Our mixtape this month was compiled by record store owner Mohamad Rifaï (aka Rifo) who's behind The Lick Records in Beirut, and features some of his favorite Arabic interpretations of international hits that even your grandad might know. 

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works of resistance from Palestine. With work by Riad Awwan, Tawfiq Zayyad and Rakan Mayasi.

A look at Casablanca’s colonial-era architecture and its main figures.

A nostalgic personal essay in which Ghada Al-Bahar takes us back to the drive-in cinemas of 70s Kuwait.

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.

A five and half hour long mixtape created by music writer and curator Danny Hajjar to celebrates the voices of some of the best up-and-coming (but also some old favorite) musicians from the Arab world. Make sure to play it at your next party.

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list from Algeria, featuring work by Dahmane El Harrachi, Mohammed Dib and Mounia Meddour.

This blog dives further into the lives and artwork of Amine El Bacha, Paul Guiragossian and Saloua Raouda Choucair. Three leading artists of Lebanon’s art world, they were the focus of a Moving Biographies podcast episode entitled “Curating an artist’s (and parent’s) biography” — which featured a conversation between Mahita El Bacha Urieta, Manuella Guiragossian and Hala Schoukair — daughters of each artist respectively.

Author and Associate Professor Andy Clarno’s book recommendations to learn more about transnational solidarity and liberation.

A vibrant personal essay and travelogue that transports us to Aleppo’s iconic Baron Hotel, weaving together its history with its present.

To round off what has been a difficult end to 2023, December’s mixtape is dedicated to Palestinian sounds, old and new.

Inspired by our conversation with Georges Khoury, a brief dive into the history of iconic Arab comics such as Samir and Sindbad. Cover image via Ebay.

After our conversation with Aida Abbashar, we wanted to continue educating ourselves about the current situation in Sudan. We hope this watch and read list acts as a good starting point for getting to grips with what’s happening in Sudan.

A brief look at Gaza’s vibrant theatre and cinema scene in the 20th Century with wonderful images, stories and facts we’ve come across.

November’s mixtape is dedicated to Palestinian sounds, old and new.

In case you missed it — an introduction to “Inside the Arab Classroom” an NYU Global TIES for Children podcast all about education in the Arab world.

A reading list intended as a resource for learning about what’s happening in Palestine right now.

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.

A selection of music from across Libya and Morocco, with tunes from all kinds of genres.

To mark afikra’s 9th birthday, we asked a few of our global ambassadors to reflect the journeys they’ve had so far, how they set up their chapters, and what they’re excited about for the coming year.