Ehkili | Books & Literature from the Arab World

Can the rhythm of a poem mimic the frantic hooves of horses carrying away the dead? Assistant Professor Emily Drumsta to explores the rich history of Arabic literature, the evolution of the Arabic novel, and her deep-dive into literary translation. The conversation centers on the life, political shifting, and meticulous criticism of pioneering Iraqi poet Nazik al-Malaika. Drumsta discusses her book Revolt Against the Sun, sharing her unique approach to translating qualitative meter and capturing the haunting soundscapes of modern Arabic poetry.

01:00 Introduction
06:04 The History of the Novel
14:50 An Introduction to Nazik al-Malaika and her Prolific Criticism
17:35 The Literary Roots
25:56 The Rhythm of Tragic Soundscapes
28:55 The Complicated Evolution of Nationalistic Philosophy
35:31 Reflection on later life, Legacy, and Judgment of Contemporaries
38:46 Crafting Verse in Translation
45:07 Reviving Classical Metres and Concluding Recommendations

Emily Drumsta is Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at Brown University, specializing in modern Arabic and Francophone literatures. She is the translator of Revolt Against the Sun: Selected Poems of Nazik al-Mala'ika (Saqi Books) and a co-founder of Tahrir Documents, an online archive of broadsides, pamphlets, and other ephemera collected in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the 2011 uprisings in Egypt. She has articles and chapters published or forthcoming in Middle Eastern Literatures, Social Text, Research in African Literatures, and The Routledge Handbook of Arabic Translation. Her translations have appeared in McSweeney's, Circumference, Jadaliyya, Asymptote, Arabic Literature (in English), and the Trinity Journal of Literary Translation. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley.

Connect with Emily Drumsta 👉 https://vivo.brown.edu/display/edrumsta

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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Author Sara Hamdan discusses her journey to becoming a published writer and the nuanced storytelling behind her book, "What Will People Think?" from its unexpected appearance on Jimmy Fallon's Book Club shortlist to navigating the complexities of Palestinian heritage in her work. Hamdan delves into the importance of collaboration in creative fields, the value of allowing one's work time "to breathe", and her perspective on choosing to write a basic Palestinian love story that's loaded with humor. 

0:00 Introduction

2:16 The Opaque Publishing Industry

3:07 Life as an Author & the Overall Big Dream

3:38 From Finance to Creative Pursuit

4:37 The Power of Authorial Validation

5:20 The Value of Creative Courses and Collaboration

6:53 The Scientific Nature of Comedy Writing

7:45 The Unexpected Love Story

9:03 The Appeal of "What Will People Think?"

10:59 Packaging a Romantic Comedy with Depth

12:00 A Palestinian Narrative

12:42 The Elevator Pitch for the Book

14:34 The Evolution of the Story

16:18 Learning from Past Works

19:36 Developing an Instinct for Storytelling

21:34 Empowering Storytellers in the Region

24:49 Commercial vs. Creative Support

26:57 The Organic Creative Scene in Lebanon

28:00 Empowering the Next Generation of Authors

29:19 Literary Crushes

31:24 The Allure of Scripts and Screenwriting

32:51 The Blueprint for Screen Adaptation

34:08 The Surreal Jimmy Fallon Announcement

37:45 Navigating Media Narratives and Empathy

40:07 Joy as a Basic Human Right

40:28 Communicating with Nuance Amidst Infuriation

43:40 Hustle Culture and Sustainable Creativity

47:23 Meditation as a Superpower

48:02 Book Recommendations

Sara Hamdan is a Palestinian journalist and editor raised in Greece and currently living in Dubai. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, she pursued a career in finance and worked as a banker at Merrill Lynch. She eventually transitioned to a career in media after getting a master's degree in journalism at Columbia University. She worked as a business and culture reporter for The New York Times based in Dubai before becoming an editor-in-chief at Google. In her free time, Sara also pursued her love of creative writing and won a Netflix short story award. Encouraged by the win, she completed her debut novel featuring the same central character: a female Arab-American stand-up comedian. Sara now regularly moderates high level conferences and hosts podcasts. 

Connect with Sara Hamdan 👉 https://instagram.com/bysarahamdan

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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The author discussed her multigenerational Palestinian family memoir "The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders," which spans from mandate Palestine to the present day. Sarah Aziza reflects on her relationship with her Palestinian identity, the complexities of being "half" something, and her lifelong journey with the Arabic language. The conversation also touches upon the impact of the ongoing events in Gaza on her work and the ethical choices she made as a writer navigating a prejudiced industry.

