The afikra Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Art Doesn't Lie | Basel Dalloul on Archiving Arab Art & Decolonizing the Art Market Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

We visit Basel Dalloul at the Dalloul Artist Collective to discuss the genesis of the Dalloul Art Foundation and the mission of the new artist collective. A technologist and lawyer by training, Basel shares his family’s journey into collecting art and the vision his father had for a Pan-Arab art collection in Beirut. They discuss how Arabism failed politically, but that culturally, the art from the region shows a great deal of sync and kinship, with artists empathizing with their Arab brethren. Central to the discussion is the role of art as an archive of history. Basel highlights the importance of Arab art as a reference site and how connecting artists from Morocco to Iraq reveals common themes that some may find inconvenient to tell. The conversation then shifts to the need to decolonize the art world, critiquing the tendency to celebrate Western art and seek validation from Western curators. Basel challenges the routine belief that Arab artists or art professionals are "not competent or good enough". He also addresses the broken global gallery system, which often dictates terms to artists and unfairly takes up to 50% of an artist's take. The mission of the Dalloul Artist Collective is to shift focus from the art to the artist, acting as an artist management agency to empower and educate the artist community.

0:00 Introduction

2:12 The Vision for the Dalloul Art Foundation: Pan-Arab Art

3:36 Relationship to Art Growing Up

5:55 Shifting from Western to Arab Art Collecting

8:45 Failure Is Not An Option

10:47 Authenticating Art and The Lack of a Reference Site for Arab Art

12:53 Organizing the Single Largest Private Collection of Modern Contemporary Arab Art

15:05 The Kinship of Arab Culture

17:57 Artists as Archivists of History

19:46 Beirut: A De Facto Cultural Hub With No Taboos

22:54 Critiquing the Celebration of Western Art Over Arab Art

25:57 Dalloul Artist Collective: Focusing on The Artist

27:18 The Broken Global Gallery System

32:11 The State of Art Collecting in The Arab World

35:56 Artists Basel Dalloul Adores

38:02 The Need to Educate the Arab Youth on Arab Artists

38:48 The Story Behind Ayman Baalbaki’s Moulatham

41:26 Empowering Artists with Transparency and Business Savvy

Basel Dalloul Founded the Dalloul Art Foundation in 2017 to manage and promote his father’s (Dr. Ramzi Dalloul) vast collection of modern and contemporary Arab art. At around 4000 pieces it is the largest collection of its kind in private hands. The collection includes but is not limited to paintings, photography, sculpture, video and mixed media art. Basel has had a passion for art since he was very young, inspired by both his mother and father, whom are also passionate about art in all its forms. Basel also founded NOOR Group in 2000 in response to the Egyptian government’s announced goal of becoming the hub of the information technology (IT) industry in the Middle East. As Chairman and CEO, he has set the overall direction of NOOR, bringing the first region-wide, full-service IT development program to the area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from American University and a Juris Doctor and MBA from Georgetown University, both in Washington, DC. Basel also studied electrical engineering and computer science at Rice University in Houston, TX, and undertook comparative studies of American and British common law and procedural law at Oxford University in England. He co-taught a course in entertainment law and the Internet at Georgetown University Law Center and is a frequent speaker and seminar leader at IT conferences worldwide.

Connect with Bassel Dalloul 👉

https://instagram.com/dafbeirut

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Curator Hiba Abid | Niyū Yūrk at the New York Public Library Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

Curator of "Niyū Yūrk: Middle Eastern and North African Lives in the City", Hiba Abid, joins us to talk about the exhibition, housed at the New York Public Library's iconic 42nd Street building, which challenges dominant narratives by presenting New York as a city deeply intertwined with Middle Eastern and North African history and culture. Abid delves into the diverse stories of immigration, the often-overlooked North African presence, and the revolution in Arabic publishing in New York. Through fascinating primary documents and personal stories, the discussion explores everything from the surprising origins of the Statue of Liberty to early 20th-century American citizenship guides published in Arabic, revealing the long, complex, and vibrant history of Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York.

