EKON is an environmental sci-fi film from Middle East currently in development in UAE. The online teaser was produced to introduce the EKON universe to the audiences during the early development process. Watch the concept teaser and check out the official site.

Waafia is a Los Angeles-based designer specializing in Islamic and Arabic stationary. We love the quirky and playful buttons.

Check out more of Waafia’s work here.

Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming the arts & culture hub of Arabia. After the establishment of Louvre and Sorbonne in the capital of UAE, local artists can now also participate in the annual Art Abu Dhabi exhibition, running in its second year, which also brings international artists for workshops and lectures. Check it out if you can, more information on the Art Abu Dhabi site.

Outside The Law is the latest film by Rachid Bouchareb ( who helmed the powerful Algerian/French WWII drama “Days of Glory” ), – it tells the story of three brothers fighting for Algerian independence after WWII, and is currently opening the Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Qatar. Rachid Bouchareb is a director has shown himself capable of exploring complex socio-political and historical issues through deeply personal and moving narratives, – we are looking forward to seeing the film in theatres soon.

Mo Shennawy is a designer and illustrator based in Cairo, Egypt. His film poster series craftily uses color, typography & illustration to achieve a unique and organic visuals.

Check out more of his work at his official site.

Haider Ali is a Lahore-based photographer and Fine Art student at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan. His photo series on Mughal mosque architecture is titled “Overseer”.

Follow his latest works here.

Hadi Alaeddin is an Amman-based designer. His album covers are a playful and organic combination of Western and Middle Eastern visual principles, – Arabic type set within a traditional Swiss minimalist grid that works refreshingly well.

Check out more of Hadi’s work at his portfolio site.

by Danah Abdulla
May 24, 2010

Islam is more than a veil, a scarf and a beard, but what are its roots? And more importantly, where is the woman’s place in it? Veiled Voices is an important documentary because it attempts to investigate the roots of Islam and the world of female Muslim leaders. The film plays the role of the tourist that avoids the main attractions and seeks the lesser known destinations. Various media has often attempted to discuss the role of women in Islam but tend to play the role of the conventional tourist by not committing to in depth research and miss essential points by only showing vulnerable women adhering to the status quo and limiting Islam to its stereotypes. This documentary on the other hand, plays the role of the non conventional tourist: it shows independent and educated women of Islam, and if you know a bit about the Muslim religion, this role is not downplayed but rather, encouraged.

Over the course of two years, director and producer Brigid Maher follows three female leaders in the Islamic community: Ghina in Lebanon, Su’ad in Egypt and Huda in Syria to get their perspective of Islam as female Muslim leaders. Maher presents her audience with the experiences of three completely different women that share a common goal: to revitalize the woman’s role in Islam. The film is refreshing because it presents a view on Islam from a female perspective through women who are both inspiring and open minded, discussing their marriages, the hardships they have faced as female leaders and providing their opinions on a variety of issues in Islam today, particularly the male dominance and the traditions that are not religious but rather cultural. Maher mixes countries in the Arab world, that, despite their proximity, are quite parallel, and although the differences between these places are not visited in the documentary, some of the issues the women discuss give the viewer a sense of the situation.

Ghina, Su’ad and Huda are not blindly following their faith, they have spent a lot of time educating themselves about it in order to inform others about Islam’s message and the importance of the woman within it. They attempt to achieve this by playing pivotal roles in their communities, as leaders in centres, as university professors and Qu’ran teachers, and as public personalities who challenge the status quo. The Muslim world needs more female leaders, and Ghina, Su’ad and Huda are opening the path for other women to follow in their footsteps.

Khawar Bilal is a Doha-based designer and calligrapher, – his spiritual poster series is influenced by the calligraphy of Hassan Massoudy.

Check out his official site.

Ibn Majid Clothing is a Philadelphia-based fashion label for men, women and kids established by designers Majid K. Ford and Ibin Ingram. The name means “Son of The Noble” in Arabic, and the mission is to design quality products with a subtle social statement emphasizing respect and honesty as everyday values.

Check out more of Ibn Majid’s clothing at their official site.

Istanbul International Film Festival is currently underway and there is still time to catch some of the latest highlights in the programme, including Turkish Classics and Enchanting Mutineers: A Showcase of Independent Filmmakers From The Middle East And North Africa. For full programme listing, check out the official site.

