The afikra podcast is back with a new season hosted by Mikey Muhanna. We kick off with an episode in partnership with Fujifilm and Gulf Photo Plus with Iranian academic, philosophical author, and artist Nadia Maftouni, who delves into the groundbreaking contributions of Ibn al-Haytham to modern science. Known as the father of modern optics, Ibn al-Haytham's ... Show More
Yesterday
Architecture & Identity in the Gulf | Sumaya Dabbagh, Award Winning Architect
Shaping space goes far beyond physical structures, it deeply impacts people's lives and connects to the human spirit. Renowned, award-winning Saudi architect Sumaya Dabbagh shares her journey navigating the evolving architectural landscape of the Gulf, shifting away from commerci ... Show More
48m 31s
Oct 12
Marie al-Khazen: Pioneer Lebanese Photographer, 1899 to 1983 | Art Historian, Dr. Yasmine Nachabe Taan
A collection of black-and-white photographs from 1920s mandate Lebanon completely flips traditional regional history on its head. Dr. Yasmine Nachabe Taan takes us on a fascinating journey behind her PhD research into the life and legacy of Marie al-Khazen, a pioneer Lebanese pho ... Show More
1 h
Oct 5
Human Rights & Accountability in the Arab World: 15 Years After the Uprisings | Mai El-Sadany, TIMEP Executive Director
Reimagining the future of policy and human rights across the Middle East and North Africa requires moving past broken international systems and broadening our collective imagination. Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), Mai El-Sadany, explore ... Show More
57m 11s
Mar 2023
Introducing Season 2 of Khatt Chronicles: Stories on Design From the Arab World
This episode is the official launch of Season 2 of the Khatt Chronicles podcast. In this episode Afikra host, Mikey Mhanna, introduces the Khatt Chronicles hosts, Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès (Founding director of the Khatt Foundation), Yasmine Nachabe Taan (professor at the Lebane ... Show More
58m 6s
May 2025
“Reclaim our narrative,” Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani on her work to document modern Egyptian artists
On this week’s bonus episode, Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani tells me about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She’s contributed a chapter in Daughters of the Nile, authored Modern Art in Egypt, and is now working on a third book.Chapters 0:00 Introd ... Show More
7m 45s
Nov 2021
FWD: "On Photography in Lebanon - Kaph Books"
In this afikra FWD, Tanya Sukkari talked about "On Photography in Lebanon" from Kaph Books. On Photography in Lebanon is a book in which forty contributors share their perspectives on photography in Lebanon, evoking its equally numerous forms of existence. Examining techniques, p ... Show More
9m 51s
Jul 2019
Khatt Chronicles in Conversation With Hatem Imam
Khatt interviews Hatem Imam from Studio Safar talking about design as a tool for cultural production and effecting change. A talk about alternative publishing, breaking rules, Arab comics, translation, experimental music, and the importance of this to the Arab design community.** ... Show More
49m 40s
Nov 2021
FWD: “Microcosming the Nahdah: Mayy Ziyadah’s Salon as a Hybrid Space” [Community Presentation]
In this afikra FWD, May Khalil forward the Journal of Arabic Literature article “Microcosming the Nahdah: Mayy Ziyadah’s Salon as a Hybrid Space” that discusses the intellectual circles, also known as “Salon” of Lebanese-Palestinian poet, essayist, and translator: Mayy Ziyadah.
N ... Show More
14m 15s