Ramzi Salti: LAU Lecture about Jawdat Haydar (November 2022)

Watch video at https://youtu.be/kfQYPcwJnlk

Dr. Ramzi Salti's lecture titled “Combining East and West: Jawdat Haydar’s Unique School of Thought” was delivered on November 11, 2022 at the Lebanese American University (LAU).

By special invitation by the Department of Communication, Arts and Languages in collaboration with the Friends of Jawdat Haydar. This is an annual event held at LAU to celebrate the late poet Jawdat Haydar. 

Watch video below or at https://youtu.be/kfQYPcwJnlk

Video includes footage from post-lecture visit to the Memorial Room of Jawdat Haydar at Riyad Nassar Library. Date: Friday, November 11, 2022Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lecture Hall 903, Beirut campus. 

Dr. Ramzi Salti has been a Lecturer in Arabic at Stanford University since 1999. He has also taught a wide array of courses in several other universities in the USA and Jordan. His fields of interest include postcolonial theory, Pop Culture, and the use of technology to enhance language proficiency in the classroom. Dr. Salti has published a collection of short stories under the title: The Native Informant & Other Stories: Six Tales of Defiance from the Arab World and consistently publishes essays and articles in such journals as World Literature Today, The International Fiction Review, The Journal of Arabic Literature and Notes on Contemporary Literature. His doctoral dissertation, which surveys the (mis)representations of marginalized sexualities in Arabic literature, has been published in several scholarly journals. Dr. Salti is also the host of a popular radio show/podcast called "Arabology."

Watch video at https://youtu.be/kfQYPcwJnlk

Ramzi Salti at KASLIK: Lecture on Jawdat Haydar (Nov 8, 2022)

Watch video at https://youtu.be/Q44-47WUxAE

Here is the video recording of Dr. Ramzi Salti's talk titled "Global Themes, Language, and Social Implications in the Works of Jawdat Haydar" which was delivered on Tuesday, November 8 at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) in Jounieh, Lebanon.

Lecture was followed by a presentation of a short movie about Jawdat Haydar.

Watch the video below or at https://youtu.be/Q44-47WUxAE

Lebanese Dance Troupe Mayyas Wins "America's Got Talent" (17th Season)

Lebanese dance group Mayyas مياس  has just won TV's  “America’s Got Talent” 17th season--including its $1 million prize and a headlining show at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  In doing so, the all-female dance troupe brought much joy and pride to their native country which has been in turmoil for years.

In their breathtaking winning performance in the finale, Mayyas brought together traditional belly-dancing techniques from the Arab world combined with influences from India.  

Watch at https://youtu.be/G5MyQdGsQOo

During the climactic final number, the group formed a snow-covered cedar tree, Lebanon’s national symbol--a move that left audiences worldwide in awe.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati congratulated Mayyas on social media, while President Michel Aoun said that he will award the dancers Order of Merit medallions upon their return.

Mayyas first excited AGT fans with an amazing audition in June 2022. Judge Sofia Vergara was so impressed that she gave the group her Golden Buzzer and sent them straight to the live shows. She remained the Mayyas's strongest supporter among the judges this season.

Watch at https://youtu.be/ZD0doCSkBY8

New Netflix Series "Mo" Defies Stereotypes, Entertains, Educates

You may already recognize Mo Amer for playing a sidekick on the Hulu hit series Ramy but you’re about to rediscover him as the star of his own Netflix series, Mo, which began streaming on Netflix (USA) on August 24, 2022.

Mo is a semi-autobiographical dramedy about a Palestinian refugee “laughing the pain away” as he tries to navigate life in Houston and the US immigration system.

Watch the trailer below or at https://youtu.be/dtohea4CFbE

Ramzi Salti Moderates Discussion of Lebanese Film "1982" in San Francisco (July 31 at 4:30 pm)

Screening and Q&A on Sunday July 31 at 4:30 pm (Opera Cinema Plaza in SF)

The critically acclaimed Lebanese film "1982" is playing in the bay area this week and Dr. Ramzi Salti will be conducting a Q&A with the Director Oualid Moueness following the 4:30 pm film screening on Sunday July 31 at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco.  

The film stars Lebanese superstar Nadine Labaki (Capernaum, Caramel) and Mohamad Dalli (in his acting debut) alongside an extraordinary ensemble cast of professional and non-professional actors (In Arabic and some English, with English Subtitles).

