Heavy Metal Unites Jews and Muslims across the Middle East
Despite the fact that Israel's relations with the Arab and Muslim world have nosedived in recent years, one Israeli heavy metal band has been bringing thousands of Jews and Muslims together. Roi Ben-Yehuda sends us this portrait of a group of unconventional peace-makers More »
The 100th Anniversary of Karl May's Death
Karl May is the most widely read of all German writers. This year, which marks the 100th anniversary of his death, a number of new biographies seek to reconsider Karl May's place in German literary history. Andreas Pflitsch read two of them More »
Sexuality in Contemporary Arab Women's Literature
When Arab women write about sexual encounters, are they recounting their own personal experiences or are their descriptions born of their literary fantasy? And whatever the answer is, should one measure literature using a moral yardstick or should criticism focus on the content of the work alone? Rim Najmi asked a number of female Arab writers to share their thoughts on this matter More »
Arabic-to-English Literary Translation
The landscape of Arabic literary translation seen in the 21st century has changed dramatically. Political events including 9/11 and the Arab Spring are one reason for the increasing interested in translated Arab fiction – as are substantial sponsorship from the Gulf countries. Susannah Tarbush reports More »
Elias Khoury's Novel ''Yalo''
More than twenty years after the end of Lebanon's civil war, the conflicting parties can still not agree on a single narrative of events. With "Yalo", Elias Khoury has written a magnificent novel on the Lebanese struggles for history. By Sonja Hegasy More »
The Multinational Project ''Music for the One God''
Under the direction of the Turkish composter and oud player Mehmet Yeşilçay, the multinational project "Music for the One God" unites the sounds of Islamic, Sephardic-Jewiosh and Christian music. Stefan Franzen reports More »
First Congress of Arab Music in 1932
The first International Congress of Arab Music took place in Cairo 80 years ago. Intended as a means of preserving the Arab musical heritage, it actually led to a regeneration of classical Arab music. By Suleman Taufiq More »
Interview with Nadine Labaki
The film Where Do We Go Now? will open in cinemas across Germany this week. It is set in a remote Lebanese village where Christians and Muslims live peacefully side by side and tells the story of how the women of the village use cunning and imagination to prevent war from breaking out among their menfolk. Mona Naggar met director Nadine Labaki in Beirut More »
The Road Movie ''Father Is Doing Fine''
"Father Is Doing Fine" is a turbulent comedy about the complex relationship between two brothers and the first German movie to be filmed in Jordan. The film's international cast and crew's working language is however English, and this is spoken in many different accents on set. Amira El Ahl watched them at work More »
International Book Fair in Riyadh
Just two years ago, the Riyadh Book Fair was derided for its presentation of harmless publications on cookery and faith. At this year's show, publishers showcased books exploring the challenges posed to the host nation by the Arab Spring. Ulrike Freitag with impressions from the trade event More »
