This Being Human: Recent Episodes
Aga Khan Museum & TVO
This Being Human is a new podcast by the Aga Khan Museum. In every episode, host Abdul-Rehman Malik interviews an incredible person at the top of their game on Muslim art, culture, history, and society. They'll explore everything from prayer and pilgrimage, politics and pop culture, love and education, feminism, and film, sports and music, and so much more. Through deep, thoughtful conversation, this one-of-a-kind podcast hopes to bridge divides, dispel myths, and learn things we didn’t know about the kaleidoscope of the Muslim experience.
This Being Human is produced by Antica Productions. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their leadership support to develop and produce This Being Human.
"I don't want perfect. Perfect is boring.”
In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib chats with Mekaal Hasan, a renowned Pakistani musician to discuss his lifelong journey of connecting the worlds of traditional South Asian music with more contemporary genres like rock, jazz, and fusion.
Growing up in Lahore, Pakistan, Mekaal was heavily influenced by his father, a music critic and a columnist. In 1995, he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and returned to Pakistan where he founded the Mekaal Hasan Band in 2001.
Mekaal’s mission is to create music that connects cultures, lifts up other artists, and preserves tradition while redefining what Qawwali music can look like.
The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.
Links & Resources:
- This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.
- Watch this video episode on YouTube.
- Visit Mekaal Hasan’s website and watch his band on YouTube.
- Mekaal Hasan | Aga Khan Museum
- Why Mekaal Hasan refuses to live in the past
Key Moments
0:00 Introduction to This Being Human and Mekaal Hasan
2:57 Mekaal’s time at the Berklee College of Music
7:53 Breaking down barriers through music
11:20 The cultural shift between 1990’s Pakistan and today
15:35 Honouring Qawwali legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
20:18 Comparing Eastern and Western music and performance styles
25:32 The future of the Mekaal Hasan Band
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès moved from Beirut to study in the United States, she found herself doing something she'd never had to do before: explaining her own visual culture to people who'd never seen it. That challenge changed everything. It sent her deep into the history of Arabic typography—how it grew from calligraphic tradition, was codified by ninth-century philologists in Baghdad, and is now being reimagined through algorithms and animation. And it gave her a lifelong mission: to show the world a side of SWANA creative culture that rarely makes it into the conversation.
In this episode, host Mai Habib sits down with Dr. Smitshuijzen AbiFarès to go behind the scenes of her exhibition Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms, explore what makes Arabic letterforms so uniquely expressive, and make the case that contemporary graphic design from the SWANA region is one of the most direct living continuations of Islamic artistic heritage.
The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human*.*
Links & Resources:
- This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.
- Can't make it in person? Explore the 3D virtual tour of Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms from anywhere in the world.
- Check out more episodes in full video.
Key Moments
0:00 Introduction to This Being Human and the world of Arabic typography
1:20 Dr. Smitshuijzen AbiFarès' background and how studying abroad sparked her passion for typography
3:07 Defining typography, and how it differs from calligraphy and hand lettering
5:59 How the Arabic script connects cultures across the SWANA region and beyond
8:58 The Quran as connector: Arabic, Islam, and the preservation of a shared script
11:51 What makes Arabic letterforms uniquely readable across wildly different styles
13:36 Behind the scenes of Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms: vision, work, and journey
18:11 How the exhibition adapted to audiences in Qatar, Germany, and Toronto
21:10 Why sparking new conversations—not delivering answers—was the ultimate goal
27:55 The future of Arabic typography: algorithms, animation, and a script that endures
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some museums you visit. Others, you dream.
In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down with artist and filmmaker Ohida Khandakar to discuss her award-winning film Dream Your Museum. Ohida reflects on how her Uncle Selim Khandakar’s collection of over 12,000 ordinary—yet utterly extraordinary—objects, acquired over 50 years, became a living museum through imagination and storytelling.
From a mud house to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Dream Your Museum rethinks exhibition spaces, emphasizing dynamic engagement with culture and everyday life as their defining attributes.
Follow along as Ohida shares her experience navigating the arts as a Muslim Indian woman, the process of curating and documenting a museum that comes to life, and why you should dream about the impossible. She also offers up the essentials to dream your own museum: inspiration, creation, and human connection.
The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.
- This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the Museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.
- Visit Ohida Khandakar’s portfolio to see her gallery and more of her artistic background.
- For more information on Dream Your Museum’s 2025 exhibition at the V&A, check out Jameel Prize: Moving Images.
- Read more about Jameel Prize winner Khandakar Ohida: ‘Personal stories open universal memories’.
- Check out more episodes in full video.
Key Moments
[0:10] Introduction to This Being Human and Ohida Khandakar’s short film Dream Your Museum
[1:18] Ohida Khandakar’s background in the arts and artistic interests
[1:54] Pursuing a career in visual art as a Muslim Indian woman
[5:59] From mud house to the moon: Dream Your Museum’s inspiration and creation
[13:00] Curating and caring for the traveling museum
[15:46] Collecting curiosities: how decades of artistic ritual became a museum
[19:59] Sharing the subtle joys of simple objects
[22:08] Living objects: the restorative power of imagination
[23:40] Redefining museum spaces: dreaming, creating, and transforming our surroundings
[26:40] Closing remarks on Dream Your Museum
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Before the Aga Khan Museum became a landmark in Toronto, it started with a letter about light.
In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib sits down with principal architect Gary Kamemoto, who led the Museum’s design alongside the late Fumihiko Maki. He shares how that single idea—light—shaped everything, from the building’s geometry and materials to the way you move through the space.
Along the way, you get a closer look at the thinking behind the Aga Khan Museum’s architecture, and how it draws on Islamic design and ideas of pluralism to create something that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary.
Gary also gets into the details you’d likely miss on a first visit: patterns that shift with the sun, geometry hiding in plain sight, and a subtle architectural tribute woven into the building itself—details that, once you know they’re there, change how you see it.
The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human*.*
Links & Resources:
- This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.
- Read more from Gary Kamemoto on the partnership between Maki and Associates and the AKDN
- Check out this episode in full video.
Key Moments
[0:10] Introduction to This Being Human and the Aga Khan Museum as an architectural masterpiece
[1:16] Gary Kamemoto on his background and navigating identity between cultures
[3:46] The origin story: from the Delegation Building to the museum project
[6:58] Working with His Highness the Aga Khan as a patron of architecture
[8:56] The “letter about light” as an unconventional design brief
[11:37] Reimagining the 17-acre site: why the garden—not the building—became central
[18:38] Pluralism as process: translating philosophy into physical space
[23:20] Designing for discovery: how the museum reveals itself over time
[27:42] Hidden details: symbolism, geometry, and the significance of the number seven
[31:18] Closing reflections on legacy, collaboration, and the museum’s ongoing life
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New host. New format. Now on video.
