Turkish Literature
New translations of Metin Eloglu and Sait Faik remind us of the world-class standing of Turkish short stories and of an Istanbul prior to the original sin of new construction. By Astrid Kaminski More »
The Arab Hip-Hop Sampler ''Khat Thaleth''
The hip-hop sampler Khat Thaleth is a compilation of the work of artists from across the Arab world. Contrary to what one might expect, although they rap about the revolution, they do not necessarily take the side of the rebels. Jannis Hagmann reports More »
Saladin Ahmed's ''Throne of the Crescent Moon''
Saladin Ahmed's fantasy novel "Throne of the Crescent Moon" is inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. In his review, Richard Marcus says the epic adds much needed diversity to the fantasy genre More »
Portrait of the Egyptian TV Satirist Bassem Youssef
The Egyptian TV satirist Bassem Youssef has cult status in his country thanks to his wit and biting criticism. Nothing is sacred for him, and so his enemies are always trying to drag him before the courts. By Joseph Croitoru More »
The Franco-Algerian artist Dalila Dalléas Bouzar
In her project "Algeria, Year Zero – the pieced together past of the future", Berlin-based Franco-Algerian artist Dalila Dalléas Bouzar focused on the collective traumas experienced by Algerian society. Martina Sabra spoke with the artist in Berlin More »
Turkish Television Series: Muhteşem Yüzyil
Millions of viewers in Turkey are hooked on a television series about the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. Prime Minister Erdogan, on the other hand, wants the series taken off air. Jürgen Gottschlich reports from Istanbul More »
Qalandiya International – the first Palestinian Biennale
In today's Palestine, art does not reflect politics – art is politics. That, at least, is the conviction of Qalandiya International – the first Palestinian Biennale. Alia Rayyan shares her impressions from this unusual art event More »
Interview with Iraqi author Hadiya Hussein
Iraqi author Hadiya Hussein has been away from Iraq for more than a dozen years, yet her fiction is still filled with its concerns. Her 2004 novel "Beyond Love", recently published in English translation, is full of exile, separation, and love. Hussein talked with M. Lynx Qualey about home, memory, and how living outside the country affects her writing More »
Interview with the Algerian Singer Houria Aïchi
Houria Aïchi comes from a family of Berbers. They are known as Chaouia and live on the Aurès plateau in North-Eastern Algeria. She is now a renowned singer and lives in Paris. Suleman Taufiq spoke to her More »
Post-Migrant Literature in Germany
The writers duo Marianne Salzmann and Deniz Utlu are pioneers of Germany's post-migrant literary scene. In this interview with Astrid Kaminski, they talk about 'transcultural perspectives', the meaning of subculture and anti-Semitism in Germany More »