This episode was recorded on July 22, 2025

00:00 Introduction

01:34 On Family, Gaza & Personal Pain

04:05 How the Occupation Is Palpable In New York

05:05 The Hollow Half: A Multigenerational Memoir

09:51 The Nakba & Mental Health

13:15 It Is Sane To Go Insane In This World

17:08 Reclaiming Identity: Rejecting The “Half” Narrative

23:23 The Lifelong Journey With Arabic

26:45 Changing the Writing Process After October 7

33:55 Navigating A Capitalist Media System

43:16 Gazan Family Reactions to the Book

49:00 The Temptation of Tokenization

57:25 Reconciling Past & Present Selves

53:19 The Choice Not to Compromise and Long-Term Impact

54:17 Personal Transformation and Honoring Past Selves

56:50 Cosmic Perfectionism and the Exhaustion of Striving 

58:45 The Power and Burden of Love

1:00:38 Where to Find the Book

Sarah Aziza is a Palestinian American writer, translator, and artist with roots in ‘Ibdis and Deir al-Balah, Gaza. She is the author of The Hollow Half, a genre-bending work of memoir, lyricism, and oral history exploring the intertwined legacies of diaspora, colonialism, and the American dream. It is available wherever books are sold. Sarah’s award-winning journalism, poetry, essays, and experimental nonfiction have appeared in major international publications. Previously a Fulbright fellow in Jordan, she is the recipient of numerous Pulitzer Center grants for Crisis Reporting, a 2022 resident at Tin House Writer’s Workshop, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and a 2023 Margins Fellow at the Asian American Writers Workshop. 

Connect with Sarah Aziza 👉 https://instagram.com/sarahazizawrites

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Dartmouth College, Jonathan Smolin, discusses his book "The Politics of Melodrama: The Cultural and Political Lives of Ihsan Abdel Kouddous and Gamal Abdel Nasser," which examines the life and work of Ihsan Abdel Quddous who played an immense role in shaping 20th-century Arab culture as a prolific writer, journalist, and political commentator. Smolin details Quddous' life, including his upbringing, the complex relationship with his mother – who was none other than Rose al Yusuf – and his significant influence in Egyptian and Arab society. The conversation also covers Quddous' involvement in the 1952 coup in Egypt, his views on pan-Arabism, his support for women’s liberation, and his mixed legacy, including the controversies and scandals he navigated.

00:00 Introduction 

00:41 Who Was Ihsan Abdel Quddous? 

00:57 Ihsan Abdel Quddous's Impact on Arab Culture

04:45 Ihsan Abdel Quddous's Family Background

09:29 Literary Tradition and Writing Style

16:56 Political Involvement and Scandals

29:40 Reflections on Naivety and Regret

32:24 His Arrest and Disillusionment

37:48 The March Crisis and Censorship

41:03 Nasser's Unique Brand of Authoritarianism

44:56 Debates on Women's Rights

53:12 Support for Arab Nationalism

56:13 Exploring Themes of Sex and Romance in Fiction

Jonathan Smolin is Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Dartmouth College, where he also serves as Acting Chair of the Middle Eastern Studies Program and is an affiliate of Jewish Studies. Since joining Dartmouth in 2005, his teaching has focused on the politics and popular cultures of the modern Middle East, with a classroom approach grounded in open dialogue and critical engagement across diverse sources and perspectives. His research explores the intersections of politics, literature, and media in the Arab world. He is the author of "Moroccan Noir: Police, Crime, and Politics in Popular Culture" (Indiana University Press, 2013) and "The Politics of Melodrama: The Cultural and Political Lives of Ihsan Abdel Kouddous and Gamal Abdel Nasser" (Stanford University Press, 2024).

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Ehkili, Palestinian writer Selma Dabbagh discusses the influence of her legal background on her storytelling and explores the complexities of her Palestinian identity, particularly in the context of political engagement and activism. The conversation also delves into Dabbagh's novel "Out of It" and her anthology "We Wrote In Symbols: Love and Lust By Arab Women Writers," highlighting the themes of erasure, representation, and self-inquiry through literature. Dabbagh shares her perspectives on the current political climate in the UK, the growing public support for Palestinian rights, and the challenges faced by academics and activists. The episode concludes with a discussion of Dabbagh's forthcoming novel set in 1938 Jerusalem, inspired by the Antonius family.

