ArabishWay

Palestinian Virtual Pop-up Book Club: MINOR DETAIL by Adania Shibli
2021-07-18 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | WA
Please click here to register for this event.
Join writers Susan Muaddi Darraj and Sahar Mustafah in conversation about Minor Detail, the critically acclaimed novel by Palestinian author Adania Shibli. Her book was a 2020 finalist for the National Book Translation Award and longlisted for The International Booker Prize. Minor Detail is this year’s One Book, Many Communities selection by Librarians and Archivists with Palestine. Celebrate by reading the book and joining the discussion.
Book Synopsis
Minor Detail begins during the summer of 1949, one year after the war that the Palestinians mourn as the Nakba–the catastrophe that led to the displacement and exile of some 700,000 people–and the Israelis celebrate as the War of Independence. Israeli soldiers murder an encampment of Bedouin in the Negev desert, and among their victims they capture a Palestinian teenager and they rape her, kill her, and bury her in the sand. Many years later, in the near-present day, a young woman in Ramallah tries to uncover some of the details surrounding this particular rape and murder, and becomes fascinated to the point of obsession, not only because of the nature of the crime, but because it was committed exactly twenty-five years to the day before she was born. Adania Shibli masterfully overlays these two translucent narratives of exactly the same length to evoke a present forever haunted by the past. (Bookshop)
Links to purchase Minor Detail:
New Directions Publishing
Bookshop

Virtual Delegations to Om Sleiman Farm: Eyewitness Palestine
2021-07-18 11:00 - 12:30 | Eyewiness Palestine, PO Box 73798, Washington, DC, 20056-3798, United States
Join us for a virtual tour of Om Sleiman Farm, where farming is a powerful form of resistance! As Yara states in a Vice article (2018), “we’re so dependent on the occupier—for the electricity, water, housing, food, movement, with the air almost. If we as Palestinians cannot produce our own food, build our own shelter, have our own energy—how can we get rid of this occupation?”
Your Guide, Yara!
Yara Dowani, from Jerusalem, is the co-founder and a farmer at Om Sleiman Farm-Bi’lin. Her journey started after joining a permaculture course in Palestine for two weeks. Afterwards, she took a trip to Spain for a year to volunteer and learn from different farms and projects and then came back to Palestine to join a research group to study wild perennial plants. In 2018, Yara became part of the Om Sleiman team and has been a part of it ever since. She is now on a journey to learn new topics, such as natural building and syntropic farming, to be able to implement new innovative projects at the farm.
(All tour times are listed in Eastern Time – USA)

REGISTER

Tuesday July 6 2:00pm – 3:3opm ET
Saturday, July 10, 12pm – 1:30pm ET
Wednesday, July 14, 12pm -1:30pm ET
Sunday, July 18, 2pm – 3:30pm ET

PCC: Culinary World Tour: 5-Day Kids' Camp
2021-07-19 09:30 - 2021-07-23 11:00 | WA
Instructors: Lisa Crawford, Ami Karnosh, M.S., C.N.
Price: $150
AGES 8 TO 15
COOK-ALONG

DESCRIPTION
Embark on a virtual world tour! Junior chefs will cook along as we explore the cuisines of many lands while learning classic techniques and kitchen skills. They’ll learn to create different flavor profiles that define these diverse cuisines and try their hand at the unique preparations found around the world.

Day 1: Pakistan: Biryani; Apple Mint Chutney; Raita
Day 2: Morocco: Tagine with Yellow Rice
Day 3: France: Croque Monsieur
Day 4: Lebanon: Lebanese Lentils; Zaatar Spiced Flatbread; Hummus
Day 5: Thailand: Fresh Rolls with Soy Dipping Sauce; Coconut-Mango Pudding

CLASS NOTES
This is a kids hands-on cook-along camp offered live via Zoom. One spot in camp is good for one kitchen. A recording will be sent after class to all registered students. Class link, recipes and preparation instructions will be sent at least one week before camp starts. This camp is geared toward a wide age range, and parental assistance or supervision may be needed for younger students. Our emails can get caught in spam filters or blocked entirely, please contact us if you don’t receive the class information. Cancellation Policy: Online classes are nonrefundable. You can request a class credit or transfer if you cancel your spot at least a week prior to the camp start date.
COOKING CLASSES FAQ

