KPFA - Arabiyaat

We’ve all heard the story’s of refugees fleeing war and violence from their home countries into the West … but what happens to those who survive the dangerous journey away from home? The stories and experiences are as diverse the people seeking refuge themselves. Some are settled fairly quickly especially when they have family or friends in their host countries. But many end up in refugee camps for much longer that expected. While there, small, unique society’s form which those of us who don’t live in refugee camps will ever experience or even hear about. With me today are two guests who have taken time out of their busy lives to join me in studio. I have with me Tawfic Halaby and Betsy Blakeslee. They both recently returned from trips from what is known as “the jungle” a refugee camp located in Calais, France where they implemented a music program for the refugees in the camp. Guests: Betsy Blakeslee, organized the Expressive Arts Refuge program which she brought to Calis jungle in France. She was there this past July and August. Tawfic Halaby, Palestinian-American musician who recently traveled to Calais refugee camp in France with the Expressive Arts Refuge. He was there for the last week of July. Resources: Expressive Arts Refuge Blog World Harmony Chorus       The post The “Jungle” — insights and stories from Calais refugee camp appeared first on KPFA.

Did you know that in many states, Arab numbers are equal to or greater than Jewish numbers — but for a variety of reasons, Arabs have never defeated a candidate with their clout. Why? In this episode, Arab American Institute president, Dr. James Zogby explains. He gets real about what it takes to achieve power in this country and he would know … For decades, he’s been working tirelessly in Washington to influence power in a pretty hostile climate. Don’t miss it! The post Dr. James Zogby on Arabs in Politics appeared first on KPFA.

Associate law professor and Al Jazeera columnist Khaled Beydoun joins us from Detroit, Michigan to go deeper on Islamophobia. We discuss corporate vs independent media, Muslim voting patterns in the 2016 presidential election, and government surveillance of black and brown bodies. Read Khaled’s articles here Follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @KhaledBeydoun Email [email protected] to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments. Thanks to Sasha Totah and Claire Breen for their assistant producing this episode! The post What Does Islamophobia Really Mean? With Khaled Beydoun appeared first on KPFA.

When the Food Network told her that America wasn’t ready for Middle Eastern food, Blanche’s Feast in the Middle East took matters into her own hands. Find out how in our newest episode! Journalist, host, and cook Blanche Shaheen joins us in the studio to talk to us about her cooking show, Feast in the Middle East! She’s making classic Arab home cooking accessible to people of all ages and shes even got some interesting new twists. We talk food and culture with a side of politics of course! Join us for that and more on this episode of Arabiyaat. Link to Blanche’s work here: Blanche TV Feast in the Middle East Blog Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram as well!   Email [email protected] to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments! The post Get a taste of Blanche Shaheen’s Feast in the Middle East appeared first on KPFA.

This month, the United Nations released a report stating that today a record 65 million people have been displaced by global conflict. As this staggering number only seems to grow, confidence in world leadership to manage these overlapping crises, let alone solve them, is at an all time low. Since 1948, millions of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, placed in temporary refugee camps, awaiting return to their homeland. The refugee camps in Lebanon have only become more crowded with new waves of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria as they seek haven in neighboring countries. Today, I speak Amina Ashkar, born in the Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon on the situation in Lebanon, the peace process, and her message to Arab-Americans. Photo Credit: Simon Norfolk The post When temporary doesn’t feel so temporary – Interview with Palestinian Refugee Amina Ashkar appeared first on KPFA.

 Moustafa Bayoumi, author of “This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror” joins us to speak about the unique and precarious positions that Muslims and Arab Americans find themselves in the West today. From complex identities to FBI surveillance, Bayoumi provides some helpful insights into some complicated questions on this weeks podcast. Purchase “This Muslim American Life” here: nyupress.org/books/9781479835645/ Contact: [email protected] Twitter: @Arabiyaat Facebook: Arabiyaat Podcast Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Muslim American: Moustafa Bayoumi on the state of American Muslims today appeared first on KPFA.

Graphic novelist, Leila Abdelrazaq, shares her father’s personal story of life as a Palestinian refugee in her newest work “Baddawi”. It is a graphic novel about Ahmad, a young boy coming of age amid the backdrop of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Lebanese Civil War. Leila speaks with us about this work and the importance of sharing multitudes of Palestinian stories. You can purchase “Baddawi” here: justworldbooks.com/baddawi [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Facebook.com/arabiyaatpodcast Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Baddawi: Leila Abdelrazaq’s Palestinian narrative as graphic novel appeared first on KPFA.