“Veiled Voices” is a documentary exploring the lives of three Muslim women in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt . Filmed over 2 years, the film chronicles their devotion to Islamic scholarship and education. Directed by Brigid Maher. Official Site.

Majid Abbasi is a Tehran-based designer who has been practicing for over 20 years. His covers and posters are powerful both typographically and visually.

Check out more of Majid’s work at his official site.

Photo by Mous Lamrabat

Rajae El Mouhandiz is a young, prolific singer and musician based in Amsterdam, combining contemporary soul and traditional Moroccan sufi influences in her music that sounds both universal and intimately Middle Eastern. Her new album, “Hand of Fatima” is out now, featuring a collaboration with Malcolm Lateef Shabazz . The album is available for online purchase at her official site.

Salam Aleikum, Rajae! Tell us a little about the decision behind your career, – how did you choose music?
Salaam Heeba magazine! I started with classical ballet when I was four. I fell completely in love with music and especially with classical music. At the age of eight I started playing the french horn (yes, funny choice :) ), at 16 I was the first N-African to enter a Dutch conservatory. While studying classical music I discovered jazz music, soul music, conscious lyrical music and my own voice! I left the conservatory after 4 years and started traveling the world and writing songs. I worked really hard to pay for my recordings. in 2006 I released my first album Incarnation independently and last December my new album Hand of Fatima.

We’re excited about your new album release, – tell us, what was the inspiration behind it?
I was born in Morocco, my mother is Algerian and I grew up in Amsterdam. I am a product of all these cultures. From an artistic and lyrical point of view I made this album because I am a Muslim and there is hardly any english contemporary music made by young Muslims, while they actually are a huge part of the mainstream audience who buy entertainment products. Their stories have not been illustrated yet in pop culture, while there is a need for this new genre that helps them channel their emotions. It also gives them a nice and dynamic platform to be young and to explore their identity.

60% of the World’s Muslim population is younger than 23. They go through life without Muslim Hollywood heroes, because they are not seen as the mainstream and because Hollywood does not seem to like happy and fashionable Muslims. I could have recorded love songs, or exotic songs with modern oriental beats, but instead I decided to take a leap of faith and create songs that represent the emotions and experiences that the current Muslim youth silently go through.

Then about the sound: Western people expect me to make world music, which is super cool, but I was raised in the west and I believe that native Arab singers can do a better job than me in this genre. Muslims expect me to sing Nasheed, which is beautiful…on Jumaa ;-), but very safe and not mainstream enough for me. It does not break barriers and it’s a small niche market, while I like big stages ;-)

I eventually chose to work with Erik Rico and Tyson Leeper, two heavy industry producers in Hollywood because they believed in my vision and because they could help me make this album sound ‘Big’, while keeping the arrangements authentic and with the mix of acoustic instruments and electronic elements. See, I listen to music all day and I listen to everything that touches my heart. What I came to understand is that in the last decades jazz, hip hop, pop and soul music have caused a beautiful revolution that can be felt and seen everywhere in the world and in every part of society.

With this album I wanted to take it to the next level and create timeless songs that can easily be remixed into any pop culture genre while promoting a peaceful message. This album is like a diary. It reflects on life and it portraits moments, struggles and the issues we are dealing with in modern life. The struggles of the kids of Maghreb immigrants in Europe, who face racism, loss of identity, who deal with power struggles in broken families and the cry for inclusive societies and leadership that promotes equality and peace. I also try to simplify Islamic phrases to universal phrases, to make them more understandable for non muslims who appreciate my music from a universal point of view. Most people who listen to this album, say that it eases their soul.

Tell us about your latest collaboration with Malcolm Lateef Shabazz.
Brother Malcolm and I made one another’s acquaintance in Qatar (in the Middle East) during the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow Conference and became friends. We spoke until dawn about life and we listened to music. He left to the inauguration of President Obama and I wrote him a song. As soon as he heard the song, Malcolm spontaneously offered to collaborate in making a video clip to accompany it. Two versions were made, one for the regular music channels and another including interview bites in which Malcolm responds to her lyrics. He had never previously given a video interview. It was a pleasure to work with him and my goal was to make something that he would be proud of and that would make people smile from the inside. I believe we have succeeded to do so and hope that it will show that his grandfather’s legacy is still very much alive.

