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The afikra Blog
Tsawwar... Dina Al-Makhrami
Tsawwar... Dina Al-Makhrami

Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. This week’s features a photo and blurb by Dina Al-Makhrami.

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Quartertones Mixtape: May '24
Quartertones Mixtape: May '24

May ‘24’s QuarterTones mixtape is a quintessential Iraqi music compilation by shamokamonet, a platform and collective dedicated to sharing stories inspired by Iraq. 

Sidi Hamet: the Noble Sahrawi Who Catalyzed Slavery Abolition in 19th Century America
Sidi Hamet: the Noble Sahrawi Who Catalyzed Slavery Abolition in 19th Century America

Erragab Eljanhaoui writes about Captain James Riley and Sidi Hamet, and his role in catalysing the end of slavery in 19th century America.

Finding Palestine in Michigan: On Painter Samia Halaby 
Finding Palestine in Michigan: On Painter Samia Halaby 

Rachel Winter writes about her experience unearthing the story of iconic artist Samia Halaby in Michigan. Image credit: Shanti Knight.

9 Infographics About The Arabic Language 
9 Infographics About The Arabic Language 

afikra recently collaborated with QFI to create a series of infographics all about the Arabic language. Each infographic aims to highlight the vibrancy and widespread influence of the Arabic language in an easy-to-digest, visual way. 

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Out now on #Daftar, “Finding Palestine in Michigan: On Painter Samia Halaby”. Rachel Winter, assistant curator at the @msubroad, dives into the story of the inimitable Palestinian painter @samiahalaby in Michigan, the home of Arab-America
Mohamed Makiya was a leading Iraqi architect and said to be the “master of incorporating traditional styles in modern architecture.” He was one of the first in Iraq to gain formal qualifications in architecture. After studying it at the U
An excerpt from Rain Song by Iraqi poet Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab Your eyes are two palm tree forests at early dawn Or two verandas from which the moonlight recedes When your eyes smile, the vines put forth their leaves And the lights dance like moons i
Solhi al-Wadi was an Iraqi musician, conductor, composer, educator and director. He was born in Baghdad in 1934 to a Iraqi father and Jordanian mother. He studied in Alexandria, Egypt at a British boarding school, then went on to study music at the R
The Great Mosque of Samarra is a 9th century mosque in Sammarra Iraq which was commissioned in 848 and completed by Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil in 851. At the time of its construction, it was the biggest mosque in the world. Its most distinct elemen
Have you ever played The Royal Game of Ur? Apparently this board game is a two-player speed and strategy race that invented in ancient Mesopotamia which, according to the Getty Center, makes it one of the oldest and longest-lived board games ever. At
Kabsa — also called Makbus — is a mixed rice dish that comes from Yemen that can now be found across the region. The name derives fro the Arabic kabasa meaning to press or squeeze, because all the ingredients are cooked in one pot. Can an
Al-Sibyan (Youth) was a children’s magazine subsidised by the Sudanese government and sold in schools and shops all over the country. It published a mix of humorous stories, Sudanese folk tales, world news, and cartoons. It was one of the most
Sayed Darwish is considered by many to be the “Father of Modern Arab Music”. He was a singer and composer whose music “marked a watershed between Ottoman classical music...and the spirit of the modern.” (Ahram Online) Although
Waiting for Happiness (Heremakono) is a 2002 Mauritanian film directed by Abderrahmane Sissako. It follows Abdallah as he makes a visit to his home town, Nouadhibou — a small seaside village on the Mauritanian coast — before he emigrates
One of the afikra community members recommended Incendies (English language title “Scorched”) — a play by Lebanese-Canadian writer, actor and director Wajdi Mouawad that’s based on the life of Lebanese communist militant Soha
The Shabandar Café is one of Baghdad’s oldest and most famous coffeehouses on al-Mutanabbi street. It’s considered an essential part of Baghdad’s intellectual, cultural and political fabric. It was named for its owners &mdash
Rijat Chadirji is often referred to as the “father of Iraqi architecture”. He built more than 100 buildings all over Iraq, amongst which are the Tahrir Square Freedom Monument, Baghdad’s Central Post Office and the 1959 Unknown Sold
We’ve been reading about Al Ula in Saudi Arabia, the ancient oasis town located in the northwest, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its desert landscapes, sandstone mountains, and ancient archaeological sites including Nabatean
Jibneh Mshallaleh — or Tresse Cheese — is a Syrian string cheese mixed with mahleb, and often black cumin, anise or caraway seeds. It’s soaked in brine for several weeks before it’s braided and left to age. It is thought to ha

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Lesson Plans for Teachers

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Lesson Plans for Teachers 🤓

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The Egyptian Women’s Rights Movement
The Egyptian Women’s Rights Movement

An introduction to the Egyptian Women’s Movement and its pioneers. With a link to our lesson plan that delves into this topic for high-schoolers.

The Travels of Ibn Battuta
The Travels of Ibn Battuta

A look at the life and travels of legendary wanderer Ibn Batutta. With an introduction to our afikra lesson plans!

House of Wisdom: Inventions in the Islamic Golden Age
House of Wisdom: Inventions in the Islamic Golden Age

Highlighting some of the scholars and their inventions from the House of Wisdom in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.

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9 Sudanese Films to Watch
9 Sudanese Films to Watch

9 Sudanese films to watch as recommended by the founders of Aflam Sudan and members of the afikra community. Image via Broadcast Prome.

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El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe
El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe

El-Funoun Popular Dance Troupe gave new life to Palestine’s traditional musical and dance heritage, introducing some contemporary interpretations. The troupe is also responsible for creating the Palestine Folklore Day – an annual celebration that launched in 1986 - and for establishing the Popular Art Centre in 1987. Image via the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.

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Listen, Read, Watch: Syria
Listen, Read, Watch: Syria

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Syria. Featuring an album by TootArd, a novel by Khaled Khalifa, and a documentary film by Taim Karesly.

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Films To Watch From Palestine: Carol Mansour's Recommendations
Films To Watch From Palestine: Carol Mansour's Recommendations

In our Kawalis interview with Carol Mansour, we asked for her top recommendations for Palestinian films. Still from Elia Suleiman’s Time That Remains via Zaymn.

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Listen, Read, Watch: Egypt
Listen, Read, Watch: Egypt

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Egypt. Featuring an album by Dina El Wedidi, a book by Nawal El Saadawi and a film directed by Ayten Amin.

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