PAGANINI TRA MUSICA, TEATRO E MEMORIA: AL TEATRO GOVI LA CULTURA INCONTRA IL DIALOGO E LA PACE

GENOVA – La cultura non è soltanto spettacolo. È memoria, identità, incontro e capacità di mettere in relazione persone, generazioni e sensibilità differenti.

È in questa prospettiva che la European Muslims League (EML) guarda con particolare attenzione alle realtà culturali capaci di mantenere vivo il tessuto sociale delle città e di creare occasioni di partecipazione e conoscenza reciproca.

Tra queste realtà vi è il Teatro Rina e Gilberto Govi di Genova, che il prossimo 10 ottobre 2026 ospiterà la cerimonia della terza edizione di “Un Calcio alla Guerra – Kick War Away”, iniziativa promossa dalla European Muslims League con l’Alto Patrocinio della World Organization of States – International Parliament for Safety and Peace (WOS-IPSP), organizzazione intergovernativa internazionale.

L’ospitalità del Teatro Govi offre anche l’occasione per valorizzare il suo impegno culturale e le produzioni artistiche che raccontano Genova e alcuni dei suoi protagonisti più universali.

Tra queste, “Quella musica… quella musica – Paganini Opera Rock”, spettacolo scritto e diretto da Ivaldo Castellani, con musiche dal vivo dei LatteMiele 2.0, che propone una rilettura originale della figura di Niccolò Paganini.

Teatro, musica, danza e immagini si incontrano per raccontare non soltanto il grande violinista conosciuto in tutto il mondo, ma anche l’uomo, le sue inquietudini, le relazioni familiari e il profondo rapporto con la Genova nella quale nacque.

Il filo narrativo prende spunto da un episodio della sua infanzia: Paganini, colpito gravemente dal morbillo, fu creduto morto e venne preparata la veglia funebre, fino a quando un impercettibile movimento rivelò che era ancora in vita. Lo spettacolo trasforma questo episodio nel punto di partenza di una ricerca simbolica: quella di una musica misteriosa, che soltanto Paganini avrebbe potuto udire e la cui ricerca diventa idealmente l’ossessione della sua esistenza.

La rappresentazione attraversa così differenti momenti della vita del musicista, dalla Genova popolare del suo tempo alle vicende familiari e personali, fino agli ultimi e tormentati passaggi della sua esistenza.

È proprio questa capacità di raccontare una città e la sua memoria attraverso l’arte che rende il teatro qualcosa di più di un luogo destinato agli spettacoli. Un teatro può diventare spazio di educazione, incontro, dialogo e costruzione della comunità.

È una visione che incontra anche l’azione internazionale della WOS-IPSP: la pace non riguarda soltanto i rapporti istituzionali tra gli Stati, ma può essere sostenuta attraverso la cultura, lo sport, il dialogo interreligioso e interculturale e il coinvolgimento della società civile.

«La pace non si costruisce soltanto nei grandi incontri internazionali. Si costruisce anche nei luoghi nei quali le persone si incontrano, ascoltano una storia, condividono una musica e imparano a conoscere la cultura dell’altro. Per questo consideriamo il Teatro Govi non semplicemente la sede che ci ospiterà il 10 ottobre, ma un luogo di cultura e di comunità», dichiara Alfredo Maiolese, Presidente della European Muslims League.

La European Muslims League esprime quindi il proprio apprezzamento al Teatro Rina e Gilberto Govi e a quanti, attraverso il proprio impegno artistico, organizzativo e culturale, contribuiscono a mantenere viva una parte importante dell’identità genovese.

Il prossimo 10 ottobre quello stesso teatro accoglierà istituzioni, comunità religiose, associazioni, cittadini e ospiti internazionali per la terza edizione di “Un Calcio alla Guerra – Kick War Away”: un incontro nel quale cultura, sport, dialogo e partecipazione saranno ancora una volta strumenti per parlare di pace.

European Muslims League

www.eml.fm

World Organization of States – International Parliament for Safety and Peace

www.wostates.eu

PAGANINI BETWEEN MUSIC, THEATRE AND MEMORY: AT TEATRO GOVI, CULTURE MEETS DIALOGUE AND PEACE

English 

GENOA – Culture is not simply entertainment. It is memory, identity, encounter and the ability to bring together people, generations and different perspectives.

It is from this perspective that the European Muslims League (EML) pays particular attention to cultural institutions capable of keeping the social fabric of cities alive and creating opportunities for participation and mutual understanding.

Among these is the Rina and Gilberto Govi Theatre in Genoa, which on 10 October 2026 will host the ceremony of the third edition of “Un Calcio alla Guerra – Kick War Away”, an initiative promoted by the European Muslims League under the High Patronage of the World Organization of States – International Parliament for Safety and Peace (WOS-IPSP), an international intergovernmental organization.