1982 is a life-affirming coming-of-age tale set at an idyllic school in Lebanon’s mountains on the eve of a looming invasion. It unfolds over a single day and follows an 11-year-old boy’s relentless quest to profess his love to a girl in his class. As the invasion encroaches on Beirut, it upends the day, threatening the entire country and its cohesion. Within the microcosm of the school, the film draws a harrowing portrait of a society torn between its desire for love and peace and the ideological schisms unraveling its seams. In his debut feature, writer/director Oualid Mouaness delivers an ode to innocence in which he revisits one of the most cataclysmic moments in Lebanon’s history through the lens of a child and his vibrant imagination. The film demonstrates the complexities of love and war, and the resilience of the human spirit. 

Watch the film trailer below or at https://youtu.be/ly1jyhqyj7w

The film screened at OPERA PLAZA CINEMA located at 601 Van Ness Avenue, near San Francisco's Civic Center, San Francisco, CA, 94102.

Egyptian Oudist Ramy Adly Releases New Album

Ramy Adly's The Siege is now available on all platforms

Egyptian American musician and Master of the Oud Ramy Adly has just released a new album titled The Siege in which he is accompanied by an orchestra and the Oud in taking listeners on a musical journey that is fueled with feelings of pride but also despair.  the record is about those lives affected in wars throughout human history.

Ramy’s songs include the track Sahara, which takes us along the vast, warm desert, then to the waters of the shores in Alexandria, Egypt.  Listen to this track below or at this link.

 

Ramy Adly is an American/Egyptian artist, young master of the Oud, the versatile Guitar- like instrument that shaped Arab classical music. Grounded in the main Middle Eastern, ancient Egypt and the Arab classical styles thanks to rigorous training in his native Egypt, Adly has branched out repeatedly, incorporating jazz idioms and embracing conversations with other large musicians around the world.

​Adly has performed around the Middle East, Europe, and North America. He has composed music for theater and film, and gathered a large number of students around the world, via an innovative online curriculum he created, called School of Oud Online. His sensitive, robust playing has been heard from the Library at Alexandria to American cathedrals and schools. Now based in Washington, DC, Adly continues to expand the possibilities of his instrument. “I want to bring the oud to the same level as the guitar culturally, the instrument that’s everywhere and can do everything,” he exclaims.

​For Adly, the oud has always been like a member of the family. Nearly everyone in his family played the oud when he was growing up in Cairo, including uncles, siblings, and his beloved grandfather, who gave him his first introduction to the complex, evocative instrument. “I grew up listening to the oud,” he recalls.

Listening is one thing, and mastering the instrument another. Adly plunged into his study of this age-old instrument at the Arab Oud House, with Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma. Adly found himself practicing for a dozen hours a day, and loving it. "It was a lot like the system Paganini established for his students," Adly explains. “You have to go through the fire to be trained as a performer and composer. I graduated as both composer and soloist.”

​Under Shamma’s direction, Adly played at major Cairo venues as part of small chamber groups and large orchestral ensembles. He performed at international oud conferences, book conventions, film festivals, and, notably, at the Library in Alexandria, where he became an Artist in Residence and gave numerous talks on the history of music (including one as part of a TEDx event at the Library).

For more info, see ramyadly.wixsite.com/

New Podcast and Music by Yacoub Abu Ghosh

Yacoub Abu Ghosh's new podcast is now available on all online platforms

Yacoub Abu Ghosh يعقوب ابو غوش  has recently launched a new podcast in which he highlights and discusses some of the most influential musicians and singers in the Arab world and beyond. He has also been releasing a slew of groundbreaking music which is now available on most online platforms as well as on his YouTube Channel.

Yacoub's new podcast (in Arabic) is called ليش أسمع  [Why Should I Listen] and thus far includes 9 episodes that seek to highlight a slew of influential musicians/singers, ranging from Nancy Ajram to Michael Jackson,  Each episode is eloquently presented by Yacoub who provides detailed info about each artist or genre.  The Playlist for this podcast is available below or at this link.

 

In addition to his new podcast, Yacoub Abu Ghosh has released an new and exciting 2-part musical project titled اشتقنا للشام  [We Miss Damascus] in which he brilliantly resurrects visual and musical pieces that so many will associate with the rich cultural heritage of Damascus and Syria.  The first part features popular songs from Syria's golden age, rearranged by Yacoub and featuring female vocalist Salwa Jaradat. Watch below or at this link.

 اشتقنا للشام ١ تتكون من ثلاث أغاني:- عالمايا عالمايا - من التراث الفراتي - محبوب قلبك - من تراث السويداء وجبل العرب - يا طيرة طيري يا حمامة - من تراث حلب الشهباء فكرة، إعادة توزيع وتنفيذ: يعقوب أبو غوش غناء: سلوى جرادات كلارينت: غسان أبو حلتم إي بيانو: يوسف مشربش مونتاج وإخراج الفيديو: أحمد زكي الجريري

In the second part, Yacoub is joined by Yazan Elrousan  يزن الروسان in highlighting the music of the late Fouad Ghazi.  The result is a brilliant 3-song tribute that will appeal to all generations.  Listen below or at this link.

اشتقنا للشام ٢ هي الأغنية الثانية في مشروع اشتقننا للشام. الأغنية تتكون من ثلاثة أغاني للفنان العظيم الراحل فؤاد غازي، أحد عمالقة الموسيقى الشامية في القرن العشرين. اشتقنا للشام ٢ تتكون من ثلاث أغاني: - تعب المشوار- كلمات حسين حمزة، ألحان زهير عيساوي - صف الفشك - كلمات وألحان سهيل عرفة - لازرعلك بستان ورود - ألحان عبد الفتاح سكر فكرة، إعادة توزيع وتنفيذ: يعقوب أبو غوش غناء: يزن الروسان كلارينت: غسان أبو حلتم إي بيانو: يوسف مشربش مونتاج وإخراج الفيديو: أحمد زكي الجريري

Yacoub Abu Ghosh is a Jordanian composer, performer, producer and arranger who is considered one of the pioneers of alternative music in Jordan. His 15-year music career and experiences established some of the leading bands in Jordan’s alternative music scene; such as Sign of Thyme, with whom he released two highly acclaimed albums: “Like All People" including a unique fusion of jazz and funk music that has attracted an unfailing streak of sold-out venues in Amman for over 18 months.

To stay updated with latest projects by Yacoub Abu Ghosh:

• Instagram: instagram.com/yacoub_abu_ghosh/
• YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/boog3eeman
• Facebook Page: facebook.com/yacoub.ghosh

Tarik Saleh's "Boy from Heaven" Makes a Splash at Cannes Film Festival 2022

Boy from Heaven (Arabic title ولد من الجنة) is one of very few recent films that have dared to address the increasing tension between religion and state in Egypt today--a fact that was explained by Director Tarik Saleh's comment at Cannes in which he stated that “Egyptians who live in Egypt cannot tell the story. It’s impossible to do so.” Saleh, a Swedish citizen now, took a risk in making this film and, judging from the response that he received at Cannes this year, his efforts seem to have paid off.

Tawfeek Barhom as Adam in Boy from Heaven

The setting is Al-Azhar Mosque/University in Cairo is known as "the Seat of all Muslim Learning"--but the film was actually in shot in Istanbul. This new location allowed Saleh to film truly gorgeous and powerful scenes, settings, characters and colors--beautifully edited and interwoven so as to capture and retain the attention of the audience throughout the film (which runs over 2 hours).

Tarik Saleh's Boy from Heaven: Official clip from Cannes Film Festival 2022

The film stars Tawfeek Barhom (Adam), Fares Fares (Ibrahim) and Mohammad Bakri (General Al Sakra). It has received rave reviews by (mostly) Western critics after it screened at Cannes but has also proven to be quite controversial in certain countries, particularly Egypt where it has reportedly been banned.

Director Tarik Saleh + cast at the Cannes film festival 2022

This is not the first controversial film by Director Tarik Saleh whose movie The Nile Hilton Incident caused quite a debate upon its release in 2017 (see trailer below).

"The Blue Caftan" Film Review (by Dr. Ramzi Salti)

The Blue Caftan  (2022) is one of the most moving films I have ever seen, not only in terms of Arabic films but as a global cinematographic gem.  

Lubna Azabal (left) and and Saleh Bakri in The Blue Caftan

Directed by Maryam Touzani  (who wrote and directed the unforgettable Moroccan film Adam two years ago) this film takes on the topic of gay men who, all too often in certain societies, get married to a woman who, sadly, becomes victimized twice over--once by society and once by her troubled husband who cannot reveal the secret of his torment to her.

Lubna Azabal (left) and and Saleh Bakri in The Blue Caftan

Unlike most such narratives, however, The Blue Caftan spotlights the often dismissed feelings of the wife's feelings in such situations; her experience, for once, transcends her attempt to coexist and/or completely reject her husband's secret love.  Her pain, her view, her empathy--even her flaws--are all brought to the forefront here,  She matters in this film and we find ourselves rooting as much for her as we do for the husband who, despite being gay, does not simply act out on his feelings without any consideration for his wife and her needs.

Left to right: Ayoub Messioui, Lubna Azabal and Saleh Bakri in The Blue Caftan

COURTESY OF LES FILMS DU NOUVEAU MONDE - ALI N' PRODUCTIONS - VELVET FILMS - SNOWGLOBE

The married couple is played here by two seasoned Arab actors, Lubna Azabal and Saleh Bakri, both of whom deliver stunning performances.  There are no outdated representations of a typical love triangle here, just a series of tender and unanticipated moments that restore one's faith in love as well as in the the power of cinema.

Ayoub Messioui (left) Lubna Azabal and Saleh Bakri in The Blue Caftan

Film review above by Dr. Ramzi Salti

PLOT SUMMARY:

Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with the commands of the demanding customers, they hire Youssef. The talented apprentice shows an utmost dedication in learning the art of embroidery and tailoring from Halim. Slowly Mina realizes how much her husband is moved by the presence of the young man.

MORE ABOUT THIS FILM:

• The Blue Caftan (French title: Le bleu du caftan) is in Arabic with English or French subtitles.
• The film premiered this year in the 'Un Certain Regard' section at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The section name means "a certain glance" and it presents 20 films with unusual and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition
• Film is currently seeking U.S. distribution.
• Directed by Maryam Touzani. France/Morocco/Belgium/Denmark. 2022. 122 mins.

Stanford MACA Banquet Honors Hussam Ayloush

The 2022 Muslim American Contribution Award (MACA) Banquet took place on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Stanford University.  This year, the MACA award was given to Hussam Ayloush (CAIR-California Executive).

"Hussam Ayloush has been [a] lifelong human rights and democracy activist for causes here and abroad. He took his current position as Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) in 1998.  Through his work at CAIR, Hussam engages elected officials, law enforcement, media, and the public to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice. As an expert on American Muslim issues, Hussam regularly appears on local, national, and international media; and frequently speaks at schools, Islamic centers, churches, conferences, and universities." [Source: CAIR website]

Warsha Wins Sundance Short Film Jury Award (International Fiction)

Scene from Warsha, Directed by Dania Bdeir

I first heard about the Lebanese short film Warsha when its Director Dania Bdeir was awarded the Short Film Jury Award (International Fiction) at the Sundance Festival (2022). Now that I've watched it, I can safely say that it more than lives up to the hype.

Everything about this film oozes with originality, from the theme to the cinematography to the acting to the soundtrack in which Umm Kuthum is remixed and resurrected in a subversive way.

Scene from Warsha

Khansa's performance as the lead is brilliant; although the character never utters a word, he leaves us stunned and amazed through powerful gestures, body movement, and facial expressions.

This is a courageous film that tackles issues related to gender, identity and the refugee crisis in a variety of unexpected ways.

On a side note, I was delighted to see Khansa in the main role, having interviewed this amazing performance artist/singer for my radio show a few years ago.  Since then, I had followed his amazing music videos and performance clips on YouTube but to see him star in this film takes our Lebanese icon to a whole other level.

You can listen to my interview with Khansa directly at THIS LINK or below (go to 37:07) 

arabology · Arabology 13.2 [Shubbak Festival 2019 Ft Interviews with Bu Kolthoum, Khansa, Juliana Yazbeck]

Ramzi Salti Interviews Director + Cast of "Salma's Home"

Watch at https://youtu.be/sm4GU10T0E0

Dr. Ramzi Salti recently interviewed Salma's Home Director Hanadi Elyan + Cast Rania Kurdi, Sameera Asir, and the legendary Juliet Awad.  This audio-visual interview was recorded at KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University) on April 13, 2022 and is available below or at https://youtu.be/sm4GU10T0E0

Salma's Home بيت سلمى film description: Three Arab women living in modern day Jordan must put their differences aside and work together in order to survive. For more info: salmashome.com

بيت سلمى من بطولة الفنانة القديرة جوليت عواد و النجمة رانيا الكردي و المبدعة سميرة الأسير اخراج هنادي عليان.  يمكنكم مشاهدة مقابلة الدكتور رمزي سلطي مع مخرجة الفيلم وبطلاته الثلاثة عبر هذا الرابط.

Watch this interview above or at https://youtu.be/sm4GU10T0E0

Zaina Shihabi Highlights Women Composers and Performers in Egypt

Dr. Zaina Shihabi's article titled "A Brief Historical and Sociological Examination of Twentieth Century Arab Women Composers and Performers in Egypt" has been published in Part II of The Routledge Handbook of Women's Work in Music (2022). More info at this link.

