The afikra Podcast

In this episode, Faraj Abyad talked about poetry and classical Arabic and played selected songs, as part of Al Burda Podcast series @alburda_uae, powered by afikra. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music: The Loyalty of the Poet by Faraj Abyad | Performance was commissioned by MetLiveArts &  The Metropolitan Museum of Art" About Al Burda Podcast: Al Burda P...

In this Quartertones event, we listened to Chyno as he performed three musical pieces: 2020 Vision, Kayfouni & Fresh Money. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About Quartertones: QuarterTones is a music show. It is an opportunity to listen to music, across genres, from musicians of and from the Ar...

In this episode, H.E. Noura Al Kaabi discussed the role of the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth in promoting Islamic arts and culture in the UAE, among youth. She also talked about the origin, evolution, and genesis of Al Burda. The episode focused on the diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture from different lenses and what can be expected at the festival this year. Tune in to more episodes o...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Wesam Masoud about his creativity in developing and enhancing cooking techniques and flavor pairings. Chef Wesam is known for teaching the basics of cooking techniques, food history and food science in an engaging and idiosyncratic style. Created by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Hosted by Antonio Tahhan Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www....

In this Quartertones event, we listened to Narcy as he performed three musical pieces; SPACE, The Tribe Called Red, and Thoughts and Prayers. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About Quartertones: QuarterTones is a music show. It is an opportunity to listen to music, across genres, from musicians...

In this Conversation, we talked to Mohamad Hafez about his art that reflects the political turmoil in the Middle East through the compilation of found objects, paint and scrap metal. Using his architectural skills, Hafez creates surrealistic Middle Eastern streetscapes that are architectural in their appearance yet politically charged in their content. Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  E...

In this Double Exposure event, we talked to Hazem Harb and Sama Alshaibi about their work, to discuss and interrogate their motivations, stories behind their photos, and their catalogues. Hazem’s work explores the notion of the land, whereas Sama’s work is concerned with issues of war and exile. Created by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Hosted by Mikey Muhanna & Mohamed Somji Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Them...

In this Conversation, we talked to Kareem Sakka about his work in creating an independent media platform presenting news and views relevant to the Arab world. Kareem’s Raseef22 fills a cultural gap in the Arabic-language media landscape, acknowledging both local values and global perspectives. Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Tarek Alameddine about his experiences in the culinary field between Copenhagen, Egypt, and Lebanon. Tarek believes that Levantine flavors and seasonal produce should be celebrated in the fine dining scene. In the process of creating dishes and designing menus, the ingredients he uses should be in season, wildly foraged, and in synchronization with the time and...

In this Conversation, we talked to Rania Matar about her career in exploring issues of personal and collective identity, through photographs of female adolescence and womanhood. Rania’s works focus on notions of identity and individuality all within the context of the underlying universality of these experiences. Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: T...

In this Quartertones event, we listened to Clarissa Bitar as he performed three musical pieces; taqasim, bayari & al-mizan. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About Quartertones: QuarterTones is a music show. It is an opportunity to listen to music, across genres, from musicians of and from the Ar...

In this Conversation, we talked to Majid Alyousef about his career in modern and abstract calligraphy. Majid founded Calligraforms, a radical new movement that re-imagines calligraphy, offering abstract perspectives that draw upon the language of aesthetics, beauty, form, and balance. Created by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Hosted by Aya Nimer Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https:...

In this event, we talked to Mohamed Somji and Farah Fayed about the future of the Arab Image. Tasmeem Doha 2022: Radical Futures is an inclusive and multi-faceted view of the future, one that not only speculates on technological advancements—but on future threats and changes whether environmental, geographical, cultural, or social. Now more than ever, we must ask pertinent questions, raise critica...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Bethany Kehdy about her writings on cuisines of the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa. Bethany was elected one of the four Mediterranean Food Ambassadors in 2012 and won several awards for publishing “The Jewelled Kitchen” in 2013. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com...

In this Outline event, we talked to Carol Sansour about her latest project, In the Time of the Apricots. The book is a collection of poems that has been translated to Arabic, English and French. Art critic and writer Youssef Rakha describes this book as “a post-national discourse of belonging by necessity which, in its truth aesthetic, speaks more eloquently to the human condition than to any poli...

In this Conversation, we talked to Hoda Elsadda about her research on Arab literary history from a gender perspective where she attempts to answer the question: if gender is a category of analysis, how would we rewrite the history of the Arab literary tradition? Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/...

In this Double Exposure event, we talked to Tanya Habjouqa and Tasneem Alsultan about their work, motivations, stories behind their photos, and catalogues. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About Double Exposure: Double Exposure focuses on photography and photographers in and of the Arab world. T...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Kamal Mouzawak about how he founded the first farmers market in Lebanon, leading a social and environmental change and transformation. Kamal, through Souk El Tayeb, had the vision of celebrating food and traditions that unite communities and promoting small-scale farmers and producers and the culture of sustainable agriculture.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna...

In this Conversation, we talked to Lamia Joreige about her career in art and film and how she portrays history through narration. Lamia, rooted in her country’s experience, explores the possibilities of representing the Lebanese wars and their aftermath. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About th...

In this Conversation, we talked to Tarek El-Ariss about his academic work on Al Nahda, contemporary Arabic culture and media, comparative literature and critical theory, and digital and visual culture. 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 serie...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Anissa Helou about how her work and writings on cuisines and culinary heritage of the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa. She is the author of award-winning cookbooks “Sweet Middle East”, “Levant”, “The Fifth Quarter”, “An Offal Cookbook,” and more.  Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https:/...

In this Quartertones event, we listened to Layth Sidiq as he performed three musical pieces, of which two are composed by him and talked to him about these pieces. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna , afikra  Edited by: Ramzi Ramman Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/ About Quartertones: QuarterTones is a music show. It is an opportunity to listen to music, across g...

In this Conversation, we talked to John Waterbury about his work as a leading source in politics in the Arab region, his 10-year journey as an AUB president, and higher education in the arab region..  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...

In this Outline event, we talked to Adib Dada about his latest project, Beirut RiverLESS Urban Forest. Beirut RiverLESS offers a set of replicable interventions to rehabilitate lost ecosystems and improve the living conditions and quality of life of people in the city who live along the river and to restore the area’s biodiversity.  Adib Dada is the founder of theOtherDada [tOD] Regenerative Consu...

In this Matbakh event, we talked to Fadi Kattan about how his cuisine and savoir-faire combine worldly influences, a desire for perfection and a passion for the local terroir. When Fadi started his Fawda Restaurant in 2016, he created a cuisine honoring Palestine’s best produce with a modern twist, raising to the challenge of rendering this traditional kitchen into a gourmet dining experience. Cre...