Arab culture
All topics-
Middle East youth culture
Libya rolls out first-ever skatepark
Libya's first-ever skate park opened at the end of May in downtown Tripoli to the delight of local youngsters. Built on a site once used by former dictator Muammar Gaddafi's bodyguards, the free, open-air facilitiy was designed by Australian Wade Trevean and constructed by volunteers from as far afield as the USA
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Egypt
Ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on stage
A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: it looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert, but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them
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France's colonial legacy
Algerians turn away from French
An increasing number of government ministries in Algeria are announcing they will abandon French in future. They may be reacting to the mood among the population, but the move is also deliberate. By Dunja Ramadan
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Lebanon between the wars
The revolutionary art of Beirut's golden 60s
A Berlin exhibition explores the buzzing heyday of Beirut's art scene in the 1960s – and how it was cut short by the darkness of the Lebanese civil war. By Ruairi Casey
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Book fair in Algiers
Habib Tengour and the "Poems of the World"
The Algiers book fair has taken place for the 25th time, following a two-year break owing to the pandemic. Independent Algerian publisher APIC used the occasion to showcase its avant-garde poetry series, initiated by the Algerian poet and ethnologist Habib Tengour. Interview by Regina Keil-Sagawe
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Middle East
Ukraine overshadows Ramadan 2022
Ahead of Ramadan, most Middle Eastern countries have eased restrictions to near pre-pandemic times. However, increases in prices and food shortages due to the war in Ukraine are casting new shadows on the Holy Month. Jennifer Holleis reports
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Preserving the Word of Allah
Libyan artisans restore old Korans for Ramadan
With the arrival of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in war-scarred Libya, a group of volunteers work around the clock to restore old or damaged copies of the Koran. Khaled al-Drebi, one of Libya's best-known restorers of Islam's holy book, is among the artisans who arrive at a Tripoli workshop daily to meet the needs of the influx of customers during Ramadan
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Filming Lebanon’s all-women metal band "Slave to Sirens"
Heavy metal combats the Beirut blues
U.S. filmmaker Rita Baghdadi’s film following an all-female Lebanese metal band is well worth a watch. It’s the story of five fascinating young women embarking on their careers as their country falls apart. By Rene Wildangel
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Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah
Exile, migration and the art of writing
The Tanzanian-born Nobel Prize winner talks to Annabelle Steffes-Halmer about his decision to leave Zanzibar, to write in English – and about the rise of African writers in the post-colonial era
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Cat capital Istanbul
What to do about Turkey's strays?
Turkey is well-known for its stray cats and dogs. They have found a place in society over many years. But recent incidents and decisions indicate they could become new targets in an increasingly polarised country. Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
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Yemen's youth
Fighting to retain a national identity
War has been raging in Yemen since 2015. Now some fear that Yemeni culture is also being hijacked by the warring parties. Whether it's coffee, particular species of bird or dragon trees, Yemenis have a lot to lose. By Dunja Ramadan
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Lebanon
Beirut nightlife grinds to a halt
A pandemic, civil strife and an economic meltdown have conspired to bring Beirut's vibrant club scene to its knees. Yet the city needs parties more than ever. Kate Martyr reports