Who inspires you outside of the music scene?
My mother and my little nieces and nephews + all other mothers and all good fathers. Nurses, teachers, doctors, community leaders, the people who make the world go ’round.
I meet many amazing and courageous people every day and to be honest I hardly hang out with people in the music industry. No particular reason why ;-)

I live a very private offline ;-) life. My personal circle is very small. I just do my thing, rock the stage or the mic @ studio’s and go home to study (at the moment guitar) or write songs and scribbles or to cook healthy meals and chill.

What are your favorite instruments?
Many! I just picked up a new one, guitar, because on my next album I want to play it and I miss an instrument on stage! I love every instrument that is played with soul. It can be vocals or percussion, or piano, or a synth or electric bass or strings. I listen to vocal and instrumental music. It’s not the instrument that makes is sound beautiful, but the musician who plays it!

Your music is consciously Muslim in its themes, do you find that creativity and spirituality are interconnected, and if so, how do they impact one another in your life and work?
They do. When I started doing music, I wanted to become a good player. Then I grew older and wanted to become a musician. When I became a professional musician I wanted to have a peaceful and positive message. Then I discovered my legacy, my roots and it all came together. Then music evolved to become energy. I did not have to look far : )

Sometimes I work with people that I hardly know and who have never really spoken to, all we do is exchange music and chords and once we play music, we fully understand each other and good energy fills the room. People in the audience leave with peace in their hearts and with a big smile. Once you choose this road you can only become more poetic. I hope to do an album one day filled with happy love songs. I have a lifetime of recordings ahead of me ;-) Music has a healing power. I believe so!

Your listed musical inspirations ( Coltrane, Khaled, A Tribe Called Qwest ) are quite diverse stylistically, yet carry an unmistakably positive energy in their message. Do you feel that artists can influence audiences beyond the immediate sensory experience of music and impact the world in a social sense as well?
Yes, absolutely! The list was much longer btw. I believe that artists influence us all the time all day. In positive and in negative ways, depending on which culture or lifestyle they represent. Artists dare to say and do things that most people are scared to do or say. There is this ‘other space’ that they’re in, where they seem to get away with saying and doing almost anything. Some artists help shape society (Bono, Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Jill Scot Heron, Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, J Dilla, Tupac etc…) Others help us celebrate life or help us overcome pain (Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Chaka Khan, etc..). Some are there because they want to push boundaries, the so called enfants terrible who showcase hedonism and reach out to an audience who need to feel liberated by them (Jay-Z, Kanye, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna and all the other diva’s and players).

Icons like Fairuz Um Kalthum are the voices of the Middle East. In the Muslim contemporary scene we have a few cool cats as well, Tribe Call Quest, K’Naan, Meshell N’Degeochello, Mos Def, Kumasi, Tyson, Amir Sulaiman, Suheir Hammad, Sofia Servando Baig, The Narcicist, Yuna, Shadia Mansour, Lupe Fiasco, Khalil Ismail, One Be Lo. This group is growing rapidly and each of them has a unique message. Can you imagine life and the world without music and poetry?

North Africa’s history is marked by a diverse cultural fusion of African and Arab worlds, do you feel growing up with this heritage of openness and multiculturalism helps your music reach a more universal audience?
Ab-So-Lu-Te-Ly! Lawd have mercy on me hehehe! I am half Moroccan, Half Algerian. Half Arab and half Berber. That means I love beats and melodies haha! And to make it even more plural….I grew up in Amsterdam. Yes, of all places in the world…Amsterdam. Need I say more? ;-)

The Islamic world has an incredibly rich artistic heritage in both art, poetry & literature that has seen a revival in recent years. As a Muslim and a poet ( among other things ), do you feel your work continues that tradition?
I hope so. At least it is recognized to do so. I’m the only female singer on the Muslim 500 list and I am an active member of MLT and WISE. 3 years ago I performed and spoke for the US-Islamic World Forum in Qatar for Muslim and Western Leaders about the potential of contemporary Muslim music, which was warmly embraced by both groups. I also regularly seek advice from my peers to make sure that I am on point. It is important to engage in dialogue and to know what Islam is from a Global perspective as well as from a scholarly, a holistic and an artistic perspective. You can cause harm, by not studying the basic principles first. If you send out the wrong message you are not only hurting the person whom you have affected, but also the Ummah. And Because I am half of everything, I feel a deep need to bring worlds together… Life has put me in a position where I do that in the public sphere, in the mainstream. It took me many years to get over my stage fright and I while I have become a person who loves the studio and the stage, I remain a shy person. Not because I am afraid of anything, but it’s because the music industry is a man’s world and I want to do big things, I want to make an impact. I’ve struggled to become an artist, I can relate to the pain of many, but how do you brand yourself and remain authentic?