As we mark the 5th anniversary of Syria’s Uprising this week, we remember that the burst of civil disobedience that took place in Syria was part of a region-wide spirit that took place all around the Arab world. One of the countries who received the least coverage was the small gulf nation of Bahrain. Even less attention was given to the women who led many of the movements against state repression. As KPFA spotlight the often marginalized work of women during this years women’s history month, Arabiyaat presents you with this special episode featuring a Ala’a Shehabi. Guest:  Ala’a Shehabi: Bahraini activist and researcher and co-editor of the collection of essays titled, Bahrain’s Uprising  Hosted by Linda Khoury The post SPECIAL: Five years after Bahrain’s uprisings & the women who led the movement appeared first on KPFA.

In August 2014, just two weeks before he was scheduled to begin work, Chancellor Phyllis Wise of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign abruptly informed Professor of American Indian Studies, Steven Salaita Salaita that his job offer for a tenured position at the university had been rescinded. His crime? A series of controversial tweets about Israel during its most recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip in July 2014. Last November, a federal court ruled in Salaita’s favor. Though he was not rehired, Professor Salaita and the university reached a settlement which awarded him $600,000. In his new book, Uncivil Rights: Palestine and the Limits of Academic Freedom, Salaita reflects on the case, his life, and above all what it means to be an academic fighting the uphill battle for Palestinian rights in America. He is currently based in and speaking to us from his new home, Beirut, where he now holds the Edward Said Chair of American Studies at the University of Beirut. https://kpfa.org/app/uploads/2016/02/Salaita_FINAL.wav The post Steven Salaita: How free is academia when it comes to Palestine? appeared first on KPFA.

2015 has been quite a difficult year for Arabs and Muslims. But it is also the year we started this podcast endeavor that we’re hoping to carry on through the next year. Join us for an end of the year roundup of event highlights for Arabs in 2015, including a lot of ISIS and Trump talk. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) The post Looking Back: Arabiyaat’s 2015 Roundup appeared first on KPFA.

Ever wish there was an easy way to find out about how to access and engage with your local Arab community? An innovative new publication has begun to pave the way for more unity and interaction between Arabs living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Community organizer, Samer Elbandak, joins Arabiyaat in studio to tell us about a new project he helped launched called, The Nor Cal Arab American Directory. It’s a glossy magazine full of resources that seeks to build new approach to connect to a fast growing diverse Arab-American community. Listen to hear more about this exciting new, grassroots project that gives you a lot more than where you can get your next falafel sandwich! More info: http://www.ncaacommunity.com/   Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahyaa’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Connecting Communities: The Nor Cal Arab American Directory appeared first on KPFA.

We go deep with Remi Kanazi about how he came to be an activist-poet and how he approaches the struggle for Palestine. Find out why he thinks the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement is so important and why joining forces with allies like the #BlackLivesMatter movement and others is the best way to progress the cause of social justice in the US and worldwide! Remi has performed his poetry for audiences all around the world and his most recent book is “Before the Next Bomb Drops: Rising Up From Brooklyn to Palestine”. In this episode, he performs a few of his new pieces for us in studio. Join us for that and some insights that you won’t hear anywhere else! http://www.remikanazi.com/ Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahyaa’ (Instrumental) @boikutt   The post Art Meets Activism: Reflections on resistance with Remi Kanazi appeared first on KPFA.

Farah Al Mousawi — an Iraqi refugee who fled Iraq in 2003 and eventually gained political asylum in the US in 2008 — joins us to share her experiences as a refugee and to reflect on the state of affairs for refugees today Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Fu-Gee-La’: Farah Al Mousawi on life as a refugee appeared first on KPFA.

Weyam Ghadbian joins us in studio to discuss two websites that are part of a larger network of online platforms working to “amplify voices of change”, called Mideast Youth. Ahwaa.org is a space where LGBTQ individuals in the Arab world can connect and discuss issues concerning their community. Mideastunes.com is a music platform that puts Middle East and North African artists at the forefront. www.mideastyouth.com/ ahwaa.org/ mideastunes.com/ To contact Weyam: [email protected] Music featured in this episode: Revolution Makers – Onadekum (www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFShnZiBbgE) Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Ahwaa & Mideast Tunes: Virtual spaces for social change appeared first on KPFA.

