​Berlin club YAAM issues statement following death of staff member

Berlin nightclub and event space YAAM (Young African Art Market) has issued a statement following the death of an employee, Noradeen Abdallah, outside the venue.

Abdallah reportedly passed away following a “violent altercation” between two other staff members outside the venue on An der Schillingbrücke, Friedrichshain, earlier this month.

The venue addressed the incident on Instagram last week, confirming the death of 31-year-old Noradeen Abdallah on April 12, 2024. YAAM wrote: “We are very shocked and saddened it has taken a very long time to find words to explain.”

The Berliner reports that an argument broke out between Abdallah and a 42-year-old employee before a 61-year-old staff member intervened. Police are now searching for any witnesses of the alleged altercation.

Emergency services were called to the scene and attempted to resuscitate Abdallah after he was thought to have been attacked. Both the 42-year-old man and 61-year-old man were taken into police custody but were later released, The Berliner reports.

“Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and acquaintances,” YAAM wrote. “We are in contact with his family. We knew Noradeen as a humble person with a friendly nature and are immensely saddened by his death.”

YAAM added that it wants the circumstances of the tragedy to be “fully clarified”, and will do everything it can to create a safe environment free from “violence of any kind”.

“We are doing this with the aim of ensuring that something like this never happens again. We do not tolerate violence and are taking measures to ensure that YAAM remains a safe place that empowers people, a centre for urban lifestyle, social issues and alternative art forms.”

YAAM will announce “further measures and steps” in the coming weeks, and has asked for time to “process everything that has happened”.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter