This week, Peter Gould spreads the word about a calligrapher who expands her artistic boundaries to venture into entirely different realms of expression. Soraya Sanders is a gifted calligrapher based in the UK. Her recent project, Hurriyah (video below; meaning “Freedom” in Arabic), is a stunning creative fusion of calligraphy, animation and dance. Soraya has pushed and shifted the … Read more
In the late 1980s, feminism in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) context gained prominence in international debate. Research addressed “the status of women in Muslim countries through two frames: the inhibiting effects of Islam and the potential for reform through norms building.” Many contemporary scholars concluded, “Islam, specifically the prevailing interpretations of Islamic … Read more
Also known as Abdul Hakim Jackson, Dr Sherman A. Jackson is an American scholar who is King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture. Watch his moving tribute to Muslim women all around the world for wearing the hijab. Also the Professor of Religion and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, … Read more
The “Happy British Muslims” video to Pharrell’s hit is trending, but Elest Ali explains why it’s not just harmless fun. If you’ve been plugged into social media lately, you’d know about the video-meme phenomenon for that Pharrell Williams “Happy” track, which spawned a new viral: the one with the very enthusiastic Muslims in it. Brought to us by … Read more
Azu Nwagbogu sits in a futuristic, almond-green armchair created by a young Nigerian designer in his Lagos home, surrounded by hundreds of books and dozens of photographs from floor to ceiling. Nwagbogu is the founder of LagosPhoto, an annual festival started five years ago that has since become one of the biggest photography festivals in … Read more