afikra was born out of curiosity and community, powered by volunteers who are excited to amplify the histories and cultures of the Arab world.

In 2024, we brought our global community together in two locations – both at the very heart of afikra: Beirut, where our studio and most of our team are situated, and NYC where afikra began 10 years ago.

Here’s a glimpse from our three-day tour of Lebanon and our events at Joe’s Pub and Lincoln Center in NYC.

Afikra at 10: How the platform is using culture to reclaim Arab narratives

Founder Mikey Muhanna opens up about his drive to replace the western media's view with stories of the real Arab world – by those who live there.

(By Melissa Gonlund - The National, November 11, 2024)

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Bas Sou’al - The afikra Community Podcast

afikra is all about asking questions and exploring something new. This podcast 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.

Featured
Who Were the First Photographers of Aleppo? | Jad Moussalli
Who are the Circassians and How Did They End Up in the Middle East? | Alia Azouqa
Who Was L.A Attorney George Shibley? | Farrah Berrou

Some questions we answered in community presentations

Featured
Spotlight: Who Was Ismail Shammout?
Spotlight: Why Are the Arabic Calendar Months Named the Way They Are?
Spotlight: How Have Tough Desert Landscapes in Al Ula Been Unlocked To Enable Thriving Communities?
Feature: What Does Tatreez Signify, Especially for the Palestinian Woman?
Spotlight: How Did Al-Balabil, the Pioneering Sudanese Girl Band, Navigate Cultural and Political Challenges To Become a Symbol of Empowerment and Change in Sudan?
Feature: How Did a Poem by Samih Al-Qasim Come To Be Known and Published Under George Jackson’s Name?

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Get updates about upcoming and past events, as well as weekly summaries of the latest community podcast episodes.

Connect with us

FOLLOW OUR COMMUNITY ON INSTAGRAM: @afikra_community