By the Seventies, musicians from the Arab world were starting to travel and tour the world and as a result began adopting different genres of music wherever they went – from classical to jazz to local folk music and others. Some of the record labels that adopted these Arab musicians even released an Arabic version of their top international hits, publishing the same songs in different languages and by a variety of their artists.
Our mixtape this month was compiled by record store owner Mohamad Rifaï (aka @ri_fo) who's behind @thelickrecords in Beirut, and features some of his favorite Arabic interpretations of international hits that even your grandad might know. In this month's digest, we also pay tribute to the prominent Iraqi-Syrian designer, writer, gallerist, artist and photographer, Waddah Faris, who has contributed a great deal to photography – and Arab culture in general. We also point you in the direction of great things to read, photography from the region, and noteworthy events around the world.
And if you're wondering what this month's featured animation is of, it's a collaboration between the artist @kidsmokk and @thecouncilforvisualaffairs and @moorwater to bring the water crisis to light and highlight the urgent need for effective water management solutions, including water recycling as a key strategy to tackle this, as they point out that 57% of water in the SWANA region is returned to the environment untreated, leading to health risks and water wastage.
Always in solidarity, The afikra | عفكرة Team
Click on the tape to listen to this month's mixtape by Mohamad "Rifo" Al Rifaï, co-owner of The Lick Records (face illustration by Sarah Saleh)
Links & Things
14th Franco Film Festival UAE, ongoing until Feb 29 Cinema Akil in collaboration with various francophone embassies is hosting the 14th Franco Film Festival, which is celebrating the theme of "family" in francophone cinema across six days in Dubai
Live Podcast Recording at Design Doha Biennial, Feb 28, 1-3pm We're excited to host a podcast interview for designers at the Design Doha Biennial 2024, a landmark biennial dedicated to creative innovation and fostering the design culture of the MENA region. The live recording will take place at the M7 Sky Theatre. Make sure to RSVP
Tasmeem Doha, Mar 2-5 Tasmeem Doha's officially launches at VCUarts Qatar, and features panel discussions, short films, performances, and more
New York Arabic Orchestra, Mar 3 The NY Arabic Orchestra will be at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, performing songs by Fairuz and Mohammad Abd el-Wahhab, as well as original pieces and instrumental compositions
Arab Women Arts Now (AWAN) Festival, Mar 1-31 The UK's only exclusively Arab female-led festival is showcasing Arab talent from the UK and the diaspora. Music, spoken word, visual arts, theatre, literature, talks and more
Weekend Film Challenge Mar 7-9 In partnership with the Doha Design District and Raffles Doha, this free filmmaking program is for aspiring filmmakers. Teams of 4-6 people of all genders and ages are invited to sign up to make a film in 48 hours. The only requirement is to have at least one 13-23 young woman on every team
The History of Arab Travelers: Literary Salon, Beirut, Mar 11 A literary salon with writer, translator and lecturer Tim Mackintosh-Smith on the History of Arab Travelers at the American University of Beirut (AUB), will be moderated by Bilal Orfali and Nadia Maria El Cheikh
Palestine Film Institute Browse the website to discover Palestinian films from across the decades. Every Wednesday at 5pm Jerusalem time, they release a "film of the week" that's free to watch
Open call for proposals for the AFAC Creative and Critical Writing Grant of up to $20,000. Anyone from Arab countries can apply
Read About Nasri Khattar's Typographic Journey A fascinating interview by our logo creators 29LT with the daughter of Lebanese type designer Nasri Khattar who invented the innovative "Unified Arabic" typeface.
Friendly Nerd... Safaa Elidrissi
Your favorite book
"La plus secrète mémoire des hommes" by the Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. It's about the process of writing, identity (or identities), family, homeland and love!
Who would you like to shadow for a day, past or present?
Albert Camus but in Algeria. I'd love to ask him about colonial violence and injustice, but also what it means and how it feels to be French-Algerian. He once wrote "Although I have known and shared every form of poverty in which this country abounds, it is for me the land of happiness, of energy, and of creation. And I cannot bear to see it become a land of suffering and hatred."
Your favorite Arabic song of all time
"Alf leila and Leila" by Oum kalthoum is THE song. There is something about the instrumental introduction that sends shivers down my spine! I am currently relistening to "Kelmti horra" by Emel Mathlouthi. It's truly inspiring.
Very complicated to answer that. Listening to afikra is more than a hobby now – it became a habit. The interview with George Saliba is underrated. I enjoy listening or reading people who question the well-established narratives. Saliba does that in such a brilliant way. I also recommend "Rethinking al-Andalus" with Eric Calderwood and the episode on Sudan with Aida Abbashar.
Tsawwar تصور
I was spending an entire day by the sea with my photographer friend Tamara Abdul Hadi. One of our stops was for lunch and coffee at the Palace Cafe in Manara. While chatting and looking at the sea, we noticed a group of boys enjoying the water and sun just a few meters away. That's when I took this photo. It was the last photo on the film roll and I really didn’t want to waste it. I was waiting for the boy to jump – it took him a little while.
I will forever associate this photo with friendship, sunshine, food and happiness.
A novel that stretches from the 1940s to the 80s and explores Algeria's fight for liberation from colonial powers to the realities of post-independence society. The story is told through the lens of a decades long love affair between Khaled (an artist) and Hayat – the daughter of a freedom fighter. It's the first novel written by an Algerian woman to become a bestseller, and won the 1998 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for literature.
Words from Daftar
Write for us! If you have a story to share or a topic you want to delve into, we want to know about it. Email us at blog@afikra.com to bring your curiosity (or expertise) to life.
Waddah Faris was one of the Arab world’s foremost cultural figures. In this profile, Mysa Kafil-Hussein looks back on his vibrant life and his wonderful photography.
Kuwait's 1970s Drive-in Cinemas
A nostalgic reflection by Ghada al-Bahar on evenings spent in the back of the car at Kuwait's two drive-in cinemas.
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