Ramzi Salti's Arabology

I was asked by Mr. Simon Sfeir to blog about a rare item that he would like to sell: "Al-Hilal" Magazine (Vol XXVI 15.5x23.5 cm N4 January 1918) signed (in English) by the Lebanese American poet Kahlil ,Gibran, جبران خليل جبران , author of The Prophet. The magazine honors Jurji Zeidan.  See pictures below provided by Mr. Simon Sfeir (as well as an article in Arabic about the item, written by Mr. Simon Sfeir himself). If you are interested in bidding on this item, please e-mail Mr. Simon Sfeir directly at simondesfeir@yahoo.com .  Please do not contact me as I have no further knowledge or info about this item. Kahlil Gibran's signature is on the top left side The issue is dedicated to Jurji Zeidan Cover of Al-Hilal Magazine, Jan 1918 زيدان.. 150 سنة على الرحيل ولوحة نادرة له أبدعها جبران خليل جبران تواكب تكريمه بقلم سيمون حبيب صفير simondesfeir@yahoo.com كيف نقبل كلبنانيين أن تمرّ ذكرى مرور مئة وخمسين سنة على ولادة الأديب الراحل جرجي زيدان (

Revolution Records—a.k.a. Thawrageya—is the first underground rap label and one of the pioneers in the Egyptian hip hop scene. The group was formed in 2006 by teMraz and Ahmed Rock , along with C-Zar , Rooney Hoodstar , wild mc's and Shehab as music producer. Rebels at heart and based in Alexandria, they changed the Egyptian hip hop scene, bringing a new artistic rap that everyone can understand and creating simpler rap to deliver their revolutionary message to the largest number of people. They believe the music industry needs a revolution. Lifestyle needs a revolution. The way people think needs a revolution. So they decided to make a change—to be the unspoken words of the streets. Without the backing of a commercial label, they record their own tracks using a portable studio and software for recording, music producing, and sound engineering. Their rap is a mix between political, anger, light, philosophical, and realistic. And with every track they gain a larger audi

Beirut, I Love You: a Memoir  by visual artist and cultural activist Zena el Khalil, is a moving, spirited account of life in a city rife with contradictions; a city of rampant hedonism and social conservatism, a place where nightclubs throb even as it teeters on the brink of war. El Khalil and her friends, in the backdrop of the Lebanese Civil War and the 2006 Israeli invasion, struggle to defy the extreme poles of a city that, despite the enormous tolls it takes on their lives, is still a place they love and call home. Beirut, I Love You is ideal for students and professors with interests in a post-9/11 world, feminism, gender and cultural studies, memoir writing, literature and current events. This is an e-book only publication. About the author : Zena el Khalil was born in London in 1976 and has lived in Lagos, London, New York, Turin and Beirut. She is an installation artist, curator and cultural activist. During the July 2006 attacks on Lebanon, her blog beirutupdate.b

Jan 24 Episode ft Director Khaled Sayed (left) The January 24, 2013 Podcast of Arabology (Season 4 Episode 2) is available for free downloading/listening at the links below. This special episode is dedicated to the second year anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution and includes an exclusive interview with Khaled Sayed, the Egyptian-American Director of the award winning documentary "Egypt: The Story behind the Revolution.' The music on this show is by various Arab artists who provided the soundtrack to the Arab Spring (see playlist below). arabology · Arabology 4.2 [Music of the Egyptian Uprisings + Khaled Sayed Interview] Playlist for Arabology Thur, 24 January 2013 3-5 pm DJ: Ramzi S. Artist/Track/Album/Label 1. Essam, Ramy/ Taty Taty/ Elmedan/ Ramy Essam **2. Interview with Khaled Sayed/ Interview part 1/ Arabology/ KZSU 3. Masoud, Donia/ Ale Etgharab/ Mahatet Masr/ Donia Masoud 4. Banna, Rim/ The Absent One/ Revelation Of Ecstasy And Rebellion/ Kirkeli

Rim Banna/ Revelation of Ecstasy and Rebellion /2013/ Kirkelig Kulturverksted ريم بنّا--تجليات الوجد والثورة Over the past few years, Palestinian singer Rim Banna has seen the music she had created over the last decade become part of the Arab Spring's "soundtrack".  This is her latest album, released in 2013--a soothing, tranquil, powerful album that should be listened to in its entirety.  All tracks are in classical Arabic except 11. Lyrics are in many instances poems by such poets as Ibn Arabi ابن عربي (track 12), Badr Shaker Assaiab بدر شاكر السياب (tracks 2, 6, 7),  Mahmoud Darwish محمود درويش (track 4), Rashid Hussein راشد حسين (track 1), Al-Hallaj الحلاج (track 8) and Ibn Al-Farid ابن الفارض (tracks 3, 5, 10). Track 11 was written by Amara Al Omrani عمارة عمراني, a Tunisian prisoner who was tortured under the reign of Ben Ali. --All Tracks are FCC CLEAN— **1. The Absent One [Al-Gha’ib الغائب] A lamentation in classical Arabic which incorporates the Musli