Welcome to the relaunch of This Being Human, the Aga Khan Museum’s podcast about Muslim art, global cultures and how we’re all connected. This season, new host Mai Habib talks with inspiring artists, writers, designers, and creators from across the Muslim world and beyond.
Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss a single video episode.
The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we sit down with Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, known to many as YBQ, a visionary artist whose work blends music, culture, and storytelling to craft a truly global sound. From his roots to his rise, YBQ shares his journey of artistic discovery, the influences that shaped his music, and the profound themes of identity, belonging, and transformation that echo through his work. Whether you’re a fan of his genre-bending soundscapes or curious about how art can bridge cultural divides, this episode will leave you inspired and enlightened. Tune in for an intimate, reflective conversation that celebrates creativity, resilience, and the power of connection.
Learn more about YBQ’s work at https://www.ybqds.com.
To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hisham Matar joins This Being Human to discuss his latest novel, My Friends. He reflects on themes of friendship, exile, and the complexities of writing from the margins. Matar shares how his work explores life's central question: How might we live? Through meditations on cities, memory, and the human condition, he offers a tender and profound view of what it means to connect with others. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.oSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of This Being Human, host Abdul-Rehman Malik sits down with Krista Tippett, the celebrated creator of On Being. Known for her gift of drawing out insights from some of the world's most profound thinkers, Krista reflects on her journey through wisdom, love, and radical listening. She shares what it means to pursue understanding in a time when we are overloaded with information, and how her approach to conversations invites us to open up to life's mystery and grace. Krista also shares the unexpected joy of new love in her life and how it has deepened her sense of connection and presence. Join us for an intimate, timeless conversation with one of today's most trusted voices in exploring what it means to truly be human. Learn more about Krista's work at onbeing.org. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we sit down with writer, editor, and librarian Saima Hussain. From her book The Arab World Thought of It: Inventions, Innovations and Amazing Facts, to the anthology The Muslimah Who Fell to Earth, Saima's work uncovers the forgotten contributions and personal stories of Muslim cultures. She shares her journey from Pakistan to Canada, her reflections on the power of storytelling, and how libraries serve as spaces for connection, learning, and equality. Saima also discusses the importance of oral histories, the complexities of identity, and her mission to make knowledge accessible to everyone, especially through her work with young people in library spaces. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we sit down with Marguerite Richards, editor of The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human, an anthology of personal stories from around the world. Marguerite opens up about her love for helping writers bring their visions to life, the intimate relationship between editor and author, and the power of memoir in understanding our shared humanity. We also explore themes of identity, home, and connection across cultures. Listen in for an inspiring conversation about storytelling and the human experience. Learn more about Marguerite's work at margueriterichards.com. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join us as we journey into the heart of Qawwali with Bilal Chishty, a descendent of the great Chishti Sufi lineage and a musician devoted to preserving this sacred art form. In this episode, Bilal shares his stories of learning under Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, reflects on the history of Qawwali, and discusses the delicate balance between maintaining tradition and embracing modernity. We explore the profound spiritual power of Sufi music and Bilal’s mission to keep this timeless tradition alive.
Listen in for an inspiring conversation on music, mysticism, and the search for divine love.
Follow Bilal’s work on Instagram @dhruvsangarimusic, or listen to his music on Spotify by searching Dhruv Sangari.
To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join us for a captivating conversation with Art Fazil, as we explore his journey through the rich cultural tapestry of Nusantara. Celebrating 30 years of his self-titled debut album, Art shares insights into his timeless music, the influence of Malay folk traditions, and his unique blend of global sounds. Dive into the history of Nusantara, the significance of traditional songs like "Rasa Sayang," and the impact of spirituality on Art's work. This episode offers a deep dive into Art's role as a cultural ambassador and educator, preserving and innovating the musical heritage of Southeast Asia. Listen and be inspired by Art's stories, reflections, and his commitment to creating meaningful art.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we delve into the life and career of Kazem Abdullah, exploring his path from a clarinetist to a prominent conductor. We will discuss his notable achievements, including his tenure as Generalmusikdirektor in Aachen, Germany, and his pioneering work in bringing contemporary and diverse repertoires to traditional concert halls. Kazem's work with American operas and his efforts to expand the American repertoire will be highlighted, showcasing his dedication to both classical and modern music. You can learn more about Kazem's work at kazemabdullah.com To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghumanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nasir Sirikhan and Abdul-Rehman Malik discuss Nasir's viral wedding dance video and the joy and connection it brought to millions of viewers. They talk about the origins of QuickStyle and how Nasir, Suleiman, and Bilal met and formed their dance crew. Nasir shares the emotional journey of performing and the camaraderie among the group. They also discuss the influence of hip-hop and their love for music in their dance style.
Nasir Sirikhan, a member of the dance crew Quick Style, discusses his background growing up in Oslo as a Thai Pakistani kid and the diverse cultural influences he experienced. He explains how Quick Style Studio was born and how they decided to build community by teaching dance to young students. Nasir Sirikhan discusses the power of dance to connect people and break down barriers. He shares his experiences of witnessing love and unity in different cultures and how it has shaped his perspective. Nasir also reflects on his personal growth as a dancer and artist, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and finding his own unique style. He describes dance as a spiritual practice that allows him to connect with his emotions and find strength and hope in difficult times. Nasir and Abdul-Rehman Malik discuss the significance of movement in human expression and the role of dance in bringing joy and inspiration to the world.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we sit down with renowned contemporary artist Faig Ahmed, celebrated for his revolutionary approach to traditional Azerbaijani carpet weaving. Faig’s work transcends cultural and artistic boundaries, creating a unique dialogue between the ancient and the modern.
We delve into his artistic journey, exploring the inspirations and creative processes behind his avant-garde masterpieces. Faig shares how he deconstructs and reimagines centuries-old patterns, blending historical craftsmanship with contemporary artistry to challenge our perceptions of tradition and modernity.