00:00 Introduction
02:26 The Influence of Law on Writing
05:13 Journey to Becoming a Writer
06:26 Literature as a Route to Self-Inquiry
09:07 Connection to Palestine
12:57 The Story Behind Her Book "Out of It"
20:22 Navigating Representation and Responsibility
25:04 Current Climate in the UK
31:19 Highlighting Palestinian Literature
32:41 Exploring Humor and Personal Narratives
36:28 Introducing "We Wrote In Symbols"
39:50 Historical Context and Women's Voices
46:20 Navigating Repression and Expression
49:23 Upcoming Projects and New Novel
52:29 The Antonius Family and Historical Influence
58:08 Conclusion and Where to Find More

Selma Dabbagh is a British-Palestinian writer and former human rights lawyer based in London. Her acclaimed debut novel "Out of It" and edited anthology "We Wrote In Symbols" highlight contemporary Arab voices. Her work spans fiction, radio, journalism, and academia, with writings featured in Granta, The Guardian, and BBC Radio. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Connect with Selma 👉 https://www.instagram.com/selmadabbagh/

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Ehkili, we speak with Reem Khorshid and Faris Bseiso about their literary project Mudun, published by Kaph Books and supported by the Barjeel Art Foundation. They trace the origins of this anthology of short stories about Arab cities, which began as a pandemic project and grew into a collection featuring narratives both in Arabic and English. Highlighting diverse and often underrepresented urban experiences, the co-editors delve into the themes, selection process, and unique visual elements of the book. They reflect on the significance (and often danger) of nostalgia, the representation of city life, and the balance of stories to capture the essence of various cities across the Arab world. Tune in to hear about the compelling stories, standout illustrations, and the insightful reasons behind their editorial decisions.

00:00 Introduction 
01:25 The Genesis of Mudun
05:36 Short Stories and Their Significance
07:35 Architectural and Urban Heritage
17:05 Nostalgia in Urban Narratives
20:43 Illustrations and Their Impact
26:30 Winners and Their Stories
36:55 Misunderstood Arab Cities
46:56 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Reem Khorshid is an architect and researcher holding a bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering and Technology from Cairo University, Egypt. She previously worked as the lead researcher of ‘Building Sharjah’, a book about modern architecture in Sharjah that documents the emirate’s architecture and urban development. Reem has worked briefly on other research projects in Egypt about Cairo’s modernism and urban Informality. She's been a panelist at the Arab Conference at Harvard. Reem had also spoken at Yale University’s Gulf Architecture Symposium and the 10th Gulf Research Meeting at the University of Cambridge. Her articles have been featured by Egypt’s Mada Masr and the Daily News Egypt.

Connect with Reem 👉 https://www.instagram.com/reemkhorshid/

Faris Bseiso is a Palestinian-Syrian entrepreneur, writer and co-founder and CEO of Cipher Media, a licensing marketplace that supplies music to brands and professional sports teams for social media. In the publishing world, Bseiso most recently was a judge and editor for Mudun, the published anthology that followed the Barjeel Art Foundation's short story competition. As a writer, Bseiso has published bylines with CNN and Bloomberg, and short stories in various regional magazines. Now based in New York, Bseiso is also an ambassador for afikra and a DJ at Arab events in the city.

Connect with Faris 👉 https://www.instagram.com/bseisofaris/

Buy the book from Kaph Books 👉 https://www.kaphbooks.com/books/mudun-short-stories-arab-world/

Read online via Rusted Radishes 👉 https://rustedradishes.com/mudun-short-story-prize/

Explore Barjeel Art Foundation 👉 https://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Ehkili, Sahar Mustafah welcomes author and editor Susan Muaddi Darraj to discuss her recent anthology, "Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing From the Diaspora." The conversation highlights the significance of amplifying Palestinian literary voices, the challenges of publishing during the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank, and the vital role of Palestine Writes. Darraj shares insights on the anthology's diverse range of contributors, the importance of representing multi-faceted Palestinian experiences, and future projects for the press, including an anthology of writings by young people from Gaza.