The hospitality of Teatro Govi also provides an opportunity to highlight its cultural commitment and the artistic productions that tell the story of Genoa and some of its most universally renowned figures.

Among them is “Quella musica… quella musica – Paganini Opera Rock”, written and directed by Ivaldo Castellani, with live music by LatteMiele 2.0, offering an original interpretation of the life and personality of Niccolò Paganini.

Theatre, music, dance and images come together to portray not only the great violinist known throughout the world, but also the man, his inner struggles, his family relationships and his profound connection with the city of Genoa, where he was born.

The narrative takes inspiration from an episode in Paganini’s childhood. Seriously ill with measles, he was believed to be dead and preparations were made for his funeral vigil, until an almost imperceptible movement revealed that he was still alive. The production transforms this episode into the starting point of a symbolic search: the pursuit of a mysterious music that only Paganini could supposedly hear and whose rediscovery becomes, symbolically, the obsession of his life.

The performance moves through different moments in the musician’s life, from the popular Genoa of his time to his family and personal experiences, and finally to the difficult and troubled final stages of his existence.

It is precisely this ability to tell the story and preserve the memory of a city through art that makes a theatre something more than a venue for performances. A theatre can become a place of education, encounter, dialogue and community building.

This vision also reflects the international approach promoted by WOS-IPSP: peace is not limited to institutional relations between States, but can also be supported through culture, sport, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and the active involvement of civil society.

“Peace is not built only at major international meetings. It is also built in places where people meet, listen to a story, share music and learn about each other’s culture. For this reason, we consider Teatro Govi not simply the venue that will host us on 10 October, but a place of culture and community,” said Alfredo Maiolese, President of the European Muslims League.

The European Muslims League therefore expresses its appreciation to the Rina and Gilberto Govi Theatre and to all those whose artistic, organizational and cultural commitment helps preserve and promote an important part of Genoa’s identity.

On 10 October, the same theatre will welcome institutions, religious communities, associations, citizens and international guests for the third edition of “Un Calcio alla Guerra – Kick War Away”: an occasion in which culture, sport, dialogue and participation will once again become instruments for promoting peace.

European Muslims League

www.eml.fm

World Organization of States – International Parliament for Safety and Peace

www.wostates.eu

"I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop."– When Culture and Religion Are Confused

 “I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop.” – When Culture and Religion Are Confused

The European Muslims League (EML) has reviewed I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop., a work by MissFit Writes, a Muslim author from the South Asian diaspora who addresses, through personal experience, reflection, poetry and social observation, themes related to faith, culture, identity, family and the experiences of women.

It is important from the outset to clarify the nature of the work. This book is not a text of Islamic theology, jurisprudence (fiqh) or religious instruction, nor does EML present the author as an Islamic scholar or religious authority. MissFit Writes herself, in responding to questions raised by EML during its review, clarified that her observations should primarily be understood as personal experiences and social reflections.

Islam and culture: a necessary distinction

It is particularly on one point that the book intersects with an issue to which the European Muslims League has long drawn attention: the need to distinguish what belongs to Islam from what derives from family traditions, social customs or cultural practices developed within particular communities.

In European public debate, EML has observed that certain behaviours found within some Muslim communities of immigrant background are sometimes automatically attributed to Islam.

Such an association is not always correct.

The fact that a particular practice exists within a Muslim family or community does not automatically make it an Islamic practice. Local traditions, family structures and social customs can become intertwined with religion to the point that they are sometimes perceived as religious obligations when their origins may instead be predominantly cultural.

This distinction becomes particularly important when discussing women.

Practices affecting women in certain family or cultural contexts are sometimes described in European debate simply as “Islamic”. Such generalisations risk both distorting the understanding of Islam and preventing serious examination of the actual social and cultural origins of harmful practices.

So-called “honour crimes” provide a particularly serious example. Young women may face coercion or violence — in extreme cases even death — because they reject a marriage imposed upon them or choose independently the person with whom they wish to build their lives. Such violence should not simply be presented as an expression of Islam. Violence committed in the name of family honour must be examined and opposed as violence, rather than being automatically attributed to the Islamic faith.

The same principle applies when family customs place women in a position of inferiority or deny them the possibility of freely expressing their consent in marriage. Not everything practised within a Muslim family can automatically be described as Islamic.

Another example concerns female genital mutilation (FGM), which is sometimes generically associated with Islam in public debate. These are traditional practices historically found in particular geographical and cultural contexts and among communities belonging to different religious traditions. They therefore cannot be presented as a general characteristic of Islam or Muslims.

The European Muslims League unequivocally condemns female genital mutilation and considers it essential to distinguish this harmful practice from the principles of the Islamic faith.

