DJ amen RA welcomes the talented Syrian-American rapper, poet and longtime friend of afikra, Omar Offendum, to the Quoz Arts Fest stage. Host Tanya Khoury asks Offendum to delve into topics ranging from the impact of war on art and identity, and the significance of maintaining cultural heritage through creative expression, to the evolving landscape of Arabic hip hop. Offendum shares insights on his music projects like "Little Syria," reflects on the timeless relevance of his lyrics, and discusses his aspirations for Syria's future. This conversation also highlights the importance of intergenerational connections, the role of language in shaping identities, and the vitality of cultural resilience.
This special episode of Quartertones was recorded on the Quoz Arts Fest stage at alserkal in Dubai in January, and is one in five episodes which will be published on this podcast or The afikra Podcast. Make sure to check them out!
00:00 Introduction
02:09 A Journey Through Music and Life & The Weight of War and Guilt
03:28 Little Syria: A Theatrical and Musical Experience
05:08 Reflections on Syrian Americana and Timeless Lyrics
09:44 The Importance of Arabic in Music and Family
14:26 Inspiration from Global Hip Hop Artists
19:14 The Hope for Syria and the Power of Art
24:22 Audience Interaction
27:30 Closing Remarks and Personal Reflections
Omar Offendum is a trailblazing Syrian-American rapper and poet based in Los Angeles, known for his seamless blend of hip-hop and Arabic poetry. As an architecture graduate, Offendum has uniquely navigated his path, merging art with activism and engaging diverse global audiences. Offendum's contributions extend beyond music: he's a vocal advocate for humanitarian causes, raising millions for relief efforts, and has collaborated with esteemed academic institutions, museums, and cultural organizations worldwide.
Connect with Omar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/offendum/
Quoz Arts Fest is a neighborhood festival by alserkal, where the freshest contemporary culture and creativity collide in one community event that welcomes young, old, families and pets. It features live performances, exhibitions, food trucks, pop-up shops plus a line-up of hands-on workshops, talks, and film screenings that aim to inspire. Artists transform the alserkal avenue's galleries and public spaces with immersive installations, and you get a close-up on them as well as rising musicians and DJs making waves through conversations on stage.
Follow alserkal 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alserkalavenue
Explore Quoz Arts Fest 👉 https://quozartsfest.alserkal.online/
Hosted by: Tanya Khoury 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DEsC6EIxxgh/?img_index=1
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» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
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