Lebanese indie rock band, Mashrou’ Leila, have taken the Arab world by storm, and in October 2015, they brought their infectious and magical energy to the United States. We were lucky enough to catch up with lead singer, Hamed Sinno, on the heels of their San Francisco performance. He talks with us about music, Lebanese politics, and Mashrou’ Leila’s newest album ‘Ibn el Leil’ www.mashrou3leila.com/ Mashrou’ Leila’s music featured in this episode: El Hal Romancy – ‘El Hal Romancy EP’ Lil Watan – ‘Raasük’ Maghawir – ‘Ibn el Leil’ 3 Minutes – ‘3 Minutes – Single’ Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt   The post Son of the Night: Mashrou’ Leila’s Hamed Sinno appeared first on KPFA.

We were lucky enough to be joined by Narcy (fka The Narcicyst) after his performance at the Arab Film Festival. He is a Montreal-based Iraqi-Canadian artist, activist, and educator, who is well known for songs like P.H.A.T.W.A. and Hamdulillah. He speaks with us about the differences between being Arab in Canada and in the U.S., why he was drawn to hip hop, and how he navigates his identity musically. His newest album is called “World War Free Now”(narcy.bandcamp.com/album/world-war-free-now).   Narcy’s music featured in this episode: Hamdulillah (Gaza Remix) ft. Shadia Mansour Makoo ft. 47 Soul – ‘World War Free Now’ The Real Arab Money (Busta Rhymes’ Arab Money remix) 7araga ft. Meryem Saci – ‘El Nargisee’ Love Me (Hate Me)ft. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – ‘World War Free Now’ Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental)@boikutt The post Looking In: Why Narcy is the Neo-Arab Rebel Called Yassin appeared first on KPFA.

Palestinian filmmaker, Muayad Alayan, joins us in studio for a rich conversation on how one makes a feature length film under occupation. We hear about the evolving state of Palestinian cinema today and why creating a very “average” Palestinian character is actually an empowering act of resistance to existing narratives on Palestine. His film– “Love, Theft, and Other Entanglements”–was recently aired at the 2015 Arab Film Festival in San Francisco. www.lovetheftandotherentanglements.com/ Music featured in this episode: Nathan Daems – Tokaya – Bazaar d’Orient (live on Radio Urgent) Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Authentic Lens: “Love, Theft, and Other Entanglements” appeared first on KPFA.

Tarik Kazaleh (aka Excentrik) — Palestinian-American MC, producer, and instrumentalist, based in the SF Bay Area, and known for his work with the Arab hip hop project “Arab Summit” — takes us through his journey as a musician, why it’s tough being an Arab artist, and how he said “F— you!” to societal expectations, to truly live life on his own terms. His new album “Now Here Nowhere” available for purchase: www.excentrikmusic.com/ To contact Tarik: [email protected] Music featured in this episode: Excentrik – Quick Minute – from ‘The Audio Refugee Compilation’ Excentrik – Inertia – from ‘Now Here Nowhere’ The Muhammeds ‘Live at the Legionnaire’ Excentrik – Incite Clash – from ‘Now Here Nowhere’ Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Resisting Fear: Tarik Kazaleh (aka Excentrik) redefines success and embraces life as a musician appeared first on KPFA.

In anticipation of the 19th Annual Arab Film Festival (AFF) in the SF Bay Area, we speak with AFF’s Executive Director, Serge Bakalian. He gives us some background on the festival’s roots, its future, and details on a few films in this year’s lineup, and shares with us why he thinks this is the strongest lineup in AFF history.   Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Silver Screen Arabs: Arab Film Festival 2015 sneak peek appeared first on KPFA.

Lebanese-American songstress, performer, and educator, Naima Shalhoub joins us in studio for a soul-filled conversation on how she found her voice through music and the power that comes with that kind of expression. A series of gut-based decisions in her life led her to make her innermost passion a reality and to share the stage with the likes of heavyweights Cornel West and Angela Davis. Shalhoub tells us how she goes from an advanced degree in cultural anthropology to facilitating weekly music sessions with incarcerated women inside San Francisco County jail. She’s currently working on the release of her debut album which she recorded inside a jail, “Live in San Francisco Jail”, due out in December. naimashalhoub.com/ Naima Shalhoub’s music featured in this episode: Herstory of Soul (featured at the beginning and end of the episode) Ferguson Gaza – Live at the Sound Room Keep Your Eyes on the Prize – Live in San Francisco County Jail Caged Bird Sings – Live at the Sound Room [email protected] Twitter: @Arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Welcoming Uncertainty: A Conversation With Naima Shalhoub appeared first on KPFA.

