The afikra Podcast

We talked to Yasser Munif, Associate Professor of Sociology, on micro-politics in the Syrian revolution and his book "The Syrian Revolution: Between the Politics of Life and the Geopolitics of Death" (2020).   Created by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Hosted by Malek Rasamny, Researcher & Filmmaker. Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afik...

In this conversation we talked to poet Hayan Charara on his award-winning poetry, children's books, and writing his books: "Something Sinister", "The Sadness of Others", "The Alchemist’s Diary" and his children’s book "The Three Lucys".  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series featur...

During the first event of our Shubbak Festival x afikra Roundtable Series we talked to Eckhard Thiemann (Shubbak CEO & Festival Artistic Director), Taghrid Choucair Vizoso (Senior Programmer & Festival Producer) & Riwa Saab (member of the Young Shubbak group) about the history of the festival taking place again this year on the 20th of June, 2021.   Moderated by: Mikey Muhanna, afikra Founder & Ex...

We talked to Kamal Dib about his work as a scholar and professor of political and economic studies. We also talked about his numerous books and much more! Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts...

Visualizing Palestine creates data-driven tools to advance a factual, rights-based narrative of the Palestinian-Israeli issue. We talked to the  Visualizing Palestine team on their work telling factual, data-driven & rights-based narratives about Palestine & the occupation. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/ta...

In this conversation, we discussed Bahia Shehab's works as a multidisciplinary artist, designer, political activist, and historian whose work focuses on the interaction and intersection of modern identity and ancient cultural heritage.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversat...

We talked to Zeina Hashem Beck about her poetry and the variety of topics it covers (Arab culture, home, exile, family narratives, language, the body, love, and faith).  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and...

In this conversation, we talked to Dr. Huda AbiFares about her experience as the founding director of the Khatt Foundation. She specializes in multilingual typographic research and design and works as a curator, writer, designer, and publisher. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra C...

We talked to Suja Sawafta about exile and ecocriticism at the Franco-Arab intersection.   Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are helping document and/or shape the history and culture of...

We discussed Rashid Khalidi's work as an editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, as the President of the Middle East Studies Association, and as an advisor to the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the a...

In this conversation, we talked to Dana Sajdi about the history, societies, and cultures of the pre-modern Eastern Mediterranean (the Levant, Egypt, and Turkey). Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media e...

We talked to David Wrisley about late medieval court culture, Mediterranean studies, multilingual corporate analysis, and the spatial humanities. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are h...

We talked to Dr. Akram Khater about his work as a professor of history, and as the director of the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are...

We talked to Krystel Khoury and Karim Kattan about their work at Mophradat. Krystel is Mophradat's grants coordinator, and Karim is Mophradat's programs associate.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and medi...

In this conversation, we talked to Mona Kareem about her three poetry collections and her trilingual chapbook "Femme Ghosts".  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra Conversations: Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are helping document and...

We discussed Moustafa Bayoumi's book "How Does It Feel To Be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America", and his work as a journalist, columnist, and editor. Created by: Mikey Muhanna, afikra  Hosted by: Mikey:  https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/ Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra conversation series: Our long-form interv...

In this conversation, we discussed susan abulhawa's multiple novels including 'Mornings in Jenin'. We also talked about her experience with Playgrounds for Palestine, a children’s organization dedicated to uplifting Palestinian children.  Created by: Mikey Muhanna, afikra  Hosted by: Mikey:  https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/‎ Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.insta...

We talked to Charles Al-Hayek about his work on bringing Arab cultural heritage and history to social media on Heritage and Roots in engaging and enticing means. Created by: Mikey Muhanna , afikra Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra conversation series: Our long-form interview series, hosted on Zoom, featuring academics and...

We talked to Waddah Faris about his work as a designer, artist, photographer, art critic, and former gallerist. We also talked about his work at Contact Art Gallery and Galerie Faris, the Baalbek Festival catalogues he designed, and much more! Created by: Mikey Muhanna, afikra  Hosted by: Mysa Kafil-Hussain Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani...

We discussed Professor Mattawa's poetry, translation, and work as an academic at the University of Michigan. Khaled Mattawa is the author of five books of poetry, and a critical study of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. His awards include the Academy of American Poets Fellowship prize, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, and a MacArthur Fellowship. Created & Hosted  by Mikey Muhanna , af...

In this conversation, we discussed Professor Makdisi's scholarship on Modern Arab History, snd Ottoman History. Dr. Ussama Makdisi is a Professor of History and the first holder of the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani...

We talked to Ghazi Faisal Al-Mulaifi, Ph. D. in ethnomusicology, on his research interests that include Kuwaiti pearl diving music, the music of the Indian Ocean civilizations trade routes, and global jazz.   A Venice Biennale artist, composer, Khaleeji-jazz musician, and ensemble leader, Ghazi's current musical efforts include performing with his ensemble "Boom. Diwan" where he and traditional Ku...

Khajag Apelian is a Lebanese graphic and type designer of Armenian descent. We talked to Khajag about his work and "debakir", which focused on Arabic typography projects with various organizations such as Opera Amsterdam, One/one, the Mediamatic Foundation, and the Khatt Foundation.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instag...

We talked to Todd Reisz, architect and writer, on his recently published book, Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai (Stanford University Press), which explores architecture’s packaging to sell Dubai on a global stage.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra conversation series:...

We talked to Butheina Kazim about independent Cinema in the UAE and the region. Butheina is the Founder of Cinema Akil, an independent cinema platform in Dubai. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About the afikra conversation series: Our long-form interview series, hosted on Zoom, featuring academ...