Join us for an enlightening conversation as we uncover the profound cultural significance of Faig’s work and the message he hopes to convey through his transformative pieces.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of This Being Human, Abdul-Rehman Malik sits down with Aanchal Malhotra, author and oral historian, to explore the emotional legacies of the partition of India and Pakistan. Aanchal shares personal stories, insights from her books "Remnants of Separation, In the Language of Remembering, and The Book of Everlasting Things, and reflects on the importance of documenting personal histories. Join us as we delve into the human side of history and its impact on our present and future. To learn more about Aanchal's work, you can check out aanchalmalhotra.com or museumofmaterialmemory.com. To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of "This Being Human," we sit down with Deeyah Khan, an acclaimed filmmaker and activist renowned for her transformative documentaries. Deeyah shares her remarkable journey from being a music artist to becoming a powerful voice against extremism through film. Growing up as a Norwegian of Pakistani descent, she faced significant cultural and racial challenges that shaped her worldview and ignited her passion for storytelling. Deeyah recounts her transition from music to filmmaking, driven by a desire to address critical social issues and humanize those often seen as enemies.
Deeyah delves into her profound experiences engaging with white supremacists and jihadis, offering an unfiltered look at the roots of their beliefs and the power of empathy. Her films, including encounters with former extremists, have not only shed light on the psychology of hate but have also sparked moments of transformation for her subjects. Through heartfelt dialogue and unwavering courage, Deeyah's work demonstrates the possibility of change and understanding even in the most polarized situations.
Throughout the conversation, Deeyah reflects on the importance of empathy, love, and humanizing others as acts of defiance and resistance. She discusses the personal impact of her work, including how motherhood has deepened her commitment to creating a better world. This episode offers a powerful exploration of art as activism and the enduring hope that comes from seeing beyond hatred to our shared humanity. Join us as we uncover the stories behind Deeyah Khan's impactful films and her unwavering belief in the transformative power of empathy.
To learn more, visit deeyah.com
To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of This Being Human we sit down with dina Amin, an innovative stop motion artist from Cairo, Egypt. dina shares her unique journey from studying Industrial Design in Malaysia to creating her acclaimed Instagram series, 'Tinker Friday.' Through 'Tinker Friday,' she combines her design expertise with animation to reveal the hidden intricacies of everyday objects, shedding light on consumerism in a captivating and educational way.
We delve into the foundation of dina's Tinker Studio, where she produces imaginative stop motion videos for a diverse range of clients, including Vice TV and Sony Alpha. dina discusses the creative process behind her work, how she has overcome challenges, and the satisfaction of bringing discarded items to life through storytelling. Her multidisciplinary approach, blending product design with animation, offers a fresh perspective on art and cultural commentary.
Throughout the conversation, dina reflects on how her cultural background influences her work and shares valuable advice for aspiring artists.
Join us for an insightful discussion that unveils the magic of stop motion and the power of reimagining the ordinary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we delve into the artistic universe of Refik Anadol, a Turkish-American new media artist renowned for his innovative use of data-driven machine learning algorithms in art. From his early days in Istanbul to his advanced studies and creative endeavors in Los Angeles, we explore the formative experiences that shaped his pioneering approach to digital art. Refik discusses his groundbreaking projects like "Machine Hallucination" and "Virtual Depictions," revealing how he transforms abstract data into immersive, sensory experiences that challenge traditional notions of art and space. The episode also highlights his cultural collaborations and the impact of his work on global art narratives, all while contemplating the evolving role of artists in our technology-driven world. Join us as we journey through Refik Anadol's vision, where data not only informs but also inspires the future of artistic expression.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of This Being Human, we speak with Alia Syed, a British experimental filmmaker whose work has been shown all around the art world for the last 25 years.
Born in 1964 in Swansea to a Welsh mother and Indian father, Alia uses her film cameras to meditate on issues of subjectivity and narrative, identity and memory.
Her films have been shown at numerous institutions around the world including BBC Arts Online, the Museum of Modern Art, New York ; Museo National Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid ; XV Sydney Biennale ; Tate Modern, as well as several solo exhibitions at the Talwar Gallery in New York and New Delhi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Saks Afridi is an artist who refers to his work as ,scfi-fi sufism., His pieces include prayer rugs depicting UFOs, visual art that blends images of circuitry with classic Islamic design, and an extensive, multi-disciplinary project based on a mythological world that he calls Space Mosque.
Saks talks about blending the spiritual with the speculative, why the idea of prayer factors into so much of his work, and how his day job in advertising informs his art practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of This Being Human we delve deep into the profound significance of poetry in modernity through the lens of renowned poet and artist, Amir Sulaiman. Hailing from Rochester, New York, Amir's poetic journey has traversed continents, resonating with audiences globally.
From his exploration of existential inquiries to the unraveling of universal themes such as love, spirituality, and human connection, Amir's verse serves as a sacred mirror reflecting the complexities of the human soul.
Traversing continents with Amir's poetic resonance and universal appeal, we explore how poetry serves as a bridge, transcending cultural boundaries and uniting hearts across the expanse of our shared humanity, and how personally it's led him to collaborate with other celebrated artists like Ramy Youssef, Dave Chappelle, and Robert Glasper.
As we contemplate the future of poetry in the digital age, Amir envisions its continued relevance as a guiding light amidst the complexities of modern life, serving as a compass for the human spirit amidst the noise and chaos of contemporary society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kiran Ahluwalia is a true innovator-her songs blend the music of India with influences from Mali and western blues, rock, R&B and jazz to create a sound unlike any other artist. Over the last two decades, Kiran has studied under masters of classical Indian music and collaborated with iconic North African artists, most notably the iconic desert blues group Tinariwen. On this episode, she talks about her new single, Pancake, her decision to leave her career in Canada to study music in India, and her family's experience of the partition of India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jude Chehab is a young filmmaker whose first feature film, Q, has cemented her in lists of best new directors to watch. Q is a beautifully shot and intimate portrait of Jude's mother's relationship to an all-female religious group in Lebanon. It has won multiple awards, including at the Tribeca Film Festival, and is being lauded for being a genre-breaking documentary film. She tells us how she learned to weave a story that retains some level of mystery, but is grounded in humanity—as she learned from one of her teachers in film, the legendary Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami.
You can learn more about Jude's work at www.judechehab.com.
To fill out our listener survey, go to agakhanmuseum.org/tbhsurvey.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new season of This Being Human is almost here! We'll be back soon with more fascinating conversations with amazing people whose lives, ideas, and art have been shaped by Muslim culture.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Haroon Siddiqui has had many titles. Reporter, columnist, editor... the list goes on. He can now add author to his resume with the release of his memoir "My Name is Not Harry". It's a profound reflection on his career, Canadian values, his immigrant superpowers and the role he believes luck, or perhaps divine destiny, has played in his incredible life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sandra Saenz joins us to talk about the art of makeup, navigating the world of beauty as a Mexican Muslim, and her first video art exhibition.