I wasn’t ready to do a video until now. Why?  because I didn’t feel strong enough. In a time when Islam is being attacked in ways that are scary sometimes, what we Muslims do is suffer in silence, we think about it and pray for better days. We say, Insha’Allah Gheyr. We leave it to the politicians and the scholars.

I believe that in 2010, a time when media, pr and branding dominate the worldview of the mainstream, that Muslim art can absolutely have a function and a role in the struggles we face today. Art can support the important work that our community leaders and media people are doing, because the youth relate to cool stuff and everyone is looking for inspiration after a long day of hard work. It does not have to be propaganda, it can simply be culture. It can be a beautiful artistic experience. 2010 every phone is a multi media player. Apps are becoming the newest music carriers. Fill those players with inspiration. With comfort and wisdom. Our prophet pbuh, was ahead of his time, he was a revolutionary. We must continue to stay ahead of time.

Thank you for your time, Rajae!

Farid Benyaa is an Algerian painter who has been practicing fine art for the past 25 years. His work expresses traditional Arab culture of North Africa, with it’s rich and vivid palette that is a hallmark of North African visual language. Farid’s work, however, takes that aesthetic even further with bold, almost impressionistic aesthetic.

See more of Farid’s work at his official site.

I’ve wanted to write a piece about Iraqi-Canadian artist Sundus Abdul Hadi even before I met her, that’s how drawn to her work I was. I knew of her art through her husband, The Narcicyst, a hip-hop artist. And it is through him that I finally met the charming Sundus, and I proceeded to tell her about this yet to be published in my mind piece. Thankfully, she was thrilled, and I opted to do an interview where Sundus gives us a look about her influences, her connection to Iraq and most recent work.

Let’s talk about WARCHESTRA. I won’t ask you what inspired it because looking at the paintings, it’s obvious, but I want to know what elements you’ve taken from Arab-Iraqi-Islamic culture, and have incorporated it into this work?

Coming from an Art History background, I’ve always looked beyond the course textbook for a history of art that speaks to my culture. I’ve been lucky to have inherited my parents library of books on Arab-Iraqi-Islamic art, from books on Islamic manuscript paintings, to Ancient Sumerian art, to Iraqi Modern Art. I would say those three elements have influenced me more than anything I learnt during my years at University. In previous works, I’ve used compositional elements from Al-Wasiti, a 13th century Iraqi artist famous for the Maqamat of al-Hariri (Mesopotamia was Robbed), and until today, I’m constantly referencing Ancient Sumerian mythology and aesthetic (The Battle for Sumer, Inanna in Damascus, The Rise and Fall of Civilization from WARCHESTRA).

Who are some of your influences?
Two modern Iraqi artists that constantly inspire me are Mahood Ahmed and Jawad Salim. Also, I come from a family of artists. My mother, Sawsan alSarraf , is an amazing artist and a huge influence in my life, as is my father, who is an architect. My sister Tamara is a photojournalist, and her images constantly inspire me. I always say that my artwork is a visually linked to my husbands music, The Narcicyst. My cousin Nawaf (A.K.A. Nofy Fannan) was a big influence on my life and art, and was always encouraging me to make art until his untimely passing in 2004.

You said you divided your time between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada, how do you feel that has shaped your identity? And which place do you feel more at home?
I left the UAE more than 15 years ago to become an immigrant in Canada. Since I was a child, I was always told that the UAE is not my home and that Iraq is my homeland. Growing up in the UAE in the 80’s and 90’s was a beautiful childhood, but those memories are underlaid with the fact that, as Iraqi citizens, we had no right to call it our home. I guess I would say that I’ve divided my time between Canada and the Middle East, because since immigrating, I have tried to make regular trips to Amman, Beirut, and Dubai to visit my ever-nomadic family. My soul lives in the Middle East. As for where I feel at home? Unfortunately, the reality of being an Iraqi immigrant is that there is no place to call home. My home is Baghdad, but I have been deprived of it due to political interference, lack of security, and geographic dislocation. Canada is where I feel safe, and reminded everyday of my privilege.

