AL-BUSTAN NEWS
Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African Communities
‘We Take Care of Each Other’: The Treasured Cafés of South Philly’s North African Community (Video)
By Kenza Bousseloub
At three cafés in South Philadelphia, North African men gather for coffee, company and Kabyle music.
These Philly–Area Performers Are Committed to Preserving the Cultural Authenticity of Belly Dance
By Gawhara Abou-eid
“When performed with authenticity, raqs sharqi becomes a form of empowerment, an act of reclaiming the beauty and strength of the feminine and honoring the deep humanity that this dance expresses.”
Interactive | Mapping SWANA Philly
By Ben Bennett
The 2030 census will include a new racial category: ‘MENA’. Until then, these interactive maps, based on data from the Pew Research Center, show where some of Philadelphia’s SWANA communities have settled.
Art as Resistance | Artist Naz Khoury Reimagines Glass as a Form of Archive and Memory
By Lauren Abunassar
“I think something that draws me to glass so much is that it is a very experience-based medium where the process itself is so captivating and exhilarating and fun, but also difficult. When you make the work, you're aware that there is a very large chance you're not going to get anything from it. Something may break, something may not exist at the end.”
Op-Ed | Beyond Ceasefire: What is Next for Palestine Solidarity?
Within the context of organizing, the problem with ceasefires is that they feel like victory. If the problem is defined as "too much killing," then less killing appears to be progress. But the "quiet" periods between military assaults are also a form of violence.
Nasser Al-Rayess’ Philly Stand-Up Show Celebrates Growing up Arab in America
By Elissa Odeh
At his show, Al-Rayess joked about one of the biggest cultural pressures in Arab culture — getting married. “I’m almost 30, so the questions never stop. Back home I would’ve been married to my cousin by now.”
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