First Impressions: Fairuz on the Radio
Fairuz not only lived and thrived through radio, but she also grew out of it. Her career in the 50’s can tell us a bit about why radio stations are not as relevant as they once were.
Daftar Digest
We select the best from the Arab world each month, and put it in your inbox.
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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.
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Staff Pick: Podcast Episode
We did a deep dive into this afikra podcast episode with the co-author of Modern Architecture Kuwait 1949-1989
Daftar Journal
Kuwait’s 31 Iconic Water Towers
Kuwait's Architecture
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.
Pioneers of Palestine’s Modern Sound: Sabreen Band
Sabreen’s music “reflects the humanitarian and cultural reality of Palestine while highlighti
The Historic Town of Ushaiqer أُشيقر
The historic town of Ushaiqer was a significant stopping place for pilgrims who travelled to modern-day Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah. Today, though no longer a stopover, it’s a well-preserved example of Najdi architecture.
Carte de Séjour: Protesting Racism in France
Before his solo career, Rachid Taha was part of a band called Carte de Séjour that shot to fame during the 1980s. Their cover of “Douce France” became an anti-racist anthem for Arabs across France. Image via Les Trans.
Palestine’s Soap Making City: Nablus
A brief history of Nablus’ artisanal soap making. Starting in the 14th Century, Nablus became a major soap making center. In 1907, Nabulsi soap factories were producing half of the soap in Palestine. Image via Palestinian Soap Cooperative.
Listen, Read, Watch: Saudi Arabia
A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Saudi Arabia with Moayad Alnefaie’s Bath Al Shaer, Abdulrahman Munif’s Cities of Salt and Yallah Yallah Beenah.
Sudanese Cinema: Talking About Trees
Suhaib Gasmelbari’s 2019 documentary Talking About Trees Image is a celebration of cinema and film, following four retired filmmakers as they work to reopen an outdoor cinema in Omdurman. Image via Hollywood Reporter.
Quartertones Mixtape: March '24
This month's mixtape, compiled DJ Amen Ra (aka Ramy Abou El Oyoun), introduces us to Egyptian sounds and artists we should have on our radar. The first half of the playlist focuses on the instrumental side of the producers featured & the second half highlights some of his favorite hip-hop artists.
Tsawwar... Jinane Ennasri
Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. The second of this series is Jinane Ennasri, a Moroccan photographer.
Nubia’s Pyramids
A history of Sudan’s Nubian pyramids and why they look different from their counterparts in Giza. Image via Intro Africa.
Oscar Niemeyer's Tripoli International Fair
A brief look at the Tripoli International Fair (Rashid Karameh International Exhibition Center), an unfinished relic of modernist architecture from the 1960s built on southern Tripoli’s orange orchards. Image via Anthony Saroufim & Design Boom.
Listen, Read, Watch: Iraq
A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Iraq. Featuring an album by Natik Awayez, poetry by Nizak al-Mala’ika and Maysoon Pachachi’s 2021 film Our River….Our Sky.
Iconic Syrian Comedy TV Series: Sah El Nawm
Mai J Abbassi reminisces about Sah El Nawm — a Syrian comedy series from the 70s — from huddling round windows to catch the newest episode to its satirical undertones and the love triangle at the heart of the show.
Kuwait’s 31 Iconic Water Towers
A brief history of Kuwait City’s iconic water towers — looking at their architectural design that brings together local and international aesthetic with functional purpose.
Rayess Bek’s Musical Evolution & Inspirations
Over his career, Wael Kodeih has gone by many names: From Aks’ser, Good Bye Schlöndorff to Rayess Bek, and his music has evolved with it. Here you’ll find the links to all the tracks mentioned in his Quartertones interview.
Tsawwar... Tanya Traboulsi
Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. The first of this series is Tanya Traboulsi, a Lebanese photographer.
Quartertones Mixtape: February '24
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.
Listen, Read, Watch: Resistance
A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works of resistance from Palestine. With work by Riad Awwan, Tawfiq Zayyad and Rakan Mayasi.
Who Built Casablanca?
A look at Casablanca’s colonial-era architecture and its main figures.
Kuwait's Drive-In Cinemas of the 1970s
A nostalgic personal essay in which Ghada Al-Bahar takes us back to the drive-in cinemas of 70s Kuwait.
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First Impressions: Fairuz on the Radio
Fairuz not only lived and thrived through radio, but she also grew out of it. Her career in the 50’s can tell us a bit about why radio stations are not as relevant as they once were.
Lesson Plans for Teachers
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