Tatreez & Tea: Books to Read about Palestinian Embroidery
Palestinian dress history and embroidery (tatreez) traditions are a vital part of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Palestinian people. While the embroidery techniques, dressmaking traditions and adornment practices are centuries-old, they've been largely preserved within the indigenous context of oral history. Much of the written publications on the art form is incomplete, and oftentimes includes errors and mischaracterizations. Wafa Ghnaim, better known as @tatreezandtea, shares her top recommendations.
Daftar Digest
We select the best from the Arab world each month, and put it in your inbox.
Curated Recommendations
Every time a guest joins us on one of our podcast series, they leave us with breadcrumbs to further explore some of the topics that they covered in the episode. Browse through some of the best recommendations for films, books, and music from the Arab world.
Staff Pick: Podcast Episode
Sonja Mejcher-Atassi
We did a deep dive into this episode of our This Is Not a Watermelon podcast with the author of "An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before and After 1948," professor Sonja Mejcher-Atassi.
Tsawwar
Tsawwar is a visual series enclosed monthly in our Daftar Digest and explores the stories behind a photograph taken in the region or by an Arab photographer.
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
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
Highlighting some of the scholars and their inventions from the House of Wisdom in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.
Rhythms of the Sea: Pearl Divers of the Gulf & Their Music
The Pearl Industry and its music are an integral part of the Gulf’s cultural heritage. A brief look at its history and an introduction to our free-to-use lesson plan on this topic.
Stitching Identities: Palestinian Tatreez as Resistance
A short introduction to Palestinian tatreez and its symbolism as a tool of resistance, relating to the lesson plan we developed in collaboration with University of Chicago’s CMES.
Between Two Worlds: The Mahjar Literary Movement
An introduction to the Mahjar Literary Movement and the contents of our lesson plan developed in collaboration with the University of Chicago CMES.
QUARTERTONES MIXAPEThis mixtape is a collaboration with music creator and producer DJ Bonita (Farah A Bishara) who writes: "The short timespan between 2005 and 2008 holds tons of memories for Khaleeji music…”
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