Award-winning sculptor and artist Najla El Zein is most recently known for her work on a public commission by Qatar Museums for Doha's cultural district — a work titled "Us, her, him". She joins us to talk about her creative process, the evolution of her work, and the profound impact of personal experiences on her art. Based between Beirut and Amsterdam, Najla's work explores the relationship between space, object, and the human body, often challenging conventional perceptions of sculpture. She delves into the emotional depth behind her most significant projects, including her iconic spoons sculpture, the "Distortion" series, as well as her monumental public commission in Qatar, reflecting on themes of motherhood, female identity, and collective creation amidst challenging times.

0:00 Introduction

1:21 The Artist's Studio and Creative Process

2:46 From Childhood Curiosity to Sculptural Expression

5:36 Embracing the Unromantic Side of Sculpture

7:45 The Spoons Sculptures: A Defining Project

8:42 Moving to Beirut and Accessing Craftsmanship

10:18 Process and Meaning Behind the Spoons Sculture

11:39 Capturing Movement and Life in Static Forms

12:57 The Significance of Process and Durability

14:10 "Distortion" Series: Motherhood and Identity

18:50 "Fragmented Pillar": Fragility and Strength

21:28 "Seduction" Series: The Journey of Connection

23:17 A Deepening Relationship With Stone

25:06 "Group of Five": Dynamics and Discovery

27:49 The Qatar Museums Project: A Public Commission Amidst Crisis

30:58 The Vision for Qatar's Cultural District

34:12 Craftsmanship and the Human Element in Public Art

37:16 The Collaborative Process: From Lebanon to Qatar

40:34 Influences: Saloua Raouda Choucair, Noguchi, and Hockney

Najla El Zein's work embodies an intuitive approach to art and design, where narrative, craft, and materiality are central to her creative process. Each piece offers a personal yet universal language that evokes curiosity and emotion. Born in Beirut in 1983, she is a Lebanese-French artist and designer based in Amsterdam. She graduated from the École Camondo in Paris with a degree in Product Design and Interior Architecture, Spatial Design. In 2024, she received the Dia Al-Azzawi Prize for Public Art for her monumental installation "Us, Her, Him" in Doha, Qatar. In 2025, she was honored as one of the AD100 most important influential figures in art and design. Her works are part of prestigious collections, including Dallas Museum of Art, Saint Louis Art Museum, Qatar Museums, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Connect with Najla El Zein 👉 

https://instagram.com/najlaelzein

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

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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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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We delve into the UAE National Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale, titled "Pressure Cooker" with curator Azza Aboualam. An assistant professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University Dubai and co-founder of Holesum Studio, Aboualam explains how architecture can be a cornerstone for achieving food security, particularly in challenging climates like UAE's and the broader Gulf region. Inspired by a simple question from her mother about the origin of blueberries in the UAE, Aboualam's work explored the intersection of architectural design and food production, focusing on innovative greenhouse typologies. The "Pressure Cooker" exhibition showcases how traditional and high-tech architectural elements can be reconfigured to prolong growing seasons and expand food production within the UAE. We unpack the complexities of food security as a national priority, the economic and environmental costs of imported food, and the surprising prevalence of individual-led greenhouse projects in the UAE. We also touch upon the fascinating historical context of food in the UAE, the impact of population growth on food systems, and a unique architectural cookbook attached to the project, which frames the conversation around food and built environments.

0:00:00 The UAE's Vision For Food Security

0:02:40 "Pressure Cooker": Architecture and Food Flow

0:03:33 The Blueberry Revelation: Origin of the Idea

0:04:38 Why Food Security Is an Architectural Problem in the UAE

0:05:48 The Urgency of Food Security In The UAE

0:07:08 Global Warming and Food Production Challenges

0:08:08 Inside The "Pressure Cooker" UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2025

0:10:41 A Call to Action and Moment of Reflection

0:11:55 The True Cost of Food

0:12:21 Greenhouses: a Common Practice in the UAE

0:14:16 The "Kit-of-Parts" Innovation

0:14:42 The Adaptable Greenhouse System

0:16:07 Food Production in Apartment Living

0:16:44 Sparking Broader Conversations

0:17:30 Individual vs. Urban Scale Food Production

0:19:08 Who Is Doing Food Security Well?