Video at http://youtu.be/2IXQXVxeGbM BEIRUT PRINTS brings together a group of Lebanese photographers in addition to a few photographers of other nationalities to present works on the seemingly simple idea: reveal the other faces of Beirut. This city can sometimes be violent and war-ridden, flaunt provocative singers and dubious politicians. But it is also a lovely place to live in, full of stories and nooks… And through the medium of photography, BEIRUT PRINTS has found works and hence photographers who do just that: reveal the bright and dark side of Beirut, its poetry, mysteries and ordinary things. The journey began in 2011 with eight photographers: Eye Clot, Tony Elieh, David Hury, Mazen Jannoun, Ghadi Smat, Tanya Traboulsi, Toni Yammine and Lara Zankoul. Since March 2012, Laurent Denimal, Nadine Track, Christophe Rigaud, George Haddad, Kassim Dabaji, Melkan Bassil, Tania Shoukair, Rayya Haddad, Mikkita Kouta and Fred Willem have joined us. And many more will follow... BEIR

Artist Rachid Koraishi  in California, Feb 2013 Rachid Koraishi's work on display at Stanford Rachid Koraichi,  The Invisible Masters,  2008. Courtesy of October Gallery. Photo by Jonathan Greet Rachid Koraichi, recipient of the 2011 Jameel Prize, will be giving a talk titled “Eternity Is the Absence of Time” at Stanford's Cantor Museum/Arts Center on Thursday January 24 at 5:30 pm. The talk will take place against the backdrop of his award-winning work The Invisible Masters where Koraichi will discuss The Path of Roses , a series of installations that develop over time and in different locations. The Jameel Prize is the Victoria and Albert Museum's international art prize awarded to a contemporary artist or designer inspired by traditions of Islamic craft and design. Ten artists and designers were shortlisted. Koraichi's artwork is currently on display at Stanford's Cantor Museum as part of an exhibition [The Jameel Prize: Art Inspired by

Kerredine Soltani's first CD album released in 2012 Kerredine Soltani is a French singer/composer/music producer of Tunisian descent who was born and raised in France and has gained much popularity there through the years. He has single handedly been responsible for the success of such French singers as Zaz and has also collaborated with such talents as Tal , Sofia Essaïdi , Judith, Elisa Tovati and Caroline Costa . In 2012, Soltani launched a web series/parody titled « Je suis candidat pour 2012 ! » [I Am a Candidate for 2012] in which he addressed issues related to social inequality and the integration of immigrants in France (see http://www.youtube.com/user/kerredineofficiel ). As part of that effort, Soltani released a song/video clip titled ' J'veux m'intégrer ' [I Want to Integrate] in which the lyrics, sung in French by a Muslim in France in search of a job, humorously address Islamophobia, racism, stereotypes, and the reigning view of immigrants

Jordanian group Jadal's first single from their latest CD 'Al Makina' is the title track which has been released with an interesting video clip. The song 'El Makina' [The Machine] addresses varied issues related to social class systems, writers' contributions to the culture and very existence of their native country, the way that art and literature are often devalued in a modern context, working non-stop like a 'Machine' to be 'productive.' and, on a more personal note, finding someone to love regardless of one's earning ability. Here is the officially released video clip, followed by the lyrics (in Arabic): See  http://youtu.be/A8X-ZHGgap4 LYRICS: هذا حالي هيك خذيني مع مصاري أو بلا كيف مش مبالي لا أنا هيني ماشي وهيني بحرث زي الماكينة لو قالوي أغزو بلد لقتل كتّاب الشعر وكل حامل قلم هاي أفكار مش بس بتنكتب هاي ألحان تتغنّى لولد الولد ولو صار و ما حد كتب ما أسهل تمحي اسم أي بلد وحب وما بيكفيها قال وفن ما بطعميش الول

Born and raised in Alexandria, Donia Masoud began at a young age a three-year journey searching for and documenting Egyptian folk poetry and music. She traveled the length and breadth of the country, from Suez to Upper Egypt, to learn and study the musical repertoires of ordinary people. Upon her return, she founded her own independent troupe of musicians, with whom she now tours Europe, Asia and Africa performing Egyptian folkloric songs. --All Tracks are FCC CLEAN— **1. Hen Al Ola (2:10) Traditional Egyptian tune originating in the Upper Nile region. 2. . Mesh Eb Aleky (3:48) Donia’s vocals meshing with the sound of the reed (nay). About an older woman in love with a much younger man. 3. Nena El Gnena (3:20) Hypnotic track, a cappella. 4. Ya Lalale (6:38) Nice beat, simple shaabi tune. 5. Babee Yasmeen (6:16) Long nay/flute intro, sounds like a mawwal or lamentation. **6. Betnadeny (5:34) Sung to a female (by a female) who has been dumped for a man. **7. Donia Ya Donia (