The exhibition remains until March 8, 2026. On December 5, is a Middle Eastern/North African take over of the flagship building of the NYPL that's not to be missed 👉https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/niyu-yurk

0:00 Introduction

1:18 Meet Hiba Abid and the NYPL Exhibition Title

2:16 The Exhibition's Core Idea and Historical Scope

5:41 Is New York a Middle Eastern City?

6:33 The Arab Roots of the Statue of Liberty

9:15 The 1910 Portrait of Mohamed Juda and Early Exclusion

12:34 Citizenship Guides for Early Arab Immigrants

16:45 Amplifying North African Stories in New York

20:47 Photography and a History of Arab Tattoos

24:19 The Explosion of Arabic Publishing in New York

28:27 Assimilation and Critique: Arab Views of America

31:14 "America Ya Hilwa": An Arab Immigrant's Bid for the US National Anthem

42:06 Salloum Mokarzel and the Arabic Linotype Revolution

43:25 A 1917 Menu from a Syrian Restaurant in New York

46:25 Confronting Anti-Arab Sentiment Through Archives

51:53 Upcoming NYPL Middle Eastern/North African Takeover Event

Hiba Abid oversees the New York Public Library’s collections of general and special materials produced in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and diasporic communities in the United States. Before joining NYPL, she taught courses on Islamic manuscripts and material culture at New York University’s Department of Art History and Institute of Fine Arts. She has also served as an Associate Researcher at the National Library of France, and contributed to exhibitions at the Louvre Museum, the Musée des Augustins, and Le 32bis: Center for Contemporary Art in Tunis. Hiba Abid received her MA in Art History from the Sorbonne University in Paris and PhD in Islamic Art History, Codicology and Philology from the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris.

Connect with Hiba Abid 👉

https://instagram.com/nypl_archives

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Bernard Khoury | On Karantina, Solidere & Practicing Architecture in Lebanon Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

We visited renowned architect Bernard Khoury in his studio in Karantina, who offered a critical, unvarnished look at the reality of practicing architecture in Lebanon, contrasting it with the sugarcoated story of the "Phoenix coming out of its ashes". He discusses his career beginnings, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and how his first project—the infamous B018 nightclub—was a radically specific and necessary response to the city’s complex, macabre history and unstable political and economic context. Khoury shares his philosophical approach to architecture, which rejects stylistic gestures in favor of an obsession with specificity and a direct confrontation with Beirut's explosive nature, arguing for a practice that produces honest, if sometimes "sour" meaning in the present rather than succumbing to toxic simplifications.

00:00 The Sourness and Complexity of Beirut

01:23 Bernard Khoury's Karantina Studio and the Beirut Explosion

03:12 His First Project: B018 in Karantina

04:01 The Illusion and Disillusion of the Post-War Era

05:42 An Architect's Dilemma: Designing for an Expiry Date

12:56 Solidere, Immaterial Ownership, and a New Urbanism

15:44 The Cultural Significance of B018

17:05 B018's Site: A Macabre History

19:40 From Furniture Factory to Architecture Practice

22:52 Khalil Khouri: Modern Architect with Certainties

27:23 A Generational Difference in Practice

28:57 Rejected Labels: What Bernard Khoury Hates to Be Called...

31:41 Style vs. Specificity

36:00 Estrangement and Addiction to a Very Intense Environment

42:00 Bernard Khoury's Criticism of Solidere's Historical Narrative

Born in Beirut (1968), Bernard Khoury studied architecture at the Rhode Island school of Design (BFA 1990 / B.Arch 1991) and Harvard University (M.Arch 1993). He was awarded by the municipality of Rome, the Borromini Prize honorable mention given to architects under 40 years of age (2001), the Architecture + Award (2004), the CNBC Award (2008) and nominated for several awards including the Aga Khan award (2002 / 2004/ 2021), the Chernikov prize (2010) and the Mies van der Rohe Award (2021). He co-founded the Arab Center for Architecture (2008), was a visiting professor in several universities including the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and L’Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. He has lectured and exhibited his work in over 150 institutions, including solo shows at the Aedes gallery in Berlin (2003), the Spazio per l’architecttura Milano (2016) and numerous group shows including YOU prison at the Fondazione Sandretto in Torino (2008), the opening show of the MAXXI museum in Roma (2010), the Frac Architecture Biennale in Orleans (2018), the Oris House of Architecture in Zagreb (2020) and the Architecture Biennale of Seoul (2021). He was the architect and co-curator of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2014). Over the years he has developed an international reputation and a diverse portfolio of projects in over fifteen countries. Khoury was nominated by the French Ministry of Culture Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (2020)