0:20:32 Food Infrastructure in the UAE

0:21:56 Regional Knowledge Sharing

0:23:02 Local Food Production and Sufficiency

0:23:53 Oil Revenue's Impact on Food Security

0:25:01 Pressure Cooker Recipes: An Architectural Cookbook

0:26:44 Engaging With Local Farmers

0:28:18 Pathway to Food Independence

0:29:03 Defining Food Independence

0:30:54 Supermarkets: a Changing Landscape

0:32:08 Historical Food Production in the UAE

0:33:11 Migration and Food Systems

0:35:00 Resources for Learning About Food Security

0:36:51 The Problem of Food Waste

0:39:17 Packaging Waste in the F&B Industry

Upcoming event 👉 https://publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu/en/the-institute/events/2025/october/pressure-cooker-curated-by-azza-aboualam.html

Azza Aboualam is an Emirati architect and curator of the National Pavilion UAE for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2025. She is an Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai and a co-founder and Director of Research at Holesum Studio, an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based between New York, USA, and Sharjah, UAE. She co-founded the studio in 2021 a few years after graduating from the Yale School of Architecture. She worked with the UAE Ministry of Culture’s Architecture Initiative, and her field research, sketches, and writing were published in the book "In Search of Spaces of Coexistence: An Architect’s Journey" (2019), edited by Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi and Adina Hempel. While working in Sharjah’s Department of Public Works, Aboualam managed the design and construction of large-scale projects such as the Aga Khan Award–winning Wasit Wetland Center.

Connect with Azza Aboualam 👉 https://instagram.com/azza.aboualam

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

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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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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We visit Maktabi's flagship store in Beirut to unravel the rich history and intricate artistry of carpets. A third-generation carpet dealer from the renowned family behind Iwan Maktabi, Mohamed Maktabi delves into everything from the first carpet every discovered, the ancient origins of carpet weaving and the unique characteristics of tribal versus city carpets, to the esteemed legacy of Persian rugs and the evolving nature of the carpet dealing business. Maktabi shares personal family anecdotes, discusses the cultural significance embedded in some woven masterpieces, and offers insights into caring for these cherished objects. Whether you're a long-time admirer or new to the world of carpets, this conversation offers a deep appreciation for an art form that has captivated humanity for millennia. Maktabi also gives us his carpet wishlist from around the world.

0:00 Introduction

0:22 The Oldest Carpet and Persian Heritage

0:46 Tribal vs. City Carpets: Craft and Purpose

0:50 The Evolution of Carpet Dealing: From Bazaar to Flagship

1:08 Mohamed Maktabi's Role and Family Legacy

3:31 The Craft of Hand-Knotted Carpets

4:57 Tribal Weaving: A Woman's Art

9:01 The Unparalleled Quality of Persian Carpets

15:15 The Rise of Carpets in Every Household

17:40 The Golden Age of Classical Carpets

19:24 The Shifting Landscape of Carpet Dealing

20:30 Contemporary Creations and Embedded Stories

21:20 Mass-Produced vs. Hand-Knotted Carpets

24:26 A Tour of Curated Antique Pieces

25:06 Shahabs Suzani: A Needlework Diary from Central Asia

28:32 The Paisley Design in Khorasan Carpets

29:55 Isfahan Quran Cover Design: A Family Heirloom

33:37 The Enduring Value and Care of Carpets

35:11 Japan's Appreciation for Persian Carpets

35:48 The Future of Classical Carpet Making

36:38 Mohamed's Dream Carpet Collection

38:32 The Legendary Ardabil Carpet

40:33 Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance

Mohamed Maktabi is a third-generation carpet dealer and a scion (and now CEO) of the Iwan Maktabi family, an institution in the carpet business established in Beirut in 1926. His grandfather immigrated from Isfahan to Beirut, with his father, Abbas Maktabi, continuing the family tradition. Mohamed, alongside two of his five sisters, joined the family business, which his father initially envisioned as a small gallery for esoteric textiles and unique tribal pieces. Mohamed is known for his deep knowledge of carpet history, from ancient origins to contemporary creations, and his appreciation for the cultural and artistic significance embedded in each piece. He maintains a focus on both traditional and modern designs, ensuring the legacy of hand-knotted carpets endures.

