THE NAKED DON’T FEAR THE WATER

This is a book of radical empathy, crossing many borders – not just borders that separate nations, but also borders of form, borders of meaning, and borders of possibility. It is powerful and humane and deserves to find a wide, wandering readership.’ — Mohsin Hamid, author of Exit West

We were delighted to host a talk with Matthieu Aikins who talked to us about his debut novel, The Naked Don’t Fear the Water: An Underground Journey with Afghan Refugees. In this book, Matthieu, an award-winning journalist living in Kabul, leaves his own passport and identity behind to go underground on the refugee trail with his friend Omar, a young Afghan driver and translator, who makes the heart-wrenching choice to flee his war-torn country. Their odyssey across land and sea from Afghanistan to Europe brings them face to face with the people at heart of the migration crisis: smugglers, cops, activists, and the men, women and children fleeing war in search of a better life.

 

“When he cups a child’s head while their boat flails through riotous waves, when he dances with new friends at an unlikely haven in Athens, when he shares a sandwich with a man who is more brother than friend, Aikins ... experiences the kind of equality that politicians, advocates and religious leaders tout but rarely achieve... This book is Aikins’s profound act of love — for Omar, for their travel companions and for the beleaguered people of Afghanistan, now irrevocably scattered around the world." — Jessica Goudou, New York Times” - Jessica Goudeau, The New York Times 

 

Matthieu Aikins is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine who has reported on Afghanistan since 2008. His new book is The Naked Don’t Fear the Water: An Underground Journey with Afghan Refugees, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, is now available on ISHKAR. Get your copy here.

 

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Christmas 2022 Events
  • Christmas
  • 10.11.22

Taking place this Festive Season!As well as our shop at 13 -15 Golborne Road, ISHKAR will be hosting and taking part in a number of unique sho...

AN EVENING CELEBRATION AND SHOWCASING AFGHAN CRAFT AND DESIGN
  • Talk
  • 25.10.22

ISHKAR and Turquoise Mountain have been working closely together in Afghanistan for many years and we were thrilled to co-host an evening in conve...

PERSPECTIVES ON AFGHANISTAN
  • Talk
  • 07.07.22

"The international community deserted Afghanistan, leaving the country in chaos. We have a moral duty to give the Afghan people back what is theirs...

ISHKAR IN CONVERSATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHER SIMON NORFOLK
  • photography
  • 18.05.22

Simon’s work has garnered accolades including The Infinity Prize from the International Center of Photography, the European Publishing Award and mu...

COURTS AND FIELDS: EXHIBITION AND Q&A WITH CHRITOPHER AND EDMUND LE BRUN
  • Exhibition
  • 14.05.22

As part of the London Craft Week 2022 schedule, ISHKAR presented an exhibition and afternoon in conversation with British artist and former preside...

JOURNEY TO THE ROOF OF THE WORLD WITH PHOTOGRAPHER MATTHIEU PALEY
  • photography
  • 15.03.22

We were delighted to catch up with award-winning photographer Matthieu Paley who shared his story with us and tell us why Pakistan holds such an im...

THREE SONGS FOR BENAZIR: FILM SCREENING AND Q&A WITH THE DIRECTORS
  • Film Screening
  • 14.02.22

Three Songs for Benazir. A powerful, poetic love story that transcends war.  ISHKAR hosted a film screening for the Oscar nominated short film and ...

ISHKAR Christmas Agenda
  • 10.11.21

ISHKAR will be popping up across London and beyond all throughout the months of November and December. This is the perfect time to join us for som...

DR CONGO: A CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BROWN & HOREB SHINDANO
  • photography
  • 21.10.21

A conversation with critically-acclaimed photographer, Michael Christopher Brown, and This is Congo field producer Horeb Bulambo Shindano. Througho...

ISHKAR FESTIVAL
  • Festival
  • 22.09.21

We are excited to announce the first ever ISHKAR Festival!Taking place over a week, join us for a series of inspiring talks, events and worksh...

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR AFGHANISTAN: VIEW FROM THE GROUND
  • fundraising
  • 03.09.21

A live-streamed panel discussion in which we were joined by photographer Farshad Usyan, and representatives from EMERGENCY to discuss the crisis as...