Connect with Bernard Khoury 👉

https://instagram.com/bernardkhourydw5

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Nurturing Authentic Voices in Filmmaking in the Arab World | Rana Kazkaz Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

We delve into the evolving landscape of filmmaking in the region, the importance of authentic, locally rooted narratives, and the critical role of institutions like the Doha Film Institute in fostering emerging talent. Award-winning filmmaker and associate professor at Northwestern Qatar, Rana Kazkaz, offers a glimpse into her current project "The Hakawati's Daughter," and provides recommendations for essential Arab cinema. She shares her experiences teaching film in the Arab world, highlighting the unique challenges and immense joys of mentoring a new generation of storytellers.

This episode is in collaboration with Qatar Foundation.

0:00 Introduction

0:23 The Joy of Mentoring Arab Students

3:19 The "Why" of Storytelling: Finding Your Authentic Voice

4:44 Navigating Censorship and Risk in Filmmaking

7:24 How Technology is Shaping New Narratives

10:47 Shifting Away from the "Other" Narrative

14:55 Building the Filmmaking Pipeline: The Role of the Doha Film Institute

19:39 The Critical Need for Producers in the Arab World

21:39 The Impact of Non-Regional Producers on Arab Films

26:12 Recommending Authentic Arab Films for Students

29:28 Addressing Class Bias in the Film Industry

31:19 Unlearning Self-Orientalism in Storytelling

33:40 The Genesis of "The Hakawati's Daughter"

41:26 Essential Films from the Arab World

Rana Kazkaz is a filmmaker and associate professor in residence at Northwestern University Qatar. Her films have been recognized at the world’s leading festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tallinn, Tribeca, and Abu Dhabi. She received her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University/Moscow Art Theater and BA from Oberlin College. With a focus on Syrian stories, her producing, screenwriting, and directing portfolio includes The Translator (2020), Mare Nostrum (2016), Searching for the Translator (2016), Deaf Day (2011), and Kemo Sabe (2007). Her current film projects include The Hakawati’s Daughter and Honest Politics. She is a member of the Académie des César and was awarded fellowships with the Buffett Institute, MacDowell and the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.

Connect with Rana Kazkaz 👉

https://www.instagram.com/ranakazkaz

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"The Future is Not a Grave" With the NYU Institutes | Masha Kirasirova & Tishani Doshi Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

"The Future Is Not a Grave" is a three-day workshop happening next week at NYUAD which explores futurisms and futurescapes across the MENA, Gulf, and Indian Ocean regions. In this collaborative episode with NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, conveners Tishani Doshi and Masha Kirasirova delve into challenging despair, fostering collective imagination, and integrating diverse perspectives from artists, scholars, and performers. Discover how this initiative seeks to redefine conversations about the future, moving beyond conventional narratives and embracing a more open-ended, tolerant, and inclusive approach.

November 10-12, 2025 in Abu Dhabi 👉 https://publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu/en/the-institute/events/2025/november/the-future-is-not-a-grave.html

0:00 The Future Is Not A Grave: Provocative Title and Imagining Possibilities

2:50 The Role of Imagination and Counteracting Despair

4:01 Future-Oriented Projects Across the Middle East

4:38 Comparing Futurescapes and Broadening the Academic Framework

7:31 Imagining Different Outcomes: A Collective Task

9:19 Futurisms: An Intellectual History of Future-Oriented Projects

11:13 Contextualizing the Present and Artistic Currents

12:31 Is Futurism Decidedly Optimistic?