Connect with Mohamed Maktabi 👉 https://instagram.com/mo_maktabi

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

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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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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Amir Moosavi discusses the profound impact of the Iran-Iraq War – the longest two-state war of the 20th century – on the literature of both nations. Through his book "Dust That Never Settles: Literary Afterlives of the Iran-Iraq War," he explores in this conversation the official state-sanctioned narratives that emerged during and after the war, comparing them with the more nuanced, critical, and often experimental literary responses from writers in Iraq and Iran, including those in the diaspora. The conversation also highlights how these diverse literary works grapple with the war's legacy, from its human and environmental costs to its enduring presence in collective memory.

0:00 The Enduring Legacy of the Iran-Iraq War

1:03 Introducing Amir Moosavi's Book

3:39 A Historical Primer on the Iran-Iraq War

7:16 Shifting Narratives: Qadisiyyat Saddam and Operation Karbala

11:49 Bridging Arabic and Persian Literary Worlds

15:51 Understanding State Literature and Propaganda

20:11 Examples of State Literature and Narrative Shifts

29:36 Post-War Writers: Challenging Official Narratives

35:26 Warfront Depictions and the Quest for Truth

38:31 Artistic Communities and Collective Memory

40:41 The Meaning Behind "Dust That Never Settles"

43:18 Ecological Damage in War Literature

48:22 Misconceptions and Nuances in War Literature

50:39 Diaspora Authors and Freedom of Expression

Amir Moosavi is an assistant Professor in the Department of English at Rutgers University- Newark. He started teaching at Rutgers-Newark in the fall of 2018, following a year-long EUME postdoc funded by the Volkswagenstiftung and Mellon Foundation in Berlin (2016-17) and a visiting assistant professorship in modern Iranian studies at Brown University (2017-18). His research and teaching interests cover modern Arabic and Persian literatures and the cultural history of the Middle East, with an emphasis on Iran, Iraq, and the Levant. At RU-N, he teaches courses on Arabic and Persian fiction and film, world literature, translation studies, and war culture. He is particularly interested in how cultural production deals with violent pasts, wars, notions of transitional justice, representations of urban space, and the climate crisis. He has written a book manuscript titled "Dust That Never Settles: Literary Afterlives of the Iran-Iraq War."

Connect with Amir Moosavi 👉 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-moosavi-1b348224

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
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» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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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We challenge contemporary perceptions of Yemen as a "backwater" by revealing the pivotal role of its port city, Mocha, in the making of our modern world. Historian Nancy Um delves into the fascinating history of coffee, from its origins in 15th-century Yemen to its global spread and the economic transformations it spurred. She explores the rich maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Yemen's centrality as a crossroads for goods, ideas, and people long before European influence. Um discusses the Ottoman Empire's cultivation of coffee in Yemen, the rise and decline of Mocha as a trade hub, and the unique cultural adaptations of coffee consumption within Yemen itself, such as the popular Qishr drink. We also touch upon the broader impact of hot beverages and porcelain on global social and consumption patterns, revealing how these everyday items were once revolutionary technologies. Um shares insights into the ongoing efforts to revive Yemen's coffee industry and offers recommendations for further reading on Yemen's vibrant history.

0:00 Mocha: A Bustling 17th-18th Century Trade Center

0:50 Yemen's Monopoly on Coffee

2:46 Nancy Um's Interest in Maritime Trade and Yemen

3:40 Yemen's Historical Significance Beyond Recent Decades

5:51 What Made Mocha a Prime Trade Hub?

