logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
1h 5m

Prof Yasir Suleiman-Malley | Arabic in t...

AFIKRA
About this episode
Professor Yasir Suleiman-Malley speaks about the complexities of Arabic tracing his personal journey with the language, from early struggles with grammar to a deep appreciation for its richness. We explore the historical and pedagogical challenges of teaching Arabic, especially given its sacred status connected to the Quranic text and the socio-cultural resi ... Show More
Up next
Feb 23
Deep History of the Fertile Crescent to the Tigris & Euphrates Under the Ottomans | Faisal Husain
Historian Faisal Husain wrote the book "Rivers of the Sultan: The Tigris and Euphrates in the Ottoman Empire" and in this episode, helps us explore the history of the Tigris and Euphrates. He argued for the necessity of understanding human history within the context of geological ... Show More
1 h
Feb 16
Graphic Design & the Arab Creative Inflection Point | Ruba Abu-Nimah
Award-winning creative director Ruba Abu-Nimah (known to many as @ruba on Instagram) discusses the state of creativity in the Arab world, the importance of young Arab talent embracing their culture, and the challenges of navigating corporate spaces as a Palestinian in the West. S ... Show More
58m 20s
Feb 9
The Science of Teaching: Addressing the Global Education Crisis | ⁠Dr Asyia Kazmi
We delve into the stark realities of learning inequality, the crucial role of the science of teaching, and the transformative power of education, even in the face of conflict. Dr. Asyia Kazmi, CEO of WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education), an organization that is part of th ... Show More
48m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
Ihsan Abdel Quddous's Enduring 20th-Century Legacy | Jonathan Smolin
Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Dartmouth College, Jonathan Smolin, discusses his book "The Politics of Melodrama: The Cultural and Political Lives of Ihsan Abdel Kouddous and Gamal Abdel Nasser," which examines the life and work of Ihsan Abdel Quddous who played an immens ... Show More
56m 27s
Sep 2024
When Did Arabic Start | Ahmad Al-Jallad
<p>Classical Arabic, MSA, and Fusha — all names that the Arabic language goes by. This conversation with Professor Ahmad Al-Jallad takes us through the origins and evolution of the Arabic language. Tracing back to the pre-Islamic and Nabatean Aramaic history through to the modern ... Show More
58m 9s
Dec 2024
Teaching Arabic in a Changing World: Perspectives from Educators
Join us for a special episode of QFI’s podcast All Things Arabic podcast in celebration of World Arabic Language Day, premiering December 18, 2024! Titled Teaching Arabic in a Changing World: Perspectives from Educators, this episode is hosted by Caroline Sibley, Teaching Assista ... Show More
1h 16m
Aug 2025
Building Sustainable Arabic Language Programs: Insights from Educators
The first episode of Season Two of QFI’s podcast, All Things Arabic, explores what it takes to build and sustain successful Arabic language programs. Hosted by Caroline Sibley, Teaching Assistant Professor of Arabic in North Carolina, this episode features two expert educators: J ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 2025
Accepting Linguistic Variety in Publishing Arabic | Enam Al-Wer and Omar Thawabeh
<p>We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their p ... Show More
1h 28m
Oct 2025
Becoming an Arab Meme | Laure Assaf & Hamad Al-Amari Live in Doha
<p>We bring you the live recording of a panel we moderated at the media majlis museum in Doha this month. We delve into the history of memes in the Arab world with anthropologist Laure Assaf and Qatari comedian Hamad Al-Amari, where they explore their cultural significance, evolu ... Show More
40m 30s
Nov 2025
Lucia Sorbera: A Transnational Journey in Arabic Language and Cultures
Lucia Sorbera is Associate Professor in Arab, Islamic and Middle East Studies at the University of Sydney. She chairs the Discipline of Arabic Language and Cultures and co-leads the Cooperation and Conflict Research Cluster. Her research focuses on colonial and postcolonial histo ... Show More
1h 33m
Nov 2025
Memes in Morocco: Darija, Rap & Digital Activism | ⁠⁠Dr Cristina Moreno Almeida
<p>We explore why certain cultural productions thrive exclusively online, the debate around meme humor versus emotional resonance, and how memes can serve as a form of social critique. Dr. Cristina Moreno Almeida, from Queen Mary University of London, joins us and discusses her r ... Show More
53m 39s
Aug 2025
Resurgent Nahda: The Arab Exhibitions in Mandate Jerusalem | Nadi Abusaada at Dar El-Nimer
We go back to 1931, when Palestinian journalist Issa El-Issa visited Paris's Colonial Exhibition and discovered Palestinian pavilions had been co-opted by British and Zionist organizers. This experience led the journalist to organize an Arab Exhibition in Palestine in 1933. Histo ... Show More
51 m
Sep 2025
The Brush that Carried a Homeland - Sliman Mansour (Arabic Episode)
<p>Few artists have captured the soul of Palestine the way Sliman Mansour has. His paintings featuring olive trees, stone terraces, mud, and the steadfast women of the land have carried Palestine across generations and borders. </p><p>In this conversation, Mansour looks back on h ... Show More
50m 42s