Day 1: Monday, July 19, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 2: Tuesday, July 20, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 3: Wednesday, July 21, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 4: Thursday, July 22, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 5: Friday, July 23, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Omar El Akkad in Conversation With Roy Scranton
2021-07-20 17:00 - 18:00 | WA
From Omar El Akkad, the widely acclaimed author of American War, comes What Strange Paradise (Knopf), a beautifully written, unrelentingly dramatic, and profoundly moving new novel that brings the global refugee crisis down to the level of a child’s eyes. More bodies have washed up on the shores of a small island. Another overfilled, ill-equipped, dilapidated ship has sunk under the weight of its too many passengers: Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians, all of them desperate to escape untenable lives in their homelands. And only one has made the passage: nine-year-old Amir, a Syrian boy who has the good fortune to fall into the hands not of the officials but of Vänna: a teenage girl, native to the island, who lives inside her own sense of homelessness in a place and among people she has come to disdain. And though she and the boy are complete strangers, though they don’t speak a common language, she determines to do whatever it takes to save him. In alternating chapters, we learn the story of the boy’s life and of how he came to be on the boat; and we follow the girl and boy as they make their way toward a vision of safety. But as the novel unfurls we begin to understand that this is not merely the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world, it is the story of our collective moment in this time: of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair — and of the way each of those things can blind us to reality, or guide us to a better one. El Akkad will be joined in conversation by Roy Scranton, author of Learning to Die in the Anthropocene and We’re Doomed. Now What?.
Register for the Zoom event / Buy the Book

Virtual Event: Emilly Prado with Ifrah F. Ahmed — Funeral for Flaca: Essays
2021-07-21 19:00 - 20:30 | WA
Third Place Books is thrilled to welcome Emilly Prado for a discussion of her debut essay collection, Funeral for Flaca. She will be joined in conversation by writer, creative director, and cook Ifrah F. Ahmed.
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Ifrah F. Ahmed is a writer, creative director, and cook. She co-founded and edits the pioneering Somali arts and culture publication ARAWEELO. Ifrah is also the founder of Milk & Myrrh, a Somali culinary pop-up experience. She has been featured in the New York Times, Teen Vogue, and NYLON. Her writing and recipes have most recently appeared in the LA Times and Whetstone Magazine. Originally born in the beautiful coastal city of Mogadishu, Somalia she now splits her time between Brooklyn and Seattle.

Arabic Chat Hour
2021-07-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-19 19:00 - 20:00 | WA
Whether you’re a native speaker or learner, this is a great chance practice listening and speaking in Arabic!
Repeats every Thursday!

Disrupted Pasts, Displaced Futures: Arte Archive
2021-07-24 - 2021-07-27 | WA
Disrupted Pasts, Displaced Futures is a selection of moving image works by contemporary artists from the Middle East and North Africa, blending science fiction, arabfuturism, and magic realism to tackle themes of displacement, migration, and climate crisis. Responding to an unstable present through the lens of the future, these alternate realities open a space where new possibilities emerge.
Featured Artists: Meriem Bennani, Mariam Mekiwi, Larissa Sansour
RSVP HERE
The 4 Movies Featured Are:
Party on the CAPS synopsis: In a world where teleportation has replaced planes, a wacky crocodile named Fiona tells of life on the CAPS: an island-turned-refugee-camp for illegal immigrants caught mid-teleportation. Themes of displacement, biotechnology and privacy are evoked through the augmented reality of a raucous birthday party in the Moroccan quarter of the CAPS. Mixing the languages of reality TV, advertising, documentary and high-end commercial aesthetics, Bennani explores the potential of storytelling through magical realism and humour.

Before I Forget Synopsis: El Captain disappears, one of his disciples takes a journey in the ocean to cut off the internet cable, the water level is rising, an amphibian woman appears at the shore looking for her mother, and the memories of two women in a ward intertwine. Scientist Dr. Sharaf is trying to congregate all of them – the members of the secret society of amphibians – in an attempt to save the world.

Nation Estate synopsis: With its glossy mixture of computer-generated imagery, live actors, and an arabesque electronica soundtrack, the Nation Estate film explores a vertical solution to Palestinian statehood. Palestinians have their state in the form of a single skyscraper: the Nation Estate. One colossal high-rise houses the entire Palestinian population – now finally living the high life.