Mai Al-Nakib, Kuwaiti writer and professor of postcolonial studies and comparative literature at Kuwait University, sits down with Linda to talk about her new collection of short stories “The Hidden Light of Objects”. She also talks about the Kuwait she grew up in, how it has changed, and what she believes will help the Arab world for the future. To purchase “The Hidden Light of Objects”: www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-hidden-l…-9789927101168/   Music featured on this episode: Mahmoud Al Kuwaiti – Al Boshiya محمود الكويتي – البوشية [email protected] Twitter: @arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post ‘We don’t value reading as much as we should’: The power of literature and imagination appeared first on KPFA.

Faisal Attrache, Syrian-American filmmaker and activist, joins us in studio to speak about his unique experiences making his documentary, “Growing Home”, at the Zaatari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. Through the lens of a hyphenated-identity, at once insider and outsider, Faisal’s point of view is illuminating to many of us disconnected from the pertinent refugee crisis that has become a reality for far too many Syrians. Once the cameras leave, refugees live in a state of perpetual limbo, yearning for a life beyond the food and shelter provided by international organizations. “Growing Home” www.refugeebarbers.com/ “From the Mountain” www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9_VNE_7As Faisal’s TEDx Talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPsiH22M-VA For more on Faisal: faisalattrache.com Music featured in this episode: Khalil Ghadri – Syrian Tears You can reach us at: [email protected] Follow us: @Arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Redefining Home: Faisal Attrache and Syrian refugees in Zaatari camp appeared first on KPFA.

Reem Assil, Syrian-Palestinian-American, activist and cook, joins us in studio to tell us about her new project: Reem’s – “Traditional Arab street food made with California Love!” Reem’s goes beyond the transaction of food to feature the warm hospitality of Arab culture. She offers a culinary discovery of the flavors, aromas, and techniques of local bakeries in Damascus, Beirut, and Jerusalem. Whether you’ve experienced Arab culture before or this is your first time, Reem’s baking up some treats! You can visit one of her pop-ups, food festivals or farmers market stands or attend one of her classes! Update (9.12.16): Congratulations to Reem on raising $50,000 to open her own, “Arab Street Corner Bakery”! For more information on Reem or to contact her, visit her website: reemscalifornia.com Send Inquiries to: [email protected] Follow us: @Arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Beyond Falafel: Reem Assil brings the manoushé to California appeared first on KPFA.

SF Bay Area: Palestinian-Americans, Majdi and Taghrid, join us in studio to speak about their experiences of being denied entry into their homeland of Palestine to visit family and friends. Our guests tell their stories but only used their first names because they don’t want to be prevented from seeing their families and homelands again. The episode begins with UpFront’s, originally-produced segment on George Khoury’s denial of entry by Israel in July 2015: Kpfa-fm-94-1-berkeley – Deported-for-going-home-a-palestinian-american-citizens-ordeal-at-ben-gurion-airport Mondoweiss article: mondoweiss.net/2015/07/palestini…mericans-detained Music featured in this episode: Naseer Shamma – Palestinian Heritage Alain Merheb – Al Houwara Send Inquiries to: [email protected] Follow us: @Arabiyaat Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post Conditional Citizenship: Palestinian-Americans appeared first on KPFA.

Arabiyaat briefly explores the history of Arabs in America with guest Nadine Naber, author of “Arab America: Gender, Cultural Politics, and Activism.” The episode begins with reflections by Linda and Souraya followed by an interview with Dr. Nadine Naber. She puts this largely unknown history of the Arab migrants to America became an “invisible” community and how that invisibility has led to the ambiguous place Arabs hold in the US today. Part 1(00:00 – 21:22): Linda and Souraya share thoughts on the status of Arabs in America Part 2 (22:26 – 58:14): Interview with Nadine Naber Music: Alexander Maalof “America ya Helwa” For more music from the first wave of Arab immigrants, go here: itunes.apple.com/us/album/music-a…ective/id2474581 “Are Arabs White?” www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/…16110921150.html Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Arabiyaat Theme: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt The post ‘White but not quite’: A history of the Arabs in America appeared first on KPFA.