It is precisely in this distinction between Islam and culture that EML identifies one of the most relevant aspects of the testimony contained in the book.

Women, family and belonging

MissFit Writes describes her experience within an environment in which religion, family expectations, social conventions and cultural traditions can overlap.

The book addresses marriage, divorce, the role of women, family, community belonging and expectations connected with honour and social reputation.

An important question consequently emerges: when a particular rule is transmitted within a family or community as “religious”, does it actually derive from religion, or has a cultural convention acquired religious significance over time?

EML considers this an important question. Properly distinguishing these two dimensions can both protect religion from incorrect attribution and allow communities to address social practices that deserve critical examination.

Sunni and Shia: the human cost of division

The book also addresses differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

When specifically asked by the European Muslims League about this aspect, the author clarified that her intention was neither to determine which religious interpretation is correct nor to enter into a theological dispute between the two traditions.

Instead, she seeks to describe through human experience what can happen when sectarian identity becomes more important than the person and begins to affect relationships, families and everyday life.

The European Muslims League considers dialogue and mutual respect among Muslims essential to counter division, hostility and sectarianism.

Where EML takes a different position

The European Muslims League nevertheless considers it necessary to distinguish the book’s discussion of culture from some of the author’s personal reflections concerning religion and her relationship with God.

Some expressions in the work reflect an individual journey and a highly personal way of experiencing and questioning faith. EML does not share certain critical observations or expressions made by the author when they concern the Islamic religion, its principles or the relationship between the believer and God.

Criticism of human behaviour, family customs or cultural traditions should not automatically become criticism of religion itself.

The author subsequently clarified to EML that she does not intend to propose theological or jurisprudential interpretations and that the book should be understood as the personal testimony of a Muslim woman seeking to make sense of her relationship with faith, culture, identity and community.

This clarification is important for a proper understanding of the work.

A testimony, not a religious text

I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop. should therefore be read for what it declares itself to be: a personal testimony.

It is not a guide to Islam and should not be regarded as a theological or jurisprudential reference.

Its contribution to the wider discussion can be found primarily in the question it raises about the distinction between faith and culture.

For the European Muslims League, this distinction is particularly important in the European context. Automatically attributing every behaviour of a Muslim individual or community to Islam means confusing religion with the many cultures, traditions and societies in which Muslims live throughout the world.

At the same time, distinguishing culture from religion does not mean ignoring problems that may exist within Muslim communities. On the contrary, it means identifying them correctly, addressing them responsibly and refusing to attribute to faith what may instead derive from human behaviour or cultural traditions.

It is on this specific ground that the testimony of MissFit Writes provides a useful opportunity for reflection.

Editorial note: Publication of this review does not constitute endorsement by the European Muslims League of all opinions, interpretations or expressions contained in the book. The author’s personal and religious reflections remain solely attributable to the author.

European Muslims League (EML)

2009 – La Repubblica: Alfredo Maiolese, “Nascita di Maometto, festa al Lagaccio”

2009 – LA REPUBBLICA, GENOA, ITALY

“NASCITA DI MAOMETTO, FESTA AL LAGACCIO”

Historical article published by La Repubblica concerning the celebration in Genoa of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

The newspaper reports the statements of Alfredo Maiolese, representative of the Muslim community, who describes the initiative as an “occasion for dialogue” and an opportunity to bring together residents of the Lagaccio neighbourhood, including those with different views on the proposed mosque.

Maiolese stresses that the celebration should not create hostility or provoke division, but should instead encourage people to meet, understand one another and respect their differences.

Source: La Repubblica – Genoa edition, 2009.

ARCHIVE NOTE

Digitised from the original printed newspaper preserved in the historical archive.

Enrico Gervasoni su “En Relief”: per un umanesimo africano, universale e operativo

Il Consigliere Strategico della European Muslims League propone il Social-Umanesimo come visione per il terzo millennio, fondata sulla dignità umana, sulla solidarietà, sul dialogo e sulla pace.

Il quotidiano En Relief ha pubblicato il 24 settembre 2026 un contributo di Enrico Gervasoni, Presidente dell’Académie Internationale d’Action Diplomatique (A.I.A.D.) e Consigliere Strategico della European Muslims League (EML), dal titolo “Le courant de pensée du troisième millénaire : Pour un humanisme africain, universel et opérationnel”.

Nel suo intervento, Gervasoni presenta il Social-Umanesimo non come un’ideologia, ma come una corrente di pensiero capace di rimettere la persona, la dignità e la comunità al centro dello sviluppo. La sua riflessione parte dalla constatazione delle profonde trasformazioni del nostro tempo: crisi ambientali e sociali, disoccupazione giovanile, conflitti, disuguaglianze e modelli economici che rischiano di subordinare l’essere umano alla ricerca della ricchezza.

