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Marissa Cetin
17 August 2023, 12:39

Palestine’s Exist Festival announces London edition in memory of founder ODDZ

Rrose, Nicolas Jaar, Renata, Kujo and more will play at east London's Cafe OTO and The Yard next month in honour of the late Odai Masri

Palestine’s Exist Festival announces London edition in memory of founder ODDZ
Credit: Ashraf Dowani

Palestine's Exist Festival is hosting an edition in London in tribute to co-founder Odai Masri, AKA ODDZ.

Exist's seventh edition will take place at east London venues Cafe OTO and The Yard from Friday, 8th September, through Sunday, the 10th. Dalston's OTO will host three events each evening, featuring Nicolas Jaar (billed as Jaar), Rrose, Drew McDowall, Maria Eichberg, Sami El-Enany, Kujo, Zahra Malkani and more, with Hackney Wick space The Yard handing Saturday's late festivities with Lee Adams (AKA Choronzon), Dahc Dermur VIII, Oxhy and Renata.

"After the untimely passing of founder Odai Masri, AKA ODDZ, on 30th June, 2023, Exist Festival stands as a potent legacy to Odai's pioneering vision that has been instrumental in shifting the cultural tide in the region", the festival's team wrote on Instagram.

Masri had been a key figure in Ramallah's electronic scene since 2006, running labels like Harara Records and station Radio Nard. He was also a resident of Istanbul-based community radio station ROOT. He had been open on social media about the effects of his devastating double-ear infection, difficulties seeking treatment and with immigration, and his mental health in recent years. 

Exist has also hosted previous editions in cities like Ramallah, Amman, Beirut, Berlin, Oslo and Athens since 2019.

In June, Exist released a compilation, titled 'No ComplY', to raise money for a community skatepark in Gaza.

See the line-up below, and find more information about the festival and tickets via Cafe OTO