14:02 The Interconnectedness of Future and Past

15:16 The Role of Language and Performance

17:46 Imagining a Future Tolerant of Darkness

20:00 Creating Space for Conversation, Not Just Conclusions

21:11 Bringing Diverse Disciplines Together

24:06 Gulf Futurism and Connecting Students

26:19 Diverse Panels: From Graphic Novels to Environmental Law

27:11 The Ancient Theater Tradition of Kutiyattam: Emperor Ashoka's Transformation

29:40 The Radical Possibility of Performance and Nonviolence

31:09 The Gulf, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean: A Unique Focus

32:55 Rethinking Historical Space and Eurocentrism

34:06 Prioritizing Local Perspectives and Interdisciplinarity

36:46 Soviet Visions of the Arab World

38:49 Development Schemes and Shifting Conversations

39:56 The Academy's Value of Storytelling and Artists

42:01 Breaking Down Formalized Barriers

43:10 Rethinking Systems and Collective Support

43:54 Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration

44:50 Academic Conferences as Art Projects

46:08 Untapped Topics and Intergenerational Knowledge

48:58 Collective Power vs. National Identity

52:42 Workshop Dates and Further Information

Masha Kirasirova is a historian of exchanges between the Soviet Eurasia and the Middle East. Her work approaches modern Middle Eastern history from a “Second World” perspective. It brings together several hitherto separate scholarly domains: Soviet nationalities policy with regard to the USSR’s Muslim populations; social and cultural history of Stalinism in shaping the experience of Arab communists in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s; cultural exchange with Arab leftist intellectuals during the Cold War; and the impacts of these exchanges on artistic, bureaucratic, and political practices inside the USSR and on those exported to Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and Egypt.

Tishani Doshi FRSL is an Indian poet, journalist and dancer based in Chennai. In 2006 she won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection due to Countries of the Body. Her poetry book "A God at the Door" was later shortlisted for the 2021 Forward Prize for Best Collection. She is widely acclaimed as a creative writer; her first book of poetry, Countries of the Body (2006), won a Forward Prize for Best First Collection.

Connect with Tishani Doshi 👉

https://instagram.com/tishanidoshi

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Sculpting Public Art | Najla El Zein Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Award-winning sculptor and artist Najla El Zein is most recently known for her work on a public commission by Qatar Museums for Doha's cultural district — a work titled "Us, her, him". She joins us to talk about her creative process, the evolution of her work, and the profound impact of personal experiences on her art. Based between Beirut and Amsterdam, Najla's work explores the relationship between space, object, and the human body, often challenging conventional perceptions of sculpture. She delves into the emotional depth behind her most significant projects, including her iconic spoons sculpture, the "Distortion" series, as well as her monumental public commission in Qatar, reflecting on themes of motherhood, female identity, and collective creation amidst challenging times.

0:00 Introduction

1:21 The Artist's Studio and Creative Process

2:46 From Childhood Curiosity to Sculptural Expression

5:36 Embracing the Unromantic Side of Sculpture

7:45 The Spoons Sculptures: A Defining Project

8:42 Moving to Beirut and Accessing Craftsmanship

10:18 Process and Meaning Behind the Spoons Sculture

11:39 Capturing Movement and Life in Static Forms

12:57 The Significance of Process and Durability

14:10 "Distortion" Series: Motherhood and Identity

18:50 "Fragmented Pillar": Fragility and Strength

21:28 "Seduction" Series: The Journey of Connection

23:17 A Deepening Relationship With Stone

25:06 "Group of Five": Dynamics and Discovery

27:49 The Qatar Museums Project: A Public Commission Amidst Crisis

30:58 The Vision for Qatar's Cultural District

34:12 Craftsmanship and the Human Element in Public Art

37:16 The Collaborative Process: From Lebanon to Qatar

40:34 Influences: Saloua Raouda Choucair, Noguchi, and Hockney

Najla El Zein's work embodies an intuitive approach to art and design, where narrative, craft, and materiality are central to her creative process. Each piece offers a personal yet universal language that evokes curiosity and emotion. Born in Beirut in 1983, she is a Lebanese-French artist and designer based in Amsterdam. She graduated from the École Camondo in Paris with a degree in Product Design and Interior Architecture, Spatial Design. In 2024, she received the Dia Al-Azzawi Prize for Public Art for her monumental installation "Us, Her, Him" in Doha, Qatar. In 2025, she was honored as one of the AD100 most important influential figures in art and design. Her works are part of prestigious collections, including Dallas Museum of Art, Saint Louis Art Museum, Qatar Museums, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Connect with Najla El Zein 👉

https://instagram.com/najlaelzein

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Pressure Cooker: National Pavilion UAE at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale | Azza Aboualam Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