7:58 Mocha's Rival: Aden

8:11 The History of Coffee as a Drink

10:01 Debunking Coffee Origin Myths: The Story of Kaldi and the Goats

12:20 Coffee as a Hot Brewed Beverage from Yemen

12:32 The Evolution of Coffee as a Commodity and Social Habit

13:21 Early Suspicion and Prohibitions Against Coffee

14:41 The Global Journey of the Coffee Plant

15:57 The Dutch and Coffee Cultivation in Java

17:22 Yemen's Shifting Coffee Fortunes

18:14 The Ottomans and Yemen's Coffee Cultivation

19:06 Ottoman Control of the Red Sea Trade

20:37 Diversification of Trade Beyond Coffee

21:37 European Influence on Mocha's Popularity

22:21 Qishr: Yemen's Unique Coffee Husk Drink (aka Cascara)

24:19 Efforts to Rebuild Yemen's Coffee Industry

26:01 The Red Sea Trade Route's Enduring Importance

29:02 The Indian Ocean: A Space of Exchange and Imagination

30:51 Reconsidering Land-Based vs. Water-Based Cultural Identities

33:20 Nationalizing Watery Metaphors and Icons

35:10 Historical Naming Conventions and Cultural Continuities

37:39 Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate: Technologies Reshaping Society

40:30 The Coffee House and the Enlightenment

42:07 The Decline of Mocha as an Economic Hub

43:10 Beneficiaries of Mocha's Decline

44:58 Challenge of Contradictory Stories in Historical Narratives

47:20 Disproving Coffee Plant Smuggling Myths

50:27 Misunderstandings About Yemen's History

51:34 Book Recommendations on Yemen

53:56 Access to Local Historical Documents in Yemen

Nancy Um is Associate Director for Research and Knowledge Creation at the Getty Research Institute. Her research program explores art, architecture, and material culture around the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula, with a focus on trade and cross-cultural exchange in the early modern era. She is also the author of "The Merchant Houses of Mocha: Trade and Architecture in an Indian Ocean Port," and "Shipped but Not Sold: Material Culture and the Social Protocols of Trade during Yemen’s Age of Coffee."

Connect with Nancy Um 👉 

https://twitter.com/NancyUm1

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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 of "Edward Said: The Politics of an Oppositional Intellectual," professor Nubar Hovsepian joins us to delve into the nuanced legacy of Edward Said, exploring common misunderstandings of his work, the reception of "Orientalism" within academia, and Said's vision of the "oppositional intellectual." The discussion also covers the evolving discourse around Zionism and Palestine, the challenges faced by the Palestinian liberation movement, and the critical need for new forms of struggle and organization. This conversation offers a candid look at the intellectual journey of Edward Said and its enduring relevance in contemporary Arab and global contexts.

0:00 Edward Said: The Oppositional Intellectual

0:20 Orientalism as a System of Domination

1:07 Misunderstandings of Edward Said's Work

3:18 The Reception of "Orientalism" in Academia

11:00 Columbia University and Ideas About Israel and Zionism

14:00 The Evolving Discourse on Zionism

18:24 Defining the Oppositional Intellectual

20:59 Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will

22:50 The Palestinian Liberation Movement: Peaks and Valleys

30:47 The Democratic Secular State and Its Opponents

34:09 Shifting Perceptions of Palestine Among Youth

37:00 Advice for Young Activists and Intellectuals

38:57 Mistakes of the Palestinian Movement

44:30 The Concept of Citizenship Versus Subjecthood

47:00 Edward Said's Relationship with America and the Arab World

50:27 Recommended Readings by Edward Said

Nubar Hovsepian is associate professor emeritus of political science at Chapman University in Orange, CA. He is the author of "Edward Said: The Politics of an Oppositional Intellectual," "Palestinian State Formation: The Construction of National Identity," and editor of "The War on Lebanon." Hovsepian served from 1982 to 1984 as political affairs officer for the United Nations conference on the Question of Palestine.

Connect with Nubar Hovsepian 👉 https://instagram.com/nubar.hovsepian

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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 of "Sustainable Qatar: Social, Political and Environmental Perspectives" delves into the multifaceted meaning of sustainability, especially within the context of the Arabian Peninsula. Our guest unpacks the region's unique environmental challenges, including sea level rise, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss, and explores the innovative strategies being implemented to build a more resilient future. An Associate Professor at the College of Public Policy at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Logan Cochrane, also critically examines the concept of "greenwashing," the complexities of global sustainability metrics, and the challenges of policy making. 

