The Orontes stands out as the sole perennial river in Western Asia, meandering northward from Lebanon through Syria before merging its waters into the Mediterranean Sea. This geographical feature – having long held profound historical significance as a boundary marker since antiquity – has witnessed a series of shifts, embracing and bidding farewell to various attributes that have sculpted its being over time.

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.

Prison literature forms an important part of the Palestinian literary canon, yet it is often overlooked and understudied. This article offers a brief introduction to the genre, its history, and some recommendations for works and authors to read. Photo from the Digital Archive of the Palestinian Museum via Mondoweiss.

This is an Arab Jazz compilation, intended as a growing – and accurate –playlist for the genre. Make sure to save and come back to it when you're in the mood for jazz.

Mohammed Hammad writes about his family home in Nablus — Beit Hammad — sharing its history and its present.

A recap of a panel about Islamic Arts that our founder and executive director, Mikey Muhanna, hosted at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Featuring panelists Fakhera Al Kindi, eL Seed and Suheyla Takesh delving into Islamic arts – traditional and contemporary – and much more.

Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. This week’s features a photo and blurb by Mohamed Osam.

A cultural and archaeological history of Bahrain’s Dilmun Burial Mounds written by Zeina Alkhaja former archives assistant at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities who now works at the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. Image via Dilmun Mounds UNESCO nomination text

What are the most important buildings in Kuwait city’s skyline? Who are the architects that built the urban fabric of this gulf city? A quick guide to some of K

Introducing afikra’s community podcast that showcases community member’s presentations from global chapters around the world. Hear presentations on nerdy topics ranging from an unrequited love for Umm Kulthum to the Yemeni diaspora in Indonesia.

Recommendations for what to Listen, Watch, Read list from Morocco, featuring Bab L’Bluz, Laila Lalami, and Asmae El Moudir.

For classical music lovers and anyone who’s been looking to broaden their musical horizons, get started with what Kareem Roustom’s been listening to lately.

In Oct 2022, Google Doodle featured Haja El Hamdaouia — an icon of Moroccan Chaabi and El Aita music. We wanted to find out more about her life, music and legacy. Image via SRNT News.

For any architecture nerds looking for some weirdly and wonderfully shaped buildings from across the region, here are 5 buildings that have a unique form or structure.

Image via Pinterest.

Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. This week’s features a photo and blurb by Adam Rouhana.

What to read if you want to learn more about architecture and urban planning in the Gulf, as recommended by Roberto Fabbri on the afikra podcast.

We can only scratch the surface of a body of work steeped in dozens of traditions, languages and histories. But if there is one thing that unites music from Iraq, whether it’s a oud masterpiece, a fiery dance or Hp-Hop track and that is the poetry that carves out of Iraqi tongues.

Our new series, Tsawwar, explores places, people and moments in time through the eyes of photographers and their photos. This week’s features a photo and blurb by Dina Al-Makhrami.