She is the first Mexican hijabi makeup artist to secure agency representation in the USA. Her work has been featured in magazines and advertisements worldwide for Sephora. She's currently a Global Brand Ambassador for KVD Beauty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Photographer Hassan Hajjaj has an iconic style that blends elements of pop art, hip hop culture and North African fashion. It spans series like Kesh Angels, which depicts biker women in Marakesh, as well as celebrity photoshoots and album art.
He joins AR to talk about developing his unique style, his initial reluctance to call himself an artist, and how he's seen the photography world change for the next generation.
See more of Hassan Hajjaj's work here:
https://www.193gallery.com/artists/84-hassan-hajjaj/overview/
Or on his Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/hassanhajjaj_larache/?hl=en
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky explores the connections between history and myth. His work includes installations and sculpture, as well as films like Cabaret Crusades and I Am Hymns of the New Temple, which use marionettes to revisit big moments in history from a new perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shezad Dawood is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blends stories, reality and symbolism to engage with big questions about humanity, and explore alternative futures.
He speaks to AR about his latest project, Night in the Garden of Love, an immersive experience that uses virtual reality to bring visitors into a fantastical world. It's based on a science fiction novella of the same name by the late musician and polymath Yusef Lateef. Shezad talks about Lateef's unique view of the world, collaborating with an artist who he never met, and his own lifelong discomfort with choosing an artistic medium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marina Tabassum is a Bangladeshi architect whose work includes Bangladesh's underground Museum of Independence and the award-winning Bait Ur Rouf mosque. She talks about working with local materials, the rich landscape of Bangladesh's capital city, Dhaka, and how architects should embrace social responsibility, as with her $200 houses for displaced Bangladeshis.
Marina Tabassum is the founder of Marina Tabassum Architects and the academic director of the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements.
This episode originally aired in November, 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kameelah Janan Rasheed is an artist whose work focuses on Black knowledge production, re-shaping history, and unlearning the things we think we know. Her projects, spanning photography, installations, text, sound, and more, have been shown around the globe and earned her a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship.
She joins us to talk about resisting easy definitions, finding new ways to think about the marks that we leave on the world, and her lifelong engagement with emerging technologies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ausma Malik was the first woman in a hijab to be elected to public office in Canada, and the first Muslim-identifying, hijab-wearing woman on Toronto city council. She was recently appointed Deputy Mayor of Toronto.
She also happens to be the sister of This Being Human host Abdul-Rehman Malik. In this episode, A.R. asks Ausma the questions only a brother can ask. She talks about some of the pivotal moments that sent her down her current path, her reluctant entrance to politics, and how family and art shaped her values.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As Pakistan's first female architect, Yasmeen Lari left a major imprint on the country's visual identity, with modern buildings like the Finance and Trade Centre, the Taj Mahal Hotel in Karachi, and the Pakistan State Oil Head Office. But her career later took a turn from working for the powerful few, towards assisting the most vulnerable members of society. She now focuses on the intersection of architecture, environmental activism and social justice, working to build sustainable structures for displaced people and helping to set up self-sufficient economies. She calls her approach Barefoot Social Architecture. The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There was a time in history when the entire world's coffee supply came from Yemen. But the industry went through a major decline, so that by 2013, when Yemeni-American Mokhtar Alkhanshali became obsessed with coffee, coffee from Yemen was hard to come across. Mokhtar spent three years in Yemen learning everything he could and started the company Port of Mokha to help revitalize the industry. These days, Yemeni coffee is coveted by connoisseurs, who pay top dollar for it. Mokhtar's life and journey was immortalized in the Dave Eggers book The Monk of Mokha. He talks to AR about this journey, which continues ten years on. The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Humaira Abid is an artist who works in wood sculpture and miniature painting. Her pieces, which are intricately detailed, contain strong social messages around topics like motherhood and the plight of refugees. She talks to AR about why she chose the male-dominated craft of wood sculpture to tell stories about women and about using her art to encourage conversation about taboo topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"Nothing Good Happens in Wazirabad on Wednesday" is a darkly funny novel about daily life during wartime. The action is not about the war itself; it's about the interpersonal relationships of a rich cast of characters living in a small town. It is the debut novel of Jamaluddin Aram, an Afghan writer currently living in Toronto. The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the award-winning podcast ,King of the World,, Shahjehan Khan reflects on his history with music, addiction and identity in post-9/11 America. He talks to AR about his time with the seminal Muslim punk band The Kominas, mental health, his attempt to find himself in Pakistan, and where he stands today, as an ageing punk rocker whose acting and producing career is starting to take off.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Zakir Hussain’s name is practically synonymous with the tablas. His work ranges from classical Indian compositions to Hollywood film scores, to collaborations with rockstars like George Harrison and Van Morrison. His latest albums are Shakti’s "This Moment,” and “As We Speak” – a collaboration with Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer.
Zakir Hussain talks to AR about what he continues to learn about his craft at the age of 72; his father Alla Rakha, who introduced tablas to the West; his mother’s crucial role in his career; and what prevented him from becoming a rock drummer.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
FURTHER RESOURCES:
You can see Zakir Hussain’s upcoming tour dates with Shakti and Béla Fleck here:
https://zakirhussain.com/tour/
Watch a performance from As We Speak here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTsE_8JNhqE
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to: agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Deqo Mohamed spent her teen years coordinating with NGOs, teaching, and arranging breakfast for thousands of displaced people. That's because her mother, Dr. Hawa Abdi, was the founder of a sanctuary in Somalia called Hope Village. At its peak, the village provided health care, education and more to 90,000 people. It earned Dr. Habdi a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.
In this episode, Dr. Deqo Mohamed speaks candidly about growing up in Hope Village, sharing her mom with thousands of others, and how she and her sister are carrying on the family legacy.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to: agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
FURTHER READING:
Read more about Hope Village and the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation here:
www.dhaf.org
Read more about the Hagarla Institute here:
hagarlainstitute.org
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nazeem Hussain is an Australian comedian and creator of the TV shows, "Legally Brown" and "Orange is the New Brown." He talks to AR about growing up in Melbourne as a Muslim/Sri Lankan child of a single mom, writing his first children's book, "Hy-Larious Hyena!" and how he ended up hosting a Christmas special.
