Resources To Understand What’s Happening in Lebanon Right Now
The violence and atrocities that the Israeli occupation’s army is inflicting on Lebanon are not new. Today’s events sit within a long and bloody history that traces its roots far beyond October 7. Western media selectively forgets and deliberately omits the key historical context that situates today’s violence within the broader Zionist agenda. In the face of what we’re enduring in Lebanon, we have been seeking out resources — fiction and non-fiction — that help us trace this long history and contextualize today’s violence. We reached out to our community to find the best books and films out there and have added some of our own. This is intended as a growing list, so please share your suggestions with us too.
Daftar Digest
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Browse Daftar Digest Archive →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
We did a deep dive into this upcoming 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.
From Daftar Journal:
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.
Hamed Gohar: The Father of Oceanography in the Arab World
Hamed Gohar — “King of the Red Sea” — was featured as a Google Doodle on November 15, 2023, to mark what would have been his 115th birthday. We were curious to learn more about his contributions to marine biology and pioneering work as a much-loved TV presenter
Haja El Hamdaouia Pioneered Moroccan Aita Music
In Oct 2022, Google Doodle featured Haja El Hamdaouia — an icon of Moroccan Chaabi and El Aita music. We wanted to find out more about her life, music and legacy. Image via SRNT News.
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.
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. Image via SFGate
Ibrahim Abu-Lughod: "Palestine's Foremost Academic and Intellectual"
Ibrahim Abu-Lughod pioneered the understandings and portrayals of the Middle East in political science and more broadly in America. Close friend Edward Said described him as “Palestine’s foremost academic and intellectual.”
Remembering Waddah Faris
Waddah Faris was one of the Arab world’s most foremost cultural figures. In this profile, Mysa Kafil-Hussein looks back on his vibrant life and his wonderful photography.
Memories for Khaleeji Music
This 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…”
Lesson Plans for Teachers
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