The Italian Program presents: Amir Issaa – “Vivo Per Questo – Potere Alle Parole / This is What I Live for – Power to the Words”
March 5, 2025
4:45 PM - 6:00 PM
Location
GH 308 and UH 1501
Calendar
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Amir Issaa's "Vivo Per Questo – Potere Alle Parole / This is What I Live for – Power to the Words" US tour 2025 in Chicago and Madison includes visits to the Italian programs in schools, to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Illinois Chicago. Amir Issaa will give a public talk (in English), meet with students, and hold workshops (in Italian) in Italian language classes.
There will be a workshop in GH 308 1:00-1:50 for Italian students. There will be a public lecture (in English) in UH 1501 4:45-6:00pm.
Born and raised in Rome, Amir is the son of an Egyptian immigrant father and an Italian mother. In his music and writings, Amir focuses on the immigrant experience and issues of citizenship, racism, and identity. Amir is a hip-hop artist, writer, and educator. He holds writing workshops in schools in Italy and around the world. He is among the founders of the legendary Rome Zoo, a group made of Rome’s hip hop artists. His own experiences during a difficult childhood inspire Amir to help other kids improve their own situation.
Amir collaborates with non-profit associations like Save the Children, Centro Astalli, Community of Sant’egidio, and Unar. Amir has presented his work at Georgetown University, Ohio State University, Dartmouth College, University of Vermont, University of Rhode Island, Mount Holyoke College, San Diego State University, Chapman University, University of San Diego, Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, and University of Liège.
In June 2017, Amir published his autobiography Vivo per questo (Chiarelettere). The bilingual English-Italian edition of Amir Issaa’s Book Vivo per questo, entitled The is What I live for: An Afro-Italian Hip-Hop Memoir(edited by Clarissa Clò [San Diego University Press, 2023]) is the winner of the MLA Lois Roth Award for Translation and of the 51st International Flaiano Award “Luca Attanasio” in 2024.
Date posted
Feb 24, 2025
Date updated
Feb 24, 2025