Nazeem's most recent comedy special is called "Hussain in the Membrane."
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
FURTHER RESOURCES:
Watch Hussain in the Membrane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6idjFQoYZM
See Nazeem’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nazeemhussain/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Noor Tagouri grew up with the goal of being the first woman in a hijab to anchor the news. But as she tells AR, when she did get a job as a news anchor, it wasn't what she had dreamed of. So instead, she focused on reporting big stories about American society and eventually started her own media company.
Tagouri's most recent podcast, "Rep," is an investigation into representation of Muslims in media and how that affects American culture. She talks about how the show transformed into something much bigger than that, what it was like to revisit a foundational story about her own family, and why this process changed her mind about what representation means.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.
Murad Subay is a street artist from Yemen. His campaigns such as “Faces of War,” “Ruin” and “Color the Walls of Your Street” reflect his experiences living through revolution and war. He talks to AR about what drives him to paint, his mixed feelings about being called the “Yemeni Banksy,” and about collaborating with the public on his work.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
FURTHER RESOURCES:
You can see Murad’s campaign on his website:
https://muradsubay.com/
And his Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/muradsubay/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The heavy metal band Voice of Baceprot was formed by three middle schoolers in a small town in Indonesia. Over the years, they built an international following that includes rock legends like Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Slash from Guns N' Roses. They joined AR from a studio in Jakarta, where they were at work on their debut album, to talk about their upbringing, falling in love with rock music, and how they overcame their families' skepticism about their musical careers.
Songs included in this episode:
"PMS" and "God, Allow Me [Please] To Play Music" by Voice of Baceprot, courtesy of Voice of Baceprot and 12Wired
"Forever In Love" by Imade Seputra.
FURTHER RESOURCES:
Go to Voice of Baceprot’s website for videos, tour dates and news about the band: https://www.voiceofbaceprot.com
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How exactly did Jalaluddin Rumi, a 13th-Century Persian mystic, become one of the most popular poets in the modern English-speaking world? Coleman Barks played a major role. Barks' free verse interpretations of Rumi have at times been the top-selling poetry books in America. Now 86 years old, Barks joins AR to talk about how he was given a mission to bring Rumi's words to the masses, which turned into a lifelong pursuit. He also talks about how his interest lately has shifted from Rumi to Rumi's teacher, Shams Tabrizi.
FURTHER RESOURCES:
In this episode, Coleman reads from Soul Fury: Rumi and Shams Tabriz on Friendship
If you’re looking for somewhere to start with Coleman’s work, we recommend The Essential Rumi and Delicious Laughter.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Abbas Rattani is the co-founder of MIPSTERZ, an arts collective that has been a vital part of the conversation around Muslim identity in contemporary, urban America. He talks about what it means to be a Muslim hipster, the group's first viral video, and their recent work in Muslim Futurism.
The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Najwa Zebian is a bestselling writer of poetry and inspirational books, including Mind Platter and Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul. She also shares simple, yet profound words of wisdom with her 1.3 million Instagram followers.
She speaks with raw honesty about how writing saved her from aimlessness, about her struggles immigrating to Canada as a teeanger, and about where she finds the words that tell so many people what they need to hear at the right moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Being Human is coming back with more conversations from incredible people all over the world whose life, ideas and art are shaped by Muslim culture. Take a sneak peek at what we have waiting for you in Season 3.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ali Hassan is a stand-up comic, actor, and host of both Canada Reads and the CBC Radio show Laugh Out Loud. He talks about Canadian fame, being forced by his children to face difficult questions about his identity, and why he came to think of himself as a "cultural Muslim."
His memoir is called Is There Bacon In Heaven?
This episode was originally broadcast in July, 2022.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Malak Mattar was born and raised in the Gaza Strip. She started to paint as a teenager while taking shelter from an attack on her city. Before long, her paintings were being sold and exhibited around the world. She talks about her drive to document life in Gaza, access to art in Palestine, and how leaving her home country affected her work and perspective.
This episode was originally broadcast in October, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Farah Alibay often sounds more like a philosopher than an engineer. She works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she helps operate the Perseverance Rover, which searches for evidence of ancient life on Mars. She talks about how her job has changed her views of Earth, her rise through a male-dominated field, and why she thinks the prospect of extraterrestrial life raises major questions around how we understand humanity.
This episode was originally broadcast in March, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Leah V made her name as a Black, Muslim, plus-size model. She has worked on major campaigns for companies like Dove and Fitbit, while also being outspoken around issues she sees in the industry. Now, she's also a sci-fi author. She recently released her debut novel, The Union, a dystopian thriller that turns contemporary notions around race and body size upside down. She talks to AR about her love of scifi, her inspiring career, and about having difficult conversations.
Host: Abdul-Rehman MalikSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shanaaz Majiet was a promising young student on the verge of highschool graduation, when she was accidentally shot by a friend. The incident left her in a wheelchair. Throughout a difficult recovery, she pushed forward, determined to return to her goals.
