Culture beat: 4 December

Greek song is on the menu at Muziekpublique tonight with brother-and-sister duo Angélique & Photis Ionatos performing their latest album. While the pair reflect on the current pathos of their home country, African musicians bring a message of hope in a concert next Saturday at the same venue. Our prize draw for this has now closed - and winners will be contacted personally by email. The Good Ones from Rwanda consist of three different ethnic groups and they tell a story of genocide survival. The group have already appeared at the Womad festival in the UK. Olivier Tshimanga is a precocious protest singer from Kinshasa, RDC, who will be joined on stage by guest musicians.

As well as the seasonal extravaganza Winter Wonders, there are numerous neighbourhood Christmas markets over the coming weeks. In Flagey, at Place Sainte-Croix, you’ll find the Marché de Noël d'Ixelles until Sunday, with numerous stands, heated tents and an entertainment programme that includes ice sculpture and storytelling for children.

Opening today is the Mediterranean Film Festival at Botanique, Bozar and Cinéma Aventure. The 15th edition is screening films from countries around the Mediterranean, including Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Live music and a world food market add to the colour and ambiance of the event. Until 11 December.

Israeli author David Grossman presents the Dutch translation of his novel A Horse Walks into a Bar at Passaporta on 8 December, 12.30-13.30. The award-winning writer talks to Antwerp-based literary critic Joseph Pearce in English.

The annual Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel festival is devoted to masterpieces of Russian music from 8 to 12 December at Flagey. Performances by Stephane Ginsburgh, the Artemis Quartet, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège and works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, among others, plus family concerts.

Returning for its annual and timely injection of comedy is Sois belge et tais toi, the French-language political review. The annual show opens at Théâtre Saint-Michel on 10 December before continuing its tour of the country.

As part of the multidisciplinary Europalia festival, Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan talks to Kerem Ayan before a screening of his film (2006/101 mins) on 6 December at Bozar. There is also a retrospective of the director’s work at Cinematek and La Vénerie plus an exhibition of his photos at C-mine in Genk, Limburg.

The Turkish flavour continues in full at Brussels Museums’ Late Night Opening on Thursday, 10 December with exhibitions Imagine Istanbul and Anatolia open until 22:00. Turkish activities abound with a barber on hand to trim gentlemen’s beard or moustache (perfect after Movember) while women can adorn their skin with a motif in henna. Everyone can learn how to dance like whirling dervishes, sip pomegranate juice, taste piping hot black tea straight from the samovar and listen to Serap recounting the legend of Anatolia.