--All Tracks are FCC CLEAN— This is the highly anticipated second album by the Jordanian rock group Jadal—the follow up to their classic first album ‘Arabic Rocks.’ "El Makina" contains 10 tracks that address social and personal issues pertinent to youth in the Middle East. Jadal sounds like a mix between Suystem of a Down and Jason Mraz. Composed and written by Mahmoud Radaideh. Vocals: Ahmad Zou’bi, Drums: Ammar Urabi, Bass: Amjad Shahrour, Guitars: Mahmoud Radaideh, Accordion: Hani Mezyan, Backing Vocals: Mahmoud Radaideh, Synthesizers:Bader Helalat. Mixing Engineer: David Scott. 1. Ghabeh B’eed (4:59) Steady rock ballad about going far away. 2. Ana Bakhaf Min El Commitment (4:20) Humorous track about being afraid of commitment. 3. Fe Nabd Ana Has (3:52).Rock ballad that starts slowly, picks up and becomes rock song. **4. El Makina (4:57) Title track is appealing, about working like a machine. Rock ballad. 5. I’m In Love with Wala Bint (3:30) S

Born and bred in Alexandria, Donia Massoud left for Cairo at the age of 21, alone and independent, to the outrage and chagrin of her family. After a number of experiences on stage, both singing and acting, Massoud began a three-year journey searching for and documenting folk poetry and music. She traveled the length and breadth of the country, from Suez to Upper Egypt, to learn and study the musical repertoires of ordinary people. On her return, she founded her own independent troupe of musicians, with whom she now tours Europe, Asia and Africa performing Egyptian folkloric songs. She also joined both the Fathi Salama group and Al- Warsha troupe, which gave her a way to be in touch with local audiences. All she has to do is step on stage, alone, and she takes on a very special character of her own -- a style she herself describes as "a coquettishness reminiscent of Shadia and Soaad Hosni [two legends of Egyptian cinema] as they were in the 1940s and 1950s." Here are

NEARER TO EAST: Chamber Music from the Arab World Saturday, January 12, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium 111 Amsterdam Avenue at W. 64th Street, New York City Free Admission Link to NYPL concert listing Composers whose works will be performed include Bushra El-Turk, Kareem Roustom, Zaid Jabri, Kinan Azmeh, Karim Al-Zand, Halim El-Dabh and Mohammed Fairouz. Performers include Lunatics at Large Ensemble and special guests Kathleen Tagg, piano, Laura Falzon, flute and Rupert Boyd, guitar and soprano Christine Moore. Many great musicians and other artists have appeared at the Bruno Walter, including James Levine, Renata Scotto, Elliott Carter, Pete Seeger, Bobby Short, Suzanne Farrell, and members of the Met Opera and NY Philharmonic, to name a few, so we are happy to have been invited to perform in this venue. In February of 2011, the Library honored the great Egyptian composer Halim El-Dabh in a musical celebration of his 9

"5 Broken Cameras" is a documentary of a Palestinian farmer's observance of the non-violent resistance movement against Israel's military occupation. PLOT:  When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born, Emad, a Palestinian villager, gets his firstcamera. In his village, Bil'in, a separation barrier is being built and the villagers start to resist. For more than five years, Emad films the struggle, which is lead by two of his best friends, and films in parallel how his son Gibreel grows. Very soon the struggle affects his family and his own life. Daily arrests and night raids scare his family. Emad, his friends and brothers are either shot or arrested. One camera after another is shot out or smashed. Each cameratells a part of his story. "5 Broken Cameras" was Winner of Best Israeli Documentary Award from Van Leer Group Foundation 2012 and Best Directing Award in World Cinema Documentary 2012. Subscribe http://ow.ly/3UVvY | Facebook http://ow.l

“A Day in the Life of a Hijabi” is an annual campus-wide challenge that encourages Stanford students to explore the Muslim woman’s choice and decision to wear the hijab, or Islamic headscarf, while upholding her right to choose her form of dress and self-expression. This day of activism challenges Stanford females to wear a scarf around their head in solidarity with the right of women to choose, as an opportunity to explore a culture that many times is portrayed as “foreign,” and to make a stance against the rising number of discrimination and employment cases in which women who wear the hijab are prevented from applying for certain jobs within the United States.