0:00:00 The Nuance of Sustainability

0:03:05 Environmental Challenges in the GCC

0:06:08 Time Scale of Environmental Issues

0:09:42 Food Security in the Arabian Peninsula

0:17:40 Water Sources and Challenges in Qatar

0:20:25 Future Challenges and Adaptation in Arid Environments

0:22:53 Skepticism Towards Energy Transitions

0:24:50 Defining Greenwashing

0:31:11 The Politics of Sustainability Metrics

0:38:10 Global Leaders in Sustainability

0:41:09 The Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles

0:48:10 The "Game of Telephone" in Policy Making

0:51:30 Non-Governmental Efforts in Sustainability

Logan Cochrane is an Associate Professor at the College of Public Policy at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU). His research includes diverse geographic and disciplinary foci, covering broad thematic areas of food security, climate change, social justice and governance. For the last 15 years, he has worked in non-governmental organizations internationally, including in Afghanistan, Benin, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Logan has served as a director for two non-governmental organizations, and worked as a consultant with clients such as Global Affairs Canada, International Development Research Centre, Save the Children, Management Sciences for Health, the Liaison Office, UNICEF and UNAIDS. 

Connect with Logan Cochrane 👉 https://qa.linkedin.com/in/logancochrane

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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.

A captivating episode with Yemeni-Egyptian artist Yumna Al-Arashi who discusses her upbringing in Washington D.C., the impact of the 2017 executive order (often referred to as the "Muslim ban") on her family, and how her art explores themes of identity, feminism, sexuality, healing, and human rights, frequently challenging the misrepresentation of Muslim women in Western media. Al-Arashi delves into her projects, including her first solo exhibition in Switzerland "Tears For The Future," her film "99 Names of God," and her powerful book "Aisha," which examines facial tattooing traditions from South Arabia to North Africa and the Sahara. She also shares her thoughts on self-portraits, the discomfort her work can evoke, and the importance of authorship and challenging orientalist desires in art.

0:00 Growing Up Egyptian-Yemeni in Washington D.C.

0:09 The 2017 Executive Order and Its Impact

0:49 The Salt Project: Healing and the Vulnerability of Movement

7:13 Childhood George Bush’s America

10:04 Growing up in Washington D.C.

12:05 Balancing Complexity and Tropes in “99 Names of God”

19:09 The Evolution of Resistance in Art

21:29 Filming “99 Names of God” in Oman and References to Yemen

22:50 Introducing the Book “Aisha”

23:55 the Connection Between Al-Arashi’s Projects

24:50 Reclaiming Narratives and Challenging Colonial History

28:20 The Importance of Authorship

32:23 The History and Meaning of Facial Tattoos

36:58 The Awkwardness and Power of Self-Portraits

Yumna Al-Arashi is a Yemeni-Egyptian artist, photographer, filmmaker, and writer born and raised in Washington, D.C. She studied International Politics with a focus on the Middle East at The New School. Her work, which is often self-taught in photography, explores themes of identity, feminism, sexuality, and human rights, frequently challenging the misrepresentation of Muslim women in Western media. Her notable works include the award-winning short film "The 99 Names of God" (2018) and the monograph "Aisha," which documents the ancient art of women's facial tattooing in North Africa and West Asia. Her photography has been featured in publications and exhibitions worldwide, and she has received support from organizations such as the International Women's Media Foundation and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture. She has lived and worked in various locations, including New York, Los Angeles, London, and Zürich.

Connect with Yumna Al-Arashi 👉 https://instagram.com/yumnaaa

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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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We challenge the conventional perceptions of home and identity in a diasporic context and delve into South Asian art. An art collector, entrepreneur, and the founder and chairperson of the Ishara Art Foundation, Smita Prabhakar shares personal anecdotes, including her move to Dubai 45 years ago and the evolution of her understanding of community and belonging. The discussion highlights the importance of contributing to the place one calls home, regardless of origin or citizenship, and breaks down geographical and cultural silos in the art world. Smita touches upon the challenges and future aspirations for Ishara, emphasizing its role in fostering cultural understanding and appreciation through art in the Arab Gulf region and beyond.