We delve into the UAE National Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale, titled "Pressure Cooker" with curator Azza Aboualam. An assistant professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University Dubai and co-founder of Holesum Studio, Aboualam explains how architecture can be a cornerstone for achieving food security, particularly in challenging climates like UAE's and the broader Gulf region. Inspired by a simple question from her mother about the origin of blueberries in the UAE, Aboualam's work explored the intersection of architectural design and food production, focusing on innovative greenhouse typologies. The "Pressure Cooker" exhibition showcases how traditional and high-tech architectural elements can be reconfigured to prolong growing seasons and expand food production within the UAE. We unpack the complexities of food security as a national priority, the economic and environmental costs of imported food, and the surprising prevalence of individual-led greenhouse projects in the UAE. We also touch upon the fascinating historical context of food in the UAE, the impact of population growth on food systems, and a unique architectural cookbook attached to the project, which frames the conversation around food and built environments.

0:00:00 The UAE's Vision For Food Security

0:02:40 "Pressure Cooker": Architecture and Food Flow

0:03:33 The Blueberry Revelation: Origin of the Idea

0:04:38 Why Food Security Is an Architectural Problem in the UAE

0:05:48 The Urgency of Food Security In The UAE

0:07:08 Global Warming and Food Production Challenges

0:08:08 Inside The "Pressure Cooker" UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2025

0:10:41 A Call to Action and Moment of Reflection

0:11:55 The True Cost of Food

0:12:21 Greenhouses: a Common Practice in the UAE

0:14:16 The "Kit-of-Parts" Innovation

0:14:42 The Adaptable Greenhouse System

0:16:07 Food Production in Apartment Living

0:16:44 Sparking Broader Conversations

0:17:30 Individual vs. Urban Scale Food Production

0:19:08 Who Is Doing Food Security Well?

0:20:32 Food Infrastructure in the UAE

0:21:56 Regional Knowledge Sharing

0:23:02 Local Food Production and Sufficiency

0:23:53 Oil Revenue's Impact on Food Security

0:25:01 Pressure Cooker Recipes: An Architectural Cookbook

0:26:44 Engaging With Local Farmers

0:28:18 Pathway to Food Independence

0:29:03 Defining Food Independence

0:30:54 Supermarkets: a Changing Landscape

0:32:08 Historical Food Production in the UAE

0:33:11 Migration and Food Systems

0:35:00 Resources for Learning About Food Security

0:36:51 The Problem of Food Waste

0:39:17 Packaging Waste in the F&B Industry

Upcoming event 👉 https://publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu/en/the-institute/events/2025/october/pressure-cooker-curated-by-azza-aboualam.html

Azza Aboualam is an Emirati architect and curator of the National Pavilion UAE for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2025. She is an Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai and a co-founder and Director of Research at Holesum Studio, an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based between New York, USA, and Sharjah, UAE. She co-founded the studio in 2021 a few years after graduating from the Yale School of Architecture. She worked with the UAE Ministry of Culture’s Architecture Initiative, and her field research, sketches, and writing were published in the book "In Search of Spaces of Coexistence: An Architect’s Journey" (2019), edited by Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi and Adina Hempel. While working in Sharjah’s Department of Public Works, Aboualam managed the design and construction of large-scale projects such as the Aga Khan Award–winning Wasit Wetland Center.