Un ruolo particolare viene attribuito all’Africa, considerata non semplicemente come destinataria di modelli elaborati altrove, ma come continente capace di contribuire alla costruzione di una nuova visione dello sviluppo grazie alle proprie tradizioni comunitarie, spirituali e culturali. L’obiettivo, secondo Gervasoni, deve essere quello di costruire un modello nel quale progresso economico, solidarietà e dignità umana possano procedere insieme.

Tra gli elementi centrali del Social-Umanesimo figurano la centralità della persona, la solidarietà, l’economia sociale, la cooperazione, la finanza etica, l’imprenditorialità comunitaria, l’educazione e la trasmissione dei saperi, insieme alla ricerca di un nuovo equilibrio tra essere umano, lavoro e natura.

Particolarmente significativa è anche la riflessione sulla pace e sulla diplomazia. La pace non viene intesa soltanto come assenza di guerra, ma come costruzione della giustizia, del dialogo e del benessere. In questa prospettiva, l’azione diplomatica non può essere considerata esclusivamente come uno spazio riservato agli Stati: università, imprese, organizzazioni della società civile, comunità e altri attori possono contribuire concretamente alla prevenzione dei conflitti e alla costruzione della convivenza.

Il Presidente della European Muslims League, Alfredo Maiolese, sottolinea la convergenza di questa riflessione con l’impegno dell’organizzazione:

«La riflessione di Enrico Gervasoni richiama un principio che considero essenziale: la pace non può essere costruita esclusivamente nei palazzi della diplomazia. Ha bisogno delle istituzioni, ma anche della società civile, delle comunità religiose, del mondo accademico, dei giovani e dello sport. Mettere la persona e la sua dignità al centro significa trasformare il dialogo in un’azione concreta.»

Nel suo appello conclusivo, Gervasoni si rivolge a intellettuali, imprenditori, giovani, amministratori locali, università e leader spirituali e tradizionali, invitandoli a contribuire alla costruzione di questo nuovo umanesimo. L’Africa, che occupa un posto centrale nella sua riflessione, viene così proposta come protagonista di un futuro nel quale sviluppo, solidarietà e dignità possano procedere insieme.

Fonte: En Relief – Quotidien d’informations générales, n. 678, 24 settembre 2026.

2009 – Il Secolo XIX: Alfredo Maiolese, “Licenza edilizia entro il 2009”

24 JANUARY 2009 – IL SECOLO XIX, GENOA, ITALY

“MAIOLESE: LICENZA EDILIZIA ENTRO IL 2009”

Historical article by journalist Bruno Viani concerning the planned mosque in Morego, Genoa.

Il Secolo XIX reports the statements of Alfredo Maiolese, representative of part of Genoa’s Muslim community, concerning the project and the expectation of obtaining the building permit during 2009.

Maiolese describes the proposed mosque as a place of prayer as well as a centre for cultural and religious education, dialogue, meeting and services for the neighbourhood, stressing the intention to share the process with institutions, the municipality and local citizens.

Source: Il Secolo XIX, Genoa edition, 24 January 2009.

ARCHIVE NOTE

Digitised from the original printed newspaper preserved in the historical archive.

2008 – Il Secolo XIX: Alfredo Maiolese and the Mawlid Celebration in Genoa

2008 – IL SECOLO XIX, GENOA, ITALY

“ANCHE LA DIGOS ‘INVITATA’ ALLA FESTA PER MAOMETTO”

Historical report published by Il Secolo XIX concerning the celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, by Genoa’s Muslim community.

The article directly cites Alfredo Maiolese, representative of the Muslim community, who explains that the initiative was intended as an opportunity for dialogue with the neighbourhood and not as a provocation.

The report documents an early stage of Maiolese’s public activity in Genoa promoting dialogue, religious coexistence and relations between the Muslim community and local society.

Source: Il Secolo XIX, Genoa edition, 2008.

ARCHIVE NOTE

Digitised from the original printed newspaper preserved in the historical archive.

2008 – La Repubblica: Alfredo Maiolese among the figures in Genoa’s debate on interreligious dialogue

24 DECEMBER 2008 – LA REPUBBLICA, GENOA, ITALY

“SI ACCENDE LO SCONTRO TRA I POLI – ‘FINALMENTE LA CHIESA SI APRE’”

Historical report published by La Repubblica during the public debate in Genoa concerning the Muslim community, the proposed mosque and relations between religious communities.

In its “I personaggi” section, the newspaper includes Alfredo Maiolese among the figures connected to the debate.

The article documents an important period in Genoa’s public discussion on Islam, religious coexistence and interreligious dialogue.

Source: La Repubblica – Genoa edition, 24 December 2008.

ARCHIVE NOTE

Digitised from the original printed newspaper preserved in the historical archive.