00:00 Introduction 
01:44 Discussing "Ask the Night for a Dream"
03:24 Palestinian Identity and Media Representation
06:41 The Palestine Writes Literature Festival
09:19 Launching the Palestine Writes Press
11:50 Challenges and Triumphs in Publishing
14:34 Anthology Contributions and Editorial Decisions
25:43 Future Projects and Young Voices from Gaza
35:09 Activism Through Publishing
45:52 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Link to the book 👉 https://palestinewrites.org/product/ask-the-night-for-a-dream-palestinian-writing-from-the-diaspora-2024/

Susan Muaddi Darraj is an award-winning writer of books for adults and children. She won an American Book Award, two Arab-American Book Awards, and a Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artists Award. In 2018, she was named a USA Artists Ford Fellow. Her books include her linked short story collection "A Curious Land," as well as the Farah Rocks children’s book series. She lives in Baltimore, where she teaches creative writing at Harford Community College and the Johns Hopkins University. Her new novel "Behind You Is the Sea," was published in January 2024 by HarperVia. It received praise from The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Ms Magazine, and it was named a Best Book of 2024 by The New Yorker and Apple Books. It was also longlisted for the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award.

Connect with Susan 👉 https://www.instagram.com/susandarraj/

Hosted by Sahar Mustafah 👉 https://www.instagram.com/saharmustafahwriter/

Sahar Mustafah is a Willow Books Grand Prize Winner for "Code of The West," was named one of the 25 Writers to Watch by The Guild Literary Complex of Chicago, and is a member of Voices Protest and Radius of Arab American Writers. Her new novel, "The Beauty of Your Face," was named one of The New York Times' Notable Books of 2020. Mustafah earned her MFA in Fiction from Columbia College where she was a Follett Graduate Scholar. She lives in Chicago and explores her Palestinian heritage in her writing. 

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Ehkili, Mysa Kafil-Hussain speaks with Jassim Al-Assadi and Steve Lonergan, authors of "The Ghosts of Iraq's Marshes: A History of Conflict, Tragedy, and Restoration." They delve into the history, environmental challenges, and cultural significance of the marshlands, as well as the authors' collaboration on their book. They discuss the impact of draining the Iraqi marshes on local communities and the area's ecological importance, shedding light on a significant and often overlooked part of Iraq's history and environment.

00:00 Introduction: Saddam's Invasion and the Marshes
00:44 Meet the Authors
03:50 Understanding Iraq's Marshlands
11:27 Jassim's Childhood in the Marshes
18:18 Steve's Journey to the Marshes
25:54 The Impact of Saddam's Draining of the Marshes
37:49 The Aftermath and Current State of the Marshes
41:39 Displacement and Cultural Loss
50:49 Resources for Further Learning

Steve Lonergan is professor emeritus in the Department of Geography, at the University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada, and former director of the Science Division at the United Nations Environment Programme. From 2006 to 2010, he led the Canadian-Iraq Marshlands Initiative, funded by the Canadian government. His books include Watershed: The Role of Fresh Water in the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict (with David B. Brooks, 1994).

Jassim Al-Asadi is an Iraqi engineer and environmental activist who was born in the marshes of southern Iraq. He played a pivotal role in the registration of the Marshes as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2016.

More about the book 👉 https://aucpress.com/9781649033253/

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by Mysa Kafil-Hussain 👉 https://www.instagram.com/my_sa/

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sami Hermez is an anthropologist who teaches at Northwestern University in Qatar. He is the author of "War Is Coming: Between Past and Future Violence in Lebanon" published in 2017. His work in and out of the classroom reflects a strong commitment to freedom, justice, and equality, as his own family's history of migration spans the Levant, with roots in Al-Qosh, Aleppo, Beirut, and Jerusalem.

Connect with Sami 👉https://x.com/HermezSami

Sireen Sawalha is a high-school teacher of Global Studies and United States History. She has previously worked as a delegate advisor to the Jordan Mission to the UN.

Connect with Sireen 👉https://x.com/SireenSawalha

"My Brother, My Land" is a "riveting and unapologetic account of Palestinian resistance, the story of one family's care for their land, and a reflection on love and heartache while living under military occupation." It follows Sireen Sawalha's family over the decades following 1967. Through their lives, Hermes confronts readers with the complexities of life under occupation.

Learn more about the book 👉https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=33465

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Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

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THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode was recorded on March 27th, 2024.

Zahra Hankir is a Lebanese-British journalist, editor and author. She was awarded a Jack R. Howard Fellowship to attend the Columbia Journalism School and holds degrees in politics and Middle Eastern studies. Her first book "Our Women on the Ground" was a bestseller and won the Susan Koppelman award for best anthology in feminist studies. This second book "Eyeliner: A Cultural History" was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ pick and had starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal.

Connect with Zahra 👉 https://www.instagram.com/zahrahankir/?hl=en

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

FOLLOW & RATE THE EHKILI PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-book-club/id1646400790
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4khpLDZ77PINLupT7xEIv7
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044638525

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.