Connect with Azza Aboualam 👉 https://instagram.com/azza.aboualam

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History of Carpets | Mohamed Maktabi Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

We visit Maktabi's flagship store in Beirut to unravel the rich history and intricate artistry of carpets. A third-generation carpet dealer from the renowned family behind Iwan Maktabi, Mohamed Maktabi delves into everything from the first carpet every discovered, the ancient origins of carpet weaving and the unique characteristics of tribal versus city carpets, to the esteemed legacy of Persian rugs and the evolving nature of the carpet dealing business. Maktabi shares personal family anecdotes, discusses the cultural significance embedded in some woven masterpieces, and offers insights into caring for these cherished objects. Whether you're a long-time admirer or new to the world of carpets, this conversation offers a deep appreciation for an art form that has captivated humanity for millennia. Maktabi also gives us his carpet wishlist from around the world.

0:00 Introduction

0:22 The Oldest Carpet and Persian Heritage

0:46 Tribal vs. City Carpets: Craft and Purpose

0:50 The Evolution of Carpet Dealing: From Bazaar to Flagship

1:08 Mohamed Maktabi's Role and Family Legacy

3:31 The Craft of Hand-Knotted Carpets

4:57 Tribal Weaving: A Woman's Art

9:01 The Unparalleled Quality of Persian Carpets

15:15 The Rise of Carpets in Every Household

17:40 The Golden Age of Classical Carpets

19:24 The Shifting Landscape of Carpet Dealing

20:30 Contemporary Creations and Embedded Stories

21:20 Mass-Produced vs. Hand-Knotted Carpets

24:26 A Tour of Curated Antique Pieces

25:06 Shahabs Suzani: A Needlework Diary from Central Asia

28:32 The Paisley Design in Khorasan Carpets

29:55 Isfahan Quran Cover Design: A Family Heirloom

33:37 The Enduring Value and Care of Carpets

35:11 Japan's Appreciation for Persian Carpets

35:48 The Future of Classical Carpet Making

36:38 Mohamed's Dream Carpet Collection

38:32 The Legendary Ardabil Carpet

40:33 Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance

Mohamed Maktabi is a third-generation carpet dealer and a scion (and now CEO) of the Iwan Maktabi family, an institution in the carpet business established in Beirut in 1926. His grandfather immigrated from Isfahan to Beirut, with his father, Abbas Maktabi, continuing the family tradition. Mohamed, alongside two of his five sisters, joined the family business, which his father initially envisioned as a small gallery for esoteric textiles and unique tribal pieces. Mohamed is known for his deep knowledge of carpet history, from ancient origins to contemporary creations, and his appreciation for the cultural and artistic significance embedded in each piece. He maintains a focus on both traditional and modern designs, ensuring the legacy of hand-knotted carpets endures.

Connect with Mohamed Maktabi 👉 https://instagram.com/mo_maktabi

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Dust That Never Settles: Literary Afterlives of the Iran-Iraq War | Amir Moosavi Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Amir Moosavi discusses the profound impact of the Iran-Iraq War – the longest two-state war of the 20th century – on the literature of both nations. Through his book "Dust That Never Settles: Literary Afterlives of the Iran-Iraq War," he explores in this conversation the official state-sanctioned narratives that emerged during and after the war, comparing them with the more nuanced, critical, and often experimental literary responses from writers in Iraq and Iran, including those in the diaspora. The conversation also highlights how these diverse literary works grapple with the war's legacy, from its human and environmental costs to its enduring presence in collective memory.

0:00 The Enduring Legacy of the Iran-Iraq War

1:03 Introducing Amir Moosavi's Book

3:39 A Historical Primer on the Iran-Iraq War

7:16 Shifting Narratives: Qadisiyyat Saddam and Operation Karbala

11:49 Bridging Arabic and Persian Literary Worlds

15:51 Understanding State Literature and Propaganda

20:11 Examples of State Literature and Narrative Shifts

29:36 Post-War Writers: Challenging Official Narratives

35:26 Warfront Depictions and the Quest for Truth

38:31 Artistic Communities and Collective Memory

40:41 The Meaning Behind "Dust That Never Settles"

43:18 Ecological Damage in War Literature

48:22 Misconceptions and Nuances in War Literature

50:39 Diaspora Authors and Freedom of Expression

Amir Moosavi is an assistant Professor in the Department of English at Rutgers University- Newark. He started teaching at Rutgers-Newark in the fall of 2018, following a year-long EUME postdoc funded by the Volkswagenstiftung and Mellon Foundation in Berlin (2016-17) and a visiting assistant professorship in modern Iranian studies at Brown University (2017-18). His research and teaching interests cover modern Arabic and Persian literatures and the cultural history of the Middle East, with an emphasis on Iran, Iraq, and the Levant. At RU-N, he teaches courses on Arabic and Persian fiction and film, world literature, translation studies, and war culture. He is particularly interested in how cultural production deals with violent pasts, wars, notions of transitional justice, representations of urban space, and the climate crisis. He has written a book manuscript titled "Dust That Never Settles: Literary Afterlives of the Iran-Iraq War."