She has since become a leading voice for the rights of people with disabilities in South Africa, as well as a leader in broader issues of policy and local government. In this episode, she talks about making change, falling in love, and finding a path when life doesn't go how you expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Artist and filmmaker Mariam Ghani joined AR in 2021 to talk about her movie "What We Left Unfinished," which explores Afghanistan's film industry during the Soviet Era. She also discusses "Index of the Disappeared," a long-running project focusing on people who went missing during the U.S.'s War on Terror, and a pre-COVID movie she made about pandemics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Charles Kettaneh and Nicolas Fayad are the founders of EAST Architecture Studio. Their work is innovative and intellectual, with projects that take into account local history, culture, and encourage a connection with nature. They are among the winners of the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. They won for their renovation of The Niemeyer Guest House, a project begun by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer as part of an international fair in Tripoli, Lebanon, which was abandoned during the civil war. They talk about what it was like to try to revitalize the vision of one of the world's most famous architects, how Lebanon's built environment has shaped the country's imagination, and they offer a vision for rebuilding Beirut in the wake of the 2020 explosion.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
See more projects by EAST Architecture Studio on their website:
https://www.eastarchitecture.net/
Read more about the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the other winners here:
https://the.akdn/en/how-we-work/our-agencies/aga-khan-trust-culture/aga-khan-award-for-architecture/aga-khan-award-for-architecture-2022-winners
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Anida Yoeu Ali's art mixes humour, public confrontation, and science fiction to explore issues of identity. As a Muslim Khmer woman, Anida is a minority whether she's in her native Cambodia or in the United States, where her family relocated to escape the regime of Pol Pot. She talks about her work across disciplines, from absurdist poetry to public performances such as the Buddhist Bug, where she meets the public, dressed as a large, orange worm-like creature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Anida Yoeu Ali's art mixes humour, public confrontation, and science fiction to explore issues of identity. As a Muslim Khmer woman, Anida is a minority whether she's in her native Cambodia or in the United States, where her family relocated to escape the regime of Pol Pot. She talks about her work across disciplines, from absurdist poetry to public performances such as the Buddhist Bug, where she meets the public, dressed as a large, orange worm-like creature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Virtuoso sarod player Soumik Datta blends classical Indian music with genres like R&B, drum and bass, and European orchestral music. He talks about the fluke incident that set him down a musical path, working to empower refugees through the arts, and what it was like performing with Jay-Z and Beyonce. Soumik is one of the winners of this year's Aga Khan Music Awards.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Malak Mattar was born and raised in the Gaza Strip. She started to paint as a teenager while taking shelter from an attack on her city. Before long, her paintings were being sold and exhibited around the world. She talks about her drive to document life in Gaza, access to art in Palestine, and how leaving her home country affected her work and perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yazz Ahmed's trailblazing music blends new strains of jazz with music from the Gulf. She has released several acclaimed albums as a trumpeter, flugelhornist and band leader, as well as working with artists including Radiohead, These New Puritans, The London Jazz Orchestra and Lee "Scratch" Perry. She talks about being introduced to jazz by her grandpa, the women who inspired her, and finding her way to her roots through music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Karimah Hassan is a London-based artist whose work includes murals, paintings, poetry, NFTs and community events. She talks about using art to create connections during lockdown in her project The Strangers Yearbook, her connection to her ancestors, and her recent experiments with NFTs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Karimah Hassan is a London-based artist whose work includes murals, paintings, poetry, NFTs and community events. She talks about using art to create connections during lockdown in her project The Strangers Yearbook, her connection to her ancestors, and her recent experiments with NFTs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tasneem Alsultan is a photographer whose work has captured major changes in Saudi culture. She has worked with The New York Times, National Geographic and others. But she also documents the more ordinary aspects of life. She won first prize in the 2017 World Photography Organisation Awards for Saudi Tales of Loves, a series showcasing love stories of all kinds, from divorcees and widows to happily married couples.
In this conversation from spring of 2021, she talks about breaking stereotypes, capturing intimate moments and going undercover to get the perfect photo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tasneem Alsultan is a photographer whose work has captured major changes in Saudi culture. She has worked with The New York Times, National Geographic and others. But she also documents the more ordinary aspects of life. She won first prize in the 2017 World Photography Organisation Awards for Saudi Tales of Loves, a series showcasing love stories of all kinds, from divorcees and widows to happily married couples.
In this conversation from spring of 2021, she talks about breaking stereotypes, capturing intimate moments and going undercover to get the perfect photo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have composed some of the biggest anthems in India, as the film composing duo Salim-Sulaiman. They've also produced major pop songs, devotionals, a sports anthem, and remixed Lady Gaga.
We revisit our conversation from 2021, where they talk about the chance meeting that led them from a career writing jingles to scoring movies, why they take issue with the term Bollywood, and what it's really like to work with a sibling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is one of the directors of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. We revisit our 2020 interview, where she talks about her earlier career, exposing social injustices in unflinching documentaries like Saving Face and A Girl in the River. It's a journey that took her from a childhood in Karachi, Pakistan, to the offices of The New York Times, to winning two Academy Awards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Uzma Jalaluddin reimagines classic loves stories in a contemporary, urban, distinctly Muslim setting. She is the author of the novels Ayesha at Last and Hana Khan Carries On, both of which have been optioned to be made into movies. Uzma talks about the enduring qualities of romance stories, why she has no plans to quit her day job as a high school teacher and what her students think when she tells them she's in business with Hollywood star Mindy Kaling.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ali Hassan is a stand-up comic, actor, and host of both 'Canada Reads' and the CBC Radio show 'Laugh Out Loud.' He talks about Canadian fame, being forced by his children to face difficult questions about his identity, and why he came to think of himself as a "cultural Muslim."
His upcoming memoir is called 'Is There Bacon In Heaven?'
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
Visit Ali’s website: https://standupali.com/
Listen to Laugh Out Loud:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/laughoutloud
More on Is There Bacon In Heaven?: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Is-There-Bacon-in-Heaven/Ali-Hassan/9781982149178
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Under the name Aerosol Arabic, Mohammed Ali became a pioneer in blending street art with Arabic script and imagery. He has made murals, installations, and theatrical productions around the world, from his native Birmingham, UK, to the US, Australia, and even the Vatican. He talks about developing his style and why he believes graffiti is both an ancient art and an innate part of humanity.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
Watch Mohammed’s TEDxTalk at The Vatican:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZlZizd2HA
Learn more about his project Waswasa, which you can visit in Birmingham, UK from August 25th to September 3rd: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/waswasa-whispers-in-prayer-2/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With her band Alsarah and the Nubatones, Alsarah brings a modern sensibility to the music she grew up with in Sudan.
She talks to host Abdul-Rehman Malik about developing her unique sound, the music she carried with her when she left home, and how the public library played a crucial role in her artistic awakening.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
Watch Alsarah and the Nubatones perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daXGLo4aeFQ
Find more of Alsarah’s music and videos here: https://lnk.bio/alsarah?fbclid=IwAR0wOUkkT2Bb4rFe44nmoFLAAE5yqf7Pb36-JuKE4Ckgcbw0QL3FaX43nT4
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud's new book "Son of Elsewhere" is about struggling to find a place between two worlds: his birthplace of Sudan and his home in Canada. He talks to host Abdul-Rehman Malik about what it was like to show up in an Ontario town as an African pre-teen who spoke no English; how WWE wrestling gave him an entry point to Canadian society; and why he wants his daughter to grow up feeling the burden of being from "elsewhere."