Across Antarctica on Foot: Talk and Q&A with Zanna Baker
  • Talk
  • 15.03.20

Talk and Q&A with ISHKAR's Head of Travel, Zanna Baker, on her world-record-setting journey to cross Antarctica on foot.

Ice Maiden was an expedition in which a team of 6 women became the first all-female team to cross Antarctica using muscle power alone. The expedition completed 1704km over 61-days in January 2018. Zanna Baker was one of the 6 women to take part in this record-setting expedition. They were the first team to cross Antarctica without prior polar experience.

Film Screening: Where the Light Shines
  • Film Screening
  • 23.01.20

When two men compete to qualify in the Winter Olympics for the first time for Afghanistan, they realize that home is worth fighting for.

ISHKAR hosted an evening film screening of Where the Light Shines, the debut documentary from Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Daniel Etter with stunning cinematography by Angello Faccini.

Yemeni Pop-up Brunch: Meet me at Fatma's
  • Pop-up Brunch
  • 25.11.19

Yemeni cuisine is like no other; a fusion of Indian, Turkish and East African cooking born out of a rich history of trade & migration. And yet, despite its inviting aromas and depth of flavours, it is almost unheard of.

THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
  • Screening
  • 11.07.19

We are launching our new annual magazine with a debate about the future of journalism. Journalism as we know it is facing crisis. Media budgets have been squeezed as appetites for free on-demand content have become ever more rapacious. 

Film Screening: Afghan Star
  • Screening
  • 29.11.18

[replace_with_featured_image] We hosted an intimate screening of Afghan Star, a heartwarming documentary by journalist and film-maker Havana Ma...

Film Screening: Lalia At The Bridge
  • Film Screening
  • 24.10.18

Laila at the Bridge is a deeply personal perspective on the global addiction epidemic directed by two great friends of ISHKAR, Elizabeth and Gulistan Mirzaei. We were delighted to host an intimate screening of this award winning documentary. Find out more about the film and how to support Laila here.

War Gardens: Book Launch
  • Book Launch
  • 26.09.18

This extraordinary book...warm and engaging...like a photograph magicked to life.
- The Spectator.

A journey through the most unlikely of gardens: the oases of peace people create in the midst of war.

Exhibition - Sophie Stafford: 'Rose of the Desert'
  • Exhibition
  • 26.07.18

We exhibited artist Sophie Jane Stafford 's project 'Rose of the Desert' over Kensington Art Weekend 2018 in the Goldfinger Showroom. Sophie's work explores the interaction of modern and historic traditions during the International Festival of the Sahara

Wood Carving Workshops with Nasser Mansouri
  • Workshop
  • 23.03.18

Over the last few weeks we have begun hosting a series of workshops to learn about the art of the crafts we sell. We were very lucky to have Nasser come and teach the basics of Nuristani woodcarving.

A Panel discussion: Preserving Cultural Heritage on the Frontline
  • Panel Discussion
  • 28.02.18

Last night we were very lucky to have such a distinguished panel discussing the preservation of cultural heritage in war zones. Whether it is deliberate attacks or collateral damage, both antiquities and contemporary art in the Middle East are facing unprecedented threats. 

ISHKAR X WALK THE TALK CHRISTMAS PARTY
  • Pop-Up
  • 21.12.17

We collaborated with our good friends at Walk the Talk to host a little last minute Christmas shopping party. The evening was fall of cheer with nibbles provided by the glorious Potage and Christmassy drinks made with the wonderful Ishka vodka (yes Ishka but not ISHKAR)

A PANEL DISCUSSION: SUSTAINABLE JEWELLERY IN CONFLICT AREAS
  • Talk
  • 19.12.17

Last night ISHKAR and Shoshana Steweart, the CEO of Turquoise Mountain, hosted a discussion about sustainable jewellery in conflict areas with award-winning designers Pippa Small and Arabel Lebrusan.

Marwa Al Sabouni: 'How Syria's architecture laid the foundations for war'
  • Talk
  • 25.10.17

On the 24th of October was a great honour to host the award winning TED speaker, architect and author, Marwa Al Sabbouni. Marwa is a Syrian architect who lives in Homs.

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