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 »
The Palestinian flutist Dalia Moukarker
A young Palestinian flutist, who grew up without any classical training, has won a place at a prestigious German music school thanks to her own perseverance, and teachers and friends who believed in her talent. Kate Hairsine reports More »
The Writer Alaa al-Aswani
"We will topple Mursi, just as we toppled Mubarak": A few years ago Alaa al-Aswani wrote what is arguably the most successful novel ever to be written in Arabic, now he is fighting for democracy in his homeland. By Tim Neshitov More »
The Trio Olivinn
The trio Olivinn blends Turkish folk songs with German art songs and jazz elements, creating a universal music language in which listeners from different backgrounds discover elements that are familiar to them. Ceyda Nurtsch met the group and set out on a musical journey through different cultures and history More »
Interview with Filmmaker Lina al-Abed
Lina al-Abed is a journalist and filmmaker who left her home in Damascus, Syria, to start a career in Beirut, Lebanon. In this interview with Irmgard Berner, she talks about women in the Arab film business and how the Syrian revolution has already in some ways liberated Syrians More »
Iranian Singer-Songwriter Mohsen Namjoo
Mohsen Namjoo's visionary musical style has struck a chord with audiences both in Iran and beyond. Not only does the music break with tradition, it also reconciles Iran's young generation with the nation's classical musical heritage. By Marian Brehmer More »
Interview with Daniel Barenboim
Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim has founded an academy in Berlin for musicians from the Middle East, an effort at easing decades of conflict. Peter Zimmermann talked to him about the background and his hopes for the project More »
Etgar Keret's ''Suddenly, A Knock on the Door''
Etgar Keret has always refused to politicize his work, a fact illustrated by his dialogue collaboration with the Palestinian Samir el-Youssef on a book entitled "Gaza Blues". Volker Kaminski reviews Keret's new book of short stories, "Suddenly, A Knock on the Door" More »