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is a culture writer for BuzzFeed News and hosts the CBC podcast Pop Chat.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
More info on Son Of Elsewhere: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/611405/son-of-elsewhere-by-elamin-abdelmahmoud/9780771002229
Read Elamin’s essay “A father's letter to an infant daughter: 'I wanted my last name to be a burden'”:
https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/a-fathers-letter-to-an-infant-daughter-i-wanted-my-last-name-to-be-a-burden/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gulshan Khan talks about her path from advocacy to becoming an acclaimed photojournalist. She also discusses her ongoing project documenting Muslim culture in South Africa, and how apartheid, which ended in her childhood, continues to affect her country.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
The Things We Carry With Us, Gulshan’s series on Islam in South Africa:
www.gulshankhan.com/the-things-we-carry-with-us
Time’s 100 best photos of 2018, including one by Gulshan:
time.com/2018-photos/
Gulshan’s Instagram:
www.instagram.com/gulshanii/?hl=en
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Gonzales is chair of the Department of the Future, a future design firm, but much of his work involves looking to the past. He believes the key to a better society is not just about the latest technology, but also about things like ancestral wisdom and sharing meals. Mark talks about what he calls "empathy technology," how he overcame trauma in his own life, and why he remains hopeful about the future, despite some of the challenges society is currently facing.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Website for the Department of the Future:
https://www.deptofthefuture.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Faria Róisín spent 18 years working on her debut novel, Like a Bird, since dreaming about it as a child. She talks to Abdul-Rehman Malik about art, migration, the "new Muslim Renaissance" and how writing helped her deal with childhood trauma.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yasir Khan has covered wars, revolutions, and has chased camels through the Australian Outback. As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, he has worked for outlets including CBC, CNN, Al Jazeera and Euronews, and is currently editor-in-chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation. He talks about lessons from his career, including how he avoided becoming the "Muslim correspondent," and how empathy may have literally saved his life.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Further resources:
Watch Yasir Khan’s documentary “Camels in the Outback”:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/al-jazeera-world/2014/12/26/camels-in-the-outback
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aïda Muluneh's photographs are almost like paintings, featuring women in majestic outfits and facepaint, set against vivid, stylized backdrops. She talks about developing her artistic voice, the role of spirituality in her work, her series on Islam in Ethiopia, and what she thinks Westerners get wrong about African art.
Aïda Muluneh is the founder of the Addis Foto Fest in Ethiopia and the company Desta for Africa Creative Consulting.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
Additional resources:
See Aïda’s work on her website: aidamuluneh.com
Aïda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidamuluneh/
Addis Foto Fest: http://addisfotofest.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Farah Alibay often sounds more like a philosopher than an engineer. She works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she helps operate the Perseverance Rover, which searches for evidence of ancient life on Mars. She talks about how her job has changed her views of Earth, her rise through a male-dominated field, and why she thinks the prospect of extraterrestrial life raises major questions around how we understand humanity.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, go to agakhanmuseum.org/thisbeinghuman
This Being Human is generously supported by The Aga Khan Museum. If you would like to support the Museum, please visit https://agakhanmuseum.org
Additional resources:
Follow Farah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FarahAlibay
Follow the Perseverance Rover on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere/
Read more about the Perseverance Rover: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Zarqa Nawaz is going through a bit of a rebirth. It's been roughly decade since the end of her hit show 'Little Mosque on the Prairie'. Recently, Zarqa got into stand-up comedy, she's about to star in the web series ZARQA, and she is on the verge of releasing her first novel, 'Jameela Green Ruins Everything', a dark comedy about American intervention in the Middle East.
Zarqa talks about using comedy to address uncomfortable or taboo topics, from dating and divorce in Muslim culture, to the rise of ISIS. She also discusses how she has dealt with backlash from her community and what it's like to step out from behind the camera.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, click here for show notes, biographies, and additional resources relating to this conversation.
This Being Human is generously supported by The Aga Khan Museum. For more on the Museum, please visit https://agakhanmuseum.org/
Additional resources: ZARQA official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP9NVAZUdHA Zarqa’s website: https://zarqanawaz.com/ Zarqa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealzarqa/?hl=en Jameela Green Ruins Everything: https://zarqanawaz.com/books/jameela-green-ruins-everything/
More on Little Mosque on the Prairie: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/little-mosque-on-the-prairie
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this bonus episode, we share rapid-fire Q&As with food writer Anissa Helou, photographer Tasneem Alsultan, performance artist Wafaa Balal and women’s rights advocate Dr. Alaa Murabit.
Thanks for listening to This Being Human. Stay tuned for Season 2.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hamid Dabashi calls himself “the first Muslim intellectual.” He is the author of more than twenty books, a consultant on major Hollywood films, a curator and juror of film festivals, and a professor of Iranian Studies and comparative literature at Columbia University.
He talks about how an early love of Indian musicals, his mother’s poetry and travelling storytellers led him towards a life of writing and criticism. And he reflects on his friendship with renowned cultural critic Edward Said.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Roni Helou is a rising star from Lebanon’s fashion scene. The young designer talks about making fashion with a message, why he staged a photoshoot on a mountain of garbage, and surviving the explosion that devastated Beirut in 2020.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Misha Euceph is the host of the podcast Tell Them, I Am and CEO of Dustlight Productions. Tell Them, I Am features major Muslim celebrities telling stories of little moments that changed their lives.
She talks about her rise to podcast fame, her struggle to gain ownership over her show, and making the Quran more accessible. You can watch her Quran Book Club on her Instagram page.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Khalid Albaih is a Sudanese political cartoonist, who publishes cartoons online under the name Khartoon! as well as in galleries and publications around the world.
He talks about how Superman shaped his worldview, the dangers of his work, and why he's trying to change his relationship with the internet.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marina Tabassum is an acclaimed Bangladeshi architect whose work includes Bangladesh’s underground Museum of Independence and the award-winning Bait Ur Rouf Mosque. She talks about working with local materials, the rich landscape of Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka, and why she designed $200 mobile houses to address climate change.
Marina Tabassum is the founder of Marina Tabassum Architects and the academic director of the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ian Whiteman was a fixture of the 60’s UK music scene and member of the cult classic bands Mighty Baby and The Habibiyya. He reflects on the early early days of psychedelic rock, and talks about how Islam became a major part of that scene, leading to his own conversion and his friendship with Yusuf Islam, A.K.A. Cat Stevens.
His latest album is called Poor Man’s Prayer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the founder of the popular online community Muslim Mamas, Nargis Jahan-Uddin has a front row seat to the ongoing interests and concerns of Muslim mothers.
She gives us a look into the contemporary online world of Muslim motherhood, and talks about her own journey from an impoverished neighbourhood of London, to creating this growing online community, which now includes a lifestyle website and a public Facebook page with over 130,000 followers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tasneem Alsultan is a photographer based in Saudi Arabia. Her work has documented major changes in Saudi culture for The New York Times, National Geographic and others. But she also captures the more ordinary aspects of life. She won first prize in the 2017 World Photography Organisation Awards for Saudi Tales of Loves, a series showcasing love stories of all kinds, from divorcees and widows to happily married couples.
