Featured Series
This is not a watermelon Podcast
After the events of October 7, 2023, it felt impossible to go on with the podcast like business as usual. So we dedicated The afikra Podcast programming to special episodes relevant to understanding the historical context to what is happening in Palestine. Each episode was recorded in real-time and uploaded to YouTube and everywhere you get your podcasts. For most of these, the time of recording is key to understanding the context in which these conversations took place so make sure to refer to these and to check out all of these highly informative conversations with guests who are from completely different disciplines and have generously shared their time and insight in these dark times.
And as we entered the new year and the atrocities continue, we deemed it necessary to create an exclusive series dedicated to Palestinian history and culture. This is how this podcast came about and will continue to exist so long as the fight for liberation and peace continues.
afikra original series
The afikra Podcast
The afikra Podcast is our flagship series featuring experts from academia, art, media and beyond who are helping document and/or shape the histories and cultures of the Arab world through their work. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community walks away with a new found curiosity and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into head first.
THE TASMEEM DOHA PODCAST
Tasmeem Doha is a biennial international conference that focuses on unique and contemporary themes in art and design. For 2024, the theme of the event is “Under Construction”, which is both a metaphor for creative research as well as a celebration and investigation of transformation. It is also a state that Doha has found itself in for decades: a transformation that has presented an outsized impact on the residents of the city. Under Construction will also explore the past, present and future of VCUarts Qatar’s flagship event Tasmeem Doha. As part of the 25th anniversary of VCUart Qatar's campus in Doha, the event will bring together voices from the past, present and future of various disciplines involved in this cycle of rethinking and remaking.
Featured
This is not a watermelon
Palestinian history and culture will not be erased. History warns us how media's dehumanizing rhetoric can pave the way for targeted aggression and allow society to permit atrocities as grave as genocide. It is resolutely within our mission to counteract this dehumanizing narrative. Afikra has always stood in unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian sisters & brothers and individuals of all nationalities and faiths around the world who bravely protest the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and condemn the state violence of the Israeli colonial settler project.
Featured
Community Jameel x afikra COP28 Conversation Series
The Community Jameel x afikra COP28 Conversation Series aims to build a forum for intergenerational collaboration and engagement, channel a unique voice and inspire thoughtful discussions between youth, experts, non-experts and key global decision-makers. The series hopes to be a powerful tool to amplify local communities and foster a more inclusive and informed discussion around climate action. By featuring a diverse range of voices and topics, the conversation series seeks to help shape the agenda for a more sustainable future.
Quartertones
QuarterTones is afikra’s music podcast which hosts current Arab musicians from different geographies who play contemporary and modern music, including alternative scene or hip-hop, electronic, classical music, among other genres. The guests are invited to talk about their work and play their music – whether live or recorded – in three segments. The audience gets a chance to listen to some of the most interesting work from across the region and genres, and understand the music that these musicians and musicologists perform or study.
Kawalis | afikra Movie Night
Kawalis is afikra’s Movie Night podcast that dives into all types of production from stage to the small or big screen, zooming in on the work of professionals from the field. This interview series is an opportunity to ask actors, directors, scriptwriters and cinematographers questions about the industry, the writing and production processes, the behind the scenes and genres behind some of the Arab world’s best films, TV series, plays and performances, and to discover some of the best work out there from experts in the field.
Featured
The NYUAD Arts Center Podcast
afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists. From the mesmerizing melodies of Meklit Hadero to the electrifying movements of Herve Koubi, the partnership showcases the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances.
Matbakh
Matbakh is a podcast series about eating, making, appreciating and learning about the food and drink of the Arab world. We invite chefs, restaurateurs and food historians, critics and writers to share their takes on the best of what the Arab kitchen has to offer – both past and present. We delve into well-loved and under-appreciated dishes, ingredients and flavors, as well as the history of the region’s food and what its future might be, always highlighting little anecdotes and food stories that our guests know and cherish.
Ehkili | afikra Book Club
Ehkili is afikra’s Book Club podcast that calls all afikra community members who are interested in literature and books, to spend time reading along with the entire community. We interview Arab authors about books they’ve written in Arabic and English (and sometimes French) and non-Arab authors who have written extensively about the region, and together we delve into their literary journey until present day.
