Corruption Sidetracks Projects Intended to Make Baghdad a ‘Capital of Arab Culture’
Projects meant to enrich Baghdad as a capital of Arab culture were left unfinished or never even started, a journalist’s investigation found.
Tunisian Singer Emel Mathlouthi Breaks Away From World Music Stereotypes
In a new album, the Tunisian singer who first gained fame in the early days of the revolution sings in English and touches on environmental themes, not just personal or political ones.
A Form of Yemeni Poetry Thrives in Defiance of War
At a Cairo conference this month, scholars began the process of listing a form of traditional Yemeni poetry on the Unesco register of Intangible Cultural Heritage to help make sure that it endures.
Former Syrian Prisoners Reenact Their Experiences on Stage
In a new play performed in London, actors who were incarcerated in Adra prison convey the terror, boredom, and claustrophobia of their lives, from arrest to release.
Contemporary Arab Writers Offer a Fresh Take on the Historical Novel
Arab authors who have become interested in writing historical fiction often take a distinct perspective on the lives of ordinary people, instead of focusing on wars or politics.
Finding the Words: Arab Writers on Queer and Feminist Expression
At a London literary event, an array of Arab authors discuss the hurdles that cultures, publishers, and even the Arabic language itself can present.
The Story of the 2011 Egyptian Uprising Told in Song and Dance
The musical theater production, “We Live in Cairo,” narrates the events that led to the Tahrir Square protests and the overthrowing of a regime and then, the unraveling of a dream.
New Waves: How Moroccan Artist Mohamed Melehi Shaped an Aesthetic
An intimately scaled retrospective of Moroccan artist Mohammed Melehi in London shows how abstract expressionism in the Middle East was culturally inspired.
A New Museum in Lebanon Raises Questions About Archaeological Looting
Experts acknowledge the “noble intentions” of the privately owned Nabu Museum north of Beirut, but a debate also simmers over items in its collection that came from Iraq.
Palestine Festival for Literature Shifts Its Perspective
The literary festival links Palestine to global struggles for self-determination and control of resources.