Connect with Amir Moosavi 👉

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-moosavi-1b348224

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Yemen as the Global Home of Coffee | Nancy Um Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

We challenge contemporary perceptions of Yemen as a "backwater" by revealing the pivotal role of its port city, Mocha, in the making of our modern world. Historian Nancy Um delves into the fascinating history of coffee, from its origins in 15th-century Yemen to its global spread and the economic transformations it spurred. She explores the rich maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Yemen's centrality as a crossroads for goods, ideas, and people long before European influence. Um discusses the Ottoman Empire's cultivation of coffee in Yemen, the rise and decline of Mocha as a trade hub, and the unique cultural adaptations of coffee consumption within Yemen itself, such as the popular Qishr drink. We also touch upon the broader impact of hot beverages and porcelain on global social and consumption patterns, revealing how these everyday items were once revolutionary technologies. Um shares insights into the ongoing efforts to revive Yemen's coffee industry and offers recommendations for further reading on Yemen's vibrant history.

0:00 Mocha: A Bustling 17th-18th Century Trade Center

0:50 Yemen's Monopoly on Coffee

2:46 Nancy Um's Interest in Maritime Trade and Yemen

3:40 Yemen's Historical Significance Beyond Recent Decades

5:51 What Made Mocha a Prime Trade Hub?

7:58 Mocha's Rival: Aden

8:11 The History of Coffee as a Drink

10:01 Debunking Coffee Origin Myths: The Story of Kaldi and the Goats

12:20 Coffee as a Hot Brewed Beverage from Yemen

12:32 The Evolution of Coffee as a Commodity and Social Habit

13:21 Early Suspicion and Prohibitions Against Coffee

14:41 The Global Journey of the Coffee Plant

15:57 The Dutch and Coffee Cultivation in Java

17:22 Yemen's Shifting Coffee Fortunes

18:14 The Ottomans and Yemen's Coffee Cultivation

19:06 Ottoman Control of the Red Sea Trade

20:37 Diversification of Trade Beyond Coffee

21:37 European Influence on Mocha's Popularity

22:21 Qishr: Yemen's Unique Coffee Husk Drink (aka Cascara)

24:19 Efforts to Rebuild Yemen's Coffee Industry

26:01 The Red Sea Trade Route's Enduring Importance

29:02 The Indian Ocean: A Space of Exchange and Imagination

30:51 Reconsidering Land-Based vs. Water-Based Cultural Identities

33:20 Nationalizing Watery Metaphors and Icons

35:10 Historical Naming Conventions and Cultural Continuities

37:39 Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate: Technologies Reshaping Society

40:30 The Coffee House and the Enlightenment

42:07 The Decline of Mocha as an Economic Hub

43:10 Beneficiaries of Mocha's Decline

44:58 Challenge of Contradictory Stories in Historical Narratives

47:20 Disproving Coffee Plant Smuggling Myths

50:27 Misunderstandings About Yemen's History

51:34 Book Recommendations on Yemen

53:56 Access to Local Historical Documents in Yemen

Nancy Um is Associate Director for Research and Knowledge Creation at the Getty Research Institute. Her research program explores art, architecture, and material culture around the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula, with a focus on trade and cross-cultural exchange in the early modern era. She is also the author of "The Merchant Houses of Mocha: Trade and Architecture in an Indian Ocean Port," and "Shipped but Not Sold: Material Culture and the Social Protocols of Trade during Yemen’s Age of Coffee."

Connect with Nancy Um 👉

https://twitter.com/NancyUm1

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