Culture
Heritage for Hire
When videos surfaced of a private wedding held inside Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto, the country erupted in outrage. But the story goes beyond one event: It speaks to a wider crisis in the Arab world, where heritage sites are being turned into spectacles of privilege.
Arab Idol Syndrome
Once the “King of Emotion,” the Lebanese singer Fadel Chaker’s career was derailed by his association with a radical cleric and alleged involvement in violent clashes. Yet despite his arrest this weekend, he’s topping charts again and is defended by legions of fans.
Coffins, Champagne and Status in Lagos Nightclubs
Nigeria’s nightclubs have turned into theaters of wealth, with coffin parades, sparklers and hype men’s chants. But away from the champagne shows, raves are bringing back the old spirit of nightlife.
At the Emmys, Palestine Exposed Hollywood’s Hypocrisy Yet Again
One word can curdle a room. At this year’s Emmys, that word was Palestine. From Vanessa Redgrave to Hannah Einbinder, Hollywood has shown that it rewards voices of conscience, but only when it’s convenient.
Sufism Endures in Lebanon’s Marginalized North
While Sufi practices in Lebanon’s cities have dwindled under pressure from Salafists, rural Akkar remains a bastion of mysticism. Across its villages, Sufi congregations host centuries-old “zikr” prayer ceremonies that center on music, dance and joy.
Inside Beirut’s Fight To Save Its Reading Culture
Lebanon’s bookshops once thrived as hubs of debate and dissent, but economic collapse, censorship and war have gutted Beirut’s literary scene. Still, readers, publishers and book cafes find inventive ways to resist and revive the culture of reading.
Pakistani Singer Ali Sethi Blends the Traditional and the Transgressive
Trained in Hindustani classical music, the Pakistani artist Ali Sethi is known for blending South Asian traditions with global sounds and queer aesthetics. Once embraced across borders, Sethi now navigates cultural and political estrangement from both Pakistan and India, yet remains one of the subcontinent’s most prominent musicians.