ABSTRACT:
From as far back as the turn of the twentieth century, when Egypt was still under British occupation, women in Egypt have been utilizing music as a medium in order to speak out against injustice. This research examines the position of Arab women as composers from a historical and sociological perspective by providing content analysis of online magazine articles, newspaper articles and blogs in both English and Arabic. A literature review identifies a gap in the research, which is the lack of academic scholarship concerning individual Arab women composers and their accomplishments throughout history. Opportunities are identified for further research concerning the history of women in Arabic music over the past century. The article concludes with an argument that women in the Arab world have played a large role in shaping the history of music, and that contemporary Arab women composers continue to utilise music in order to create change.

MORE INFO ABOUT BOOK:
The Routledge Handbook of Women's Work in Music (1st Edition) was first published in 2021; Imprint Routledge; 9 pages; eBook ISBN9780429201080

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Zaina Shihabi is a researcher and IB Diploma Programme Coordinator currently teaching DP Theory of Knowledge and English Language & Literature at an IB World School in Malaysia. Her doctoral thesis (2019) was supervised by Dr. Laura Hamer (Music, The Open University) and Dr. Joseph Maslen (Education, Liverpool Hope University) and has been examined by Professor Pamela Burnard (Education, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Manuella Blackburn (Music, Keele University). Her current interests include researching learning theories and differentiated instruction. For more, see this link.

Health Needs of the MENA Region at Stanford School of Medicine

The Stanford Med MENA program aims to leverage Stanford Med’s expertise in health research, training, and education and apply them to the MENA region. They are building cross-cultural health research and implementation programming that informs policy. The program sends Stanford physicians and trainees to MENA for training, and brings MENA physicians and trainees to Stanford. The team is working to partner locally to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery in MENA. Stanford MENA Health is looking for advisors to join the board, and donors for their two programs.

With seed funding from our Stanford President and Dean of Medicine, the new MENA Health Program is focused on understanding and responding systematically to the health needs of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The project heads are Dr. Gary Darmstadt and Laila Soudi from Stanford. They work on three fronts: innovative community-led research, specialized education for health professionals, and regional training for organizations to inform health policy.

If you are interested in supporting their mission of building sustainable and preventive healthcare systems in the MENA region, please go to https://menahealth.stanford.edu/

VISION: A predictive and preventive healthcare system that is driven by data and local talent to maintain wellness and serve the health needs of the MENA population.

Check out this interview Laila Soudi, Founder and Director Stanford Med | MENA Health Program (Courtesy of TechWadi)

What is the healthcare landscape in the region?

The healthcare landscape in MENA is full of potential—yet also fraught with inefficiencies. MENA regional governmental spending exceeds $50B yearly without directly measurable impact. Our region comprises >6% of the world’s population yet contributes only 1.5% of scientific papers yearly. We lose 1.5M+ lives early that could have been saved with appropriate data and response. We spend money on short-term, culturally inappropriate, and costly solutions from abroad versus building local capacity. With the right research, education, and training, we can save lives and build a more robust healthcare system to better serve all MENA populations.

Can you tell us more about your journey?

Originally from the Middle East, born to a Syrian father and a Palestinian mother, I started going to refugee camps at the age of 13 in Jordan. Then, it became clear to me that working to ensure better access to healthcare for all populations across Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was precisely my mission. After graduating with an undergrad in Psychology/Neuroscience from UC Berkeley and an MSc in Global Health Sciences from UCSF, I joined Stanford University School of Medicine as a neuroscience researcher examining early onset mood disorders. I used this job as an opportunity to meet faculty members across the University and, a year later, met the Vice Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford Med who offered me an opportunity as the first ever global mental health researcher to examine stress and anxiety in MENA refugee populations. In this role, I traveled to 6+ countries and talked to thousands of refugees about their experiences as well as implemented 2 large scale public health programs.

During my time in Greece, at the height of the Syrian refugee crisis, I appealed to Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne to do more to support refugees. After a pitch meeting with the President’s Office, I was personally funded and appointed to lead the University’s response to the refugee crisis, where I built several programs across the University (from health to education and coding) that continue to help refugees. Less than one year ago, I returned to the President’s office and pitched a base for Stanford Medicine in the Middle East. My request was approved and supported by the University’s highest leadership, including the President and Dean of Medicine. This is now the Stanford Med | MENA Health Program with a goal to serve everyone—regardless of ethnicity—in the MENA region.

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For more info please see https://menahealth.stanford.edu/
Special thanks to Zeena Khazendar, a student at Stanford and an associate with the Stanford Med | MENA Health Program, for sharing this info with us.