The words »Diversity is our home« light up the Oberhausen night sky in neon letters. But what do they mean? The band Doyçland embarks on a musical investigation and reflects on the songs of people who found coal, steel and labour recruitment deals in our country in the 60s.  They came from Spain, Greece, former Yugoslavia or Turkey, taking on exploitative jobs as workers in Germany.

Songs by Cem Karaca, Juan Molina and Gülcan Opel tell the story of an alien Germany. They deal with longing, homesickness and disappointment over the broken promise of a golden future. Apart from those quiet and melancholic moments, they also celebrate life, community and call for a peaceful coexistence.

With these songs, Caner Akdeniz sends us on a musical journey from West Germany’s economic boom until today. Together with a fictional band called Doyçland, he rediscovers the songs of the people who came as gastarbeiter and arranges them as oratorio. In his songs, he dwells on terms like identity, culture and origin, and puts his finger on the sore spots of Germany’s recent history.