The goings-on of the Arab world, through the lens of its creatives

Afikra offers a deep dive into the Arab world — through the lens of its creatives: Afikra promises the monumental task of exploring the MENA region’s diverse histories and cultures, but does so through the eyes of the people who themselves are striving to understand it: The academics, artists, and creatives living and working in the region. From Palestinian chefs to Arab video game designers, the show’s host, Mike Muhanna, invites guests from across the region to discuss socio-political issues relevant to the region — as well as how to make art and pursue arts and culture in the context of a politically volatile environment — in an intelligent and thought-provoking manner.

Being an artist in the Arab world: In the show’s latest episode, The History of Arab Comics, political-journalist-turned-award-winning-comic-writer George Khoury (aka JAD) opens the conversation with why he chose his pen name — sparking a deep, reflective discussion of the struggles of being a creative in the Arab world depicting war in his art.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can listen to the episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the show’s own website.