0:00 Introduction to the Ishara Art Foundation

2:58 The Importance of Humility and Valuing People

6:30 The UAE as Home and Giving Back to the Community

10:20 Ishara: Bridging South Asia and the Gulf

15:21 The Ambition of Ishara: South Asian Art on the World Map

25:39 The Imperative of Investing in "Two Homes"

32:28 Understanding "Histories and Cultures of the Arab World"

41:37 Lines of Flight: Shilpa Gupta's Exhibition

45:41 Challenges for Ishara in the Next 10 Years

51:04 Books and Novels on South Asian Art and History

52:31 Misunderstanding vs Lack of Communication in the Arab World

56:49 Final Reflections

Smita Prabhakar is an entrepreneur, collector and art patron who has been based in the UAE for over four decades. She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Ishara Art Foundation. Smita is also a member of the International Acquisitions Committee at Tate Modern (London), the Middle Eastern Circle of the Guggenheim Museum (New York) and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Venice). Smita’s collection, The Ishara Art Foundation and The Prabhakar Collection, focuses on South Asian contemporary artworks that reflect diverse voices and shared histories from across the region. She has supported the V.S. Gaitonde exhibition, 'Painting as Process, Painting as Life' in New York and Venice in 2015-6, a workshop around Shilpa Gupta’s artwork, 'For, In Your Tongue, I Cannot Fit,' organised at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018, and the seventh and eight editions of the Colomboscope Festival in 2022 and 2024.

Connect with Smita Prabhakar 👉 

https://instagram.com/isharaartfoundation

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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.

We delve into the need to fill the literary and intellectual gap in Moroccan scholarship, the impacts of notable contemporary Moroccan philosophers and thinkers, and how their ideas engage with local, regional, and global issues like modernity, democracy, and human rights. Dr Mohammed Hashas is an assistant professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and discusses his new book on contemporary Moroccan thought, which focuses on philosophy, theology, society, and culture. He shares his academic journey and personal experiences that led to the creation of this comprehensive work.

0:00 Introduction 

2:26 A Book That Fills a Scholarly Need

3:11 The Book as a Critical Intellectual Gratitude

4:12 Mohammed First University in Oujda

6:08 From Cultural Studies to Political Theory

7:09 A Focus on the Middle East and North Africa

9:15 Defining Moroccan Thought

12:21 Geography & Time of Contemporary Moroccan Thought

16:06 The Beginning of the Movement

19:02 Thinking From the Edge

24:30 Examples of Thinkers and Their Concerns

28:04 Influential Thinkers: Al-Jabri and the Critique of Arab Reason

30:11 Influential Thinkers: Abdallah Laroui, the Liberal Marxist Historian

32:19 Is There an Arab World?

33:32 Influential Thinkers: Taha Abdurrahman and Islamic Moral Philosophy

37:14 Influential Thinkers: Fatima Mernissi and Islamic Feminism

38:17 Influential Thinkers: Abdelkebir Khatibi and Pluralization

39:31 Influential Thinkers: Mohammed Aziz Lahbabi and Personalism

42:15 Influential Thinkers: Abdessalam Yassine and Non-Violent Change

45:17 Influential Thinkers: AbdelFattah Kilito and Bilingualism

47:11 Dream Dinner With Moroccan Thinkers

48:35 Recommended Reading and Scholars

52:20 Contributions of the Rabat School

Mohammed Hashas [“ḥaṣḥāṣ” حصحاص] is a scholar of Islam, contemporary Islamic and Moroccan thought, and Islam in Europe. He holds a PhD from Luiss University of Rome, where he teaches, and is the author of "The Idea of European Islam" (Routledge, 2019) and "Intercultural Geopoetics" (Cambridge Scholars, 2017). He has edited or co-edited four volumes, including "Pluralism in Islamic Contexts" (Springer, 2021) and "Islamic Ethics and the Trusteeship Paradigm" (Brill, 2020). Currently a Research Fellow affiliated with Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) in Berlin, he has previously held fellowships in Oxford, Copenhagen, Berlin, Tilburg, Palermo, and Virginia. His work focuses on contemporary Arab-Islamic philosophy and theology, European Islam, and Moroccan thought, and he has edited the first comprehensive volume on Contemporary Moroccan Thought.
 

Connect with Mohammed Hashah 👉 

https://it.linkedin.com/in/mohammed-hashas-84674417

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

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

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.