever, it doesn't even stay for the interests of the starving in Sudan: it brings the worldwide view to Africa alone through the fact, that people fom all over the world - a socalled artist's UNO - has chosen this route. It brings the attention to a certain situation (or lots of situations, about which you can get the more information the more is put into the computer) brings awareness to certain circumstances, brings them through actions and performances into the centre of the worldwide public (or the public of the participant's country). How the delivered informations, impressions, results of art, pictures, comments, irregualities are judged or what kind of consequences one could take is no concern to the Qafila-t-as-Salam. Everybody can give as many answers as he/she wishes for as lonf as anybody is listening. Differences are presupposition. That would be the aim - which lies in itself. The Qafila-t-as-Salam as-Salam is one of the rare cases where the saying "The way is the aim" fits totally.

   
  STRUCTURE

   
    Apart from logistic concerns, the organisation of the Qafila-t-as-Salam refers only to the Organisation of communication among the participants.

    
  Politico-Cultural Setting

   
   

Ideas developed by apparently contrary cultures will lead to common works of art that will bring about new impulses for art, culture and the way of life. In the course of the journey, the caravan will meet different African-Islamic civilizations, drawing the public attention to the host countries Libya, Chad, Sudan and Uganda - countries that for a long time have been disregarded in global policy.

The particular way of intercultural exchange focussing on a more or less neglected continent implies the reduction of prejudice, the practice of tolerance and acceptance as well as the process of better understanding. The Qafila-t-as-Salam is a realization of the dialogue among the civilizations. By the Qafila-t-as-Salam, the idea of reciprocal actions in the international cultural policy of the Federal Republic of Germany, can be realized.

It is a project of international cultural relationship beneath the diplomatic level. It is socio-civil commitment for peaceful relations. In the course of their slow journey, a large number of people from all over the world will have the unique possibility of learning from each other and dealing with each other in the fields of art. Intercultural exchange within the Qafila-t-as-Salam is not only offered as an opportunity - it is mandatory for the success of the entire project.

Beyond that, the Qafila-t-as-Salam will focus on another topic: Water. To cross the desert, water is essential for people and animals. No journey without water. The Qafila-t-as-Salam will clearly demonstrate the physiological, hygienic and social importance of water. Any income of the Qafila-t-as-Salam will be given to the UNICEF Fund for Drinking-Water. In this context, the Qafila-t-as-Salam is a project of relief, too.

  
Read (PDF) this
text in arabic laguage.