Inside the Arab Classroom | NYU Global TIES for Children
"Inside the Arab Classroom" is an enthralling podcast series that provides an unprecedented window into the diverse and ever-evolving landscape of education in the Arab world. The series comprises six engaging episodes, each tackling a crucial aspect of education in the region. From the history of education reform to the state of Arabic literacy, the role of international development to the potential of ed-tech, and from the relationship between education, citizenship, and civic engagement to the latest research findings, the podcast series " transcend boundaries by contributing to a global dialogue on education that enriches broader conversation about learning practices, challenges, and aspirations worldwide.
Bas Sou’al | The afikra Community Podcast
afikra is all about asking questions and exploring something new and this series takes some of the questions about the histories and cultures of the Arab world asked and explored in one of our community presentations, and broadens it into a podcast episode hosted by Mysa Kafil-Hussain and Yasmin Khawaja. Joining them are community members from our global chapters to talk about on a topic that they researched and presented. The presentations are the culmination of the afikra coaching process to help identify a topic, find research and develop the presentation. These presentations’ goal is to showcase the presenter’s curiosity and research and share some knowledge on a topic related to the Arab world’s histories and cultures.
The Khatt Chronicles Podcast
The Khatt Chronicles podcast features remarkable designers, illustrators and researchers from the Arab world, in engaging conversations about their practice, vision and aspirations. The series chronicles and introduces the latest explorations in Arab visual communication and material culture.
Double Exposure
Double Exposure focuses on photography and photographers in and of the Arab world. The series is a collaboration with Gulf Photo Plus (GPP), Dubai’s center for photography and a community organization cultivating visual practices and cultural production locally in the UAE, and internationally, across the wider MENASA region.
Featured
Outline
Outline is a process-focused conversation that looks at guests’ individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. The conversation sketches the journey of the project: the spark of curiosity that led to its birth, the process of implementing the idea, the struggles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project that includes new questions and new ideas. The name “Outline” stems from the idea of creating a retroactive project outline which is part of a broader emphasis on the process of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking from a nuts and bolts perspective. Outline is not discipline-specific: the series is held with artists, academics, fashion designers, writers, filmmakers, among others.
Mujalasa
Mujalasa is a platform for exchanging ideas, debating academia and building intellectual curiosity for the purpose of enlightenment. It’s an Arabic podcast series exploring the histories of the region, hosted by Charles Al Hayek from Heritage & Roots and powered by afikra. Mujalasa is not discipline-specific: the series is held with artists, academics, writers, filmmakers, among others.
Al Burda Podcast | Powered by afikra
Al Burda Podcast, powered by afikra, is a series of long-form conversations with some of the leading and prominent figures from the Al Burda 2021 Festival - the festival from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture.
Moving Biographies
This podcast series brings together different perspectives to question disciplinary assumptions and decenter life writing. It is a collaboration between LAWHA at the Orient-Institut Beirut, the American University of Beirut and the Global (De)Centre, generously funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
Tijara
Tijara is a podcast series focusing on the history of economics, business and trade and how these three fields shaped and/or continue to positively impact culture and life in the Arab world. The series hosts business historians, economists and entrepreneurs who have have played an essential role in key companies and economies of the region, giving afikra’s community a deeper understanding of the forces that help shape Arab economies.
Cultures in Conversation: Preludes & Postscripts
This 3-episode bi-monthly podcast series is a collaboration between Alserkal Advisory and afikra. designed to discuss culturally meaningful spaces that inspire communities and increase their curiosities.
Cultures in Conversation is commissioned by Expo2020 Dubai and programmed by Alserkal.
Design Doha
Design Doha is a landmark biennale dedicated to creative innovation, here to foster the design culture of the MENA region, and create a space of design excellence in Qatar. It provides creatives and institutions with a space to showcase their designs and ideas. The biennale is committed to offering tangible and authentic solutions, showcasing the richness of MENA culture and creativity, while highlighting the exceptional design environment of Qatar on the global stage.
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