She talks about breaking stereotypes, capturing intimate moments and a time she had to wear a disguise to get the job done.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shahzia Sikander is a visual artist who revolutionized miniature painting, and is now widely credited for creating the neo-miniaturist movement. She looks back on her life and her thirty-year career in the arts.
A retrospective of Shahzia Sikander's work, called Extraordinary Realities, is currently on display at The Morgan Library and Museum.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Anissa Helou is an award-winning cookbook author, whose books include Lebanese Cuisine, Mediteranean Street Food and Feast: Food of the Islamic World.
She talks about why she actively avoided cooking for much of her life, her dramatic and unlikely path to her current profession, and why she undertook the massive project of trying to capture the food of Muslim societies all around the world.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Asad Ali Jafri spent his early childhood in Kuwait, but found himself in the suburbs of Chicago after the outbreak of war. Hip hop became his entry point to American culture, quickly taking over his life and leading him down a path to the arts and community organizing. He started DJing under the name Man-O-Wax, staged major festivals, and became a visionary curator of contemporary Muslim arts.
Today, Asad Ali Jafri is the executive director of the South Asia Institute in Chicago.
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Brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have composed some of the biggest anthems in India as the film composing duo Salim-Sulaiman. They’ve also produced pop songs, devotionals, a sports anthem, and remixed Lady Gaga.
They talk about the chance meeting that led them from writing jingles to scoring movies, why they take issue with the term Bollywood, and what it’s really like to work with a sibling.
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Shireen Ahmed is a sports journalist and advocate. She’s a go-to voice for TSN and The Guardian and co-hosts the podcast Burn It All Down.
Shireen was an outspoken critic of FIFA’s seven-year hijab ban. She talks about how that ban affected her personally, her childhood in a Pakistani household in Halifax, and breaking into the world of mainstream sports broadcasting.
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Wafaa Bilal has pushed his body to extreme lengths in the name of art. He has subjected himself to waterboarding, mounted a camera to the back of his head, and spent a month living in a gallery, where strangers shot him with tens of thousands of paintballs. He talks about escaping Iraq during the war and why he puts his body on the line for art.
Wafaa is currently a professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
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Tanya Muneera Williams is a poet and member of the hip-hop duo Poetic Pilgrimage. She talks about her childhood in Bristol, England, the city’s rich music scene, and the spiritual journey she took from her mother’s church to her conversion to Islam.
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Nadir Nahdi runs the popular YouTube channel BENI, where he documents contemporary Muslim life around the world. Nadir comes from a tradition of thought and debate. His father, Fuad Nahdi, was a well-known journalist and satirist, as well as a giant in the UK Muslim community and a major figure in interfaith discussions.
Nadir talks about what he's learned from his parents, his mixed feelings about being called a social media influencer and the deeply personal journey he took to find his roots while the world watched in real time.
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Kevork Mourad is an Armenian-Syrian artist who collaborates with musicians, creating visual art in front of live audiences. He has worked with some of the most celebrated performers in classical music including Yo-Yo Ma, violist Kim Kashkashian and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He talks about growing up as an Armenian in Syria, developing his unique practice, the thrill of creating art in front of a crowd, and how war has changed the way he paints.
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Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a global leader in artificial intelligence and an advocate for good governance in the tech sector. As the co-founder and CEO of ADDO AI, she has helped develop projects like smart cities and financial innovations.
She talks about why she believes the world should look east for models of tech governance, the ethical struggles involved in AI and what technology can teach us about humanity.
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Omid Safi is a leading expert on 13th century poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, who is the best-selling poet in modern day America. Omid talks about the enduring influence of Rumi, why the literary icon’s Muslim beliefs are often stripped from conversations about him, and how the Muslim community can reclaim one its most beloved figures.
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Dr. Alaa Murabit was born in Saskatoon, but moved to Zawiya, Libya at the age of 15 to study medicine. While she was there, she witnessed the 2011 Revolution, which changed the course of her life. She dedicated herself to human rights advocacy, founding the group Voices of Libyan Women. She has since become a leading specialist in conflict resolution and security, working with the United Nations, governments and NGOs around the world.
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Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is a member of the ruling family of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation. He talks about the personal toll of tweeting through the Arab Spring, the power of art as an agent of diplomacy, and why he opens up his home to strangers for his regular cultural 'majlis' or salons, hosting talks on art and culture.
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Ginella Massa is the host of Canada Tonight on CBC, making her the first national news anchor who wears a hijab in Canada. She talks about her upbringing in a Catholic Afro-Latina family, growing up as an immigrant in Toronto and how she ended up in TV news.
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In spring of 2020, when America was first grappling with COVID-19, Dr. Craig Considine wrote an article for NewsWeek about what the Prophet Muhammad had to say about living through a pandemic. He found a lot that still resonates today.
He talks about those lessons and others, what the current state of the world could mean for interfaith dialogue and how, as a Catholic from Boston, he became a prolific writer on Islam.
Dr. Craig Considine is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Rice University.
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Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy talks about what propelled her to expose social injustices in unflinching documentaries like Saving Face and A Girl In the River. It’s a journey that took her from a childhood in Karachi, Pakistan to the offices of the New York Times, to winning two Academy Awards.
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Wajahat Ali became one of the most high-profile Muslims in the American media following the September 11th attacks, making regular appearances on CNN, writing for The New York Times and hosting a show on Al Jazeera America.
He talks about growing up in a Pakistani-American household, writing an acclaimed play about the American Muslim experience, and dealing with his young daughter’s cancer diagnosis.
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Additional clips from:
Domestic Crusaders New York 2011 production production company: Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College of Criminal Justice director: Carla Blank actors: Deepti Gupta Domestic Crusaders London 2013 production production company: Tara-Arts director: Jatinder Verma actors: Shyam Bhatt, Taqi Nazeer
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This Being Human is a new podcast by the Aga Khan Museum. In every episode, host Abdul-Rehman Malik interviews an incredible person at the top of their game on Muslim art, culture, history, and society. They'll explore everything from prayer and pilgrimage, politics and pop culture, love and education, feminism, and film, sports and music, and so much more. Through deep, thoughtful conversation, this one-of-a-kind podcast hopes to bridge divides, dispel myths, and learn things we didn’t know about the kaleidoscope of the Muslim experience.
This Being Human is produced by Antica Productions. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their leadership support to develop and produce This Being Human.
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