Ideally, where would you like to see your work displayed?
IRAQ. And anywhere, everywhere.

You’ve recently visited Iraq. Prior to this visit, when was the last? And how did it affect you?
I was in Baghdad in December 2009, after a 5 year hiatus. Every year since 2004, I have told myself that I will go to Baghdad that year. Every year, the situation was deteriorating and the violence accelerating, and I was advised against going. This year, I wasn’t going to take no for an answer and decided to go for a very short and unplanned 6-day visit. I spent 5 beautiful days in Baghdad, and one horrifying day in hell. That day was the day of the quintuple bombings on December 8th. No one should have to experience the terror that is inflicted on an almost daily basis in Iraq, but unfortunately, the Iraqi people have had to endure years of it. Whereas I succumbed to shock, those around me were still standing strong. That is both inspiring and disturbing. My time in Baghdad is sacred to me, and the experiences I have when I’m there stay with me for a long time after. I consider it as “refueling”. I feel fully alive in Iraq, wide-eyed, alert, and extremely inspired by the land. I would say that my last visit has affected me a lot, as I got to spend 2 of my 6 days there at the Iraqi Museum of Modern Art, which is now the Ministry of Culture. As an artist, being in the presence of artworks by Iraq’s pioneers (Ruwaad) was overwhelming. The best part was that I was documenting the remaining works at the Museum since the looting of 2003 and got to photograph over 200 paintings, and given an exclusive tour by Salah Abbas, the editor in chief of Tashkeel Magazine (published at the Museum, about Iraqi contemporary art). To that experience I owe my thanks to Dr. Nada Shabout and the Iraqi Art Archive.

Suddenly, there seems to be an emergence of Middle-Eastern/Muslim art. It’s as if artists have finally developed the courage to come out per say. There’s an increase in magazines, blogs, galleries, films, music, what are your thoughts on this?
There is no emergence of Middle Eastern/Muslim art because we never stopped making art. It is not the artists who have had the courage and come out, but rather, the industry that has finally made space for us. At the same time, its really difficult not to be “neo”-orientalized by a Western art industry who are suddenly fascinated by Arab artists. Moreover, as Arab/Muslim/Middle Eastern artists (the terms are so politicized!), we have to make sure we don’t orientalize ourselves to a Western audience. As Arabs, we are an under-represented people in all industries but the media, where we’re over-exposed.

What’s next for you?
Next up is getting as many eyes and ears to devour the WARCHESTRA series and filling the void of Iraqi art in the art industry in general. Each piece is about a specific aspect of the Iraq war, so I really hope that people can learn something about the war that is often swept aside in the media. Culturally, Iraq is so under-represented and I hope to contribute something to its cultural production during these dark times. Historically speaking, the dark ages are classified as such because no cultural production was preserved for that period of history. I do not want that to happen to Iraq as a result of the US occupation and ongoing war. As an artist, it is my responsibility to depict the current events of my country and get viewers to think on it, not simply consume it.
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More about Sundus can be found here, on WARCHESTRA’S site, and on her blog.
If you’re in Toronto, make sure to stop by the Toronto Free Gallery for the WARCHESTRA solo exhibit opening April 24th at 4pm.

Submissions are open for the Arab Film Festival 2010 till May 15th. The festival will run at San Francisco and LA and includes competitions for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short. For more info on submission details please check the guidelines at the official AFF site.

Rajae El Mouhandiz is a singer and musician based in Amsterdam, combining contemporary soul and traditional Moroccan sufi infuences in her music that sounds both universal and intimately Middle Eastern. Her second album, “Hand of Fatima” is out now. You can listen to some of the tracks from the new album at her MySpace page.

Bilingua is a typeface by a prominent Iranian designer and typographer Kambiz Shafei. Perhaps one of the most original fusions of Persian Arabic and Latin scripts to date, the type intelligently combines traditional Arabic/Persian script sensibility with a solid understanding of Latin typography, resulting in a typeface that feels organic and consistent across two different script systems.

Check out more of Kambiz Shafei’s work at his site.

“My Name Is Khan” is the latest film exploring the American Muslim identity in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks through a story of an autistic man. The film stars Shahrukh Khan, a famous Bollywood actor in his first appearance in a film destined for global audiences. The film has already become the most successful premiere in Indian cinema history.