In the Future They Ate from the Finest Porcelain synopsis: Combining live-action and computer-generated imagery, In the Future They Ate from the Finest Porcelain explores the role of myth in history, fact, and national identity. A narrative resistance group makes underground deposits of elaborate porcelain, which they suggest belonged to an entirely fictional civilization. Their aim is to influence history and support future claims to their vanishing lands.

plus a recorded discussion with the directors!

Say Something & Peg + Cat: The Eid Al-Adha Adventure - English-Arabic Storytime
2021-07-26 10:00 - 11:00 | WA
1 p.m. EDT Monday, July 26, 2021
Say Something & Peg + Cat: The Eid Al-Adha Adventure

Join us for an English-Arabic Storytime in celebration of Eid Al-Adha, from the comfort of your home! Children ages 2-6 and their parents are invited to tune in as resident storyteller Sari Mira reads the books Say Something & Peg + Cat: The Eid Al-Adha Adventure in both English and Arabic.
Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice.
Peg + Cat: The Eid Al-Adha by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson follows Peg and Cat as they learn all about the concept of taking from where there’s more and giving to where there’s less. While visiting friends Yasmina and Amir for Eid Al-Adha, Peg and Cat learn some surprising things about a holiday tradition.

The Storytime will go up at 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 26 on our Storytime page, where you can also check out previous Online Storytimes.

Mona Hajjar Halaby Book Launch!
2021-07-26 17:00 - 18:30 | WA
Date: Thursday, August 26
Time: 5 – 6:30pm PT/ 8 – 9:30pm ET
Cost: FREE –register now!

Join Middle East Children’s Alliance to celebrate the release of Mona Hajjar Halaby’s new book! Mona is a long-time friend and supporter of MECA.

MONA HAJJAR HALABY is a Palestinian-American educator, writer and social history buff, residing in California, USA. She is the author of In My Mother’s Footsteps: A Palestinian Refugee Returns Home, which interweaves the story of her mother’s life and her own sabbatical year teaching conflict resolution in Ramallah. She has created a Facebook page focused on photographs of Jerusalem during the first half of the twentieth century, entitled “British Mandate Jerusalemites Photo Library,” and has also collaborated on the interactive documentary www.jerusalemwearehere.com

FREE, Register Now! www.mecaforpeace.org/MonaHalaby

Omar El Akkad with Jeff VanderMeer (Virtual)
2021-07-28 18:00 - 19:30 | WA
Novelist Omar El Akkad, now living south of here in Portland, but for many years an award-winning international journalist living and working out of Toronto, blew readers away a few years ago with his eerily prescient first novel, American War. He gave a moving reading from that at Elliott Bay. We anticipate similar engagement for readers attending this – and reading – his haunting, beautifully written new novel, What Strange Paradise (Knopf). There is an overwhelmed boat filled with refugees fleeing homelands such as Syria, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Palestine, a boat which, in time, capsizes. There is a survivor, a young boy, and his attempts to elude would-be captors, aided by a young girl living on the island he has washed ashore upon. These are the bare bones of what Omar El Akkad does with extraordinary skill, empathy, compassion.
“What Strange Paradise is by turns tender and brutal in its truths. It is tremendously written, propulsive as it is expansive as it is granular in its specificities. Omar El Akkad writes with such emotional precision, power, and grace. Here we get the wondrousness of children set in sharp relief against a backdrop of the all too common dehumanization then dismissal of refugees everywhere. The book devastates and uplifts, somehow, and we are not left with hope—that isn’t the point—but asked to witness, to see what is here, with clarity, and with fullness of heart.” —Tommy Orange.
“What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad just resuscitated my heart. This novel—following a boy who survives a refugee passage, and a girl whose homeland feels fractured—dares to unite us on the shore of shared human experience, and redefines hope in the face of despair. I want to read this book every single day. I want to live in a world where the beauty of strangers is a heartsong.” —Lidia Yuknavitch.
With Omar El Akkad in conversation this evening will be the wonderful writer Jeff VanDerMeer, who recently did an evening such as this for Elliott Bay readers with his own newest novel, Hummingbird Salamander. A generous supporter of other writers and many good causes, he and Omar El Akkad have some interesting shared literary ‘history’ of a good sort, which will no doubt come out this evening.

Free virtual screening of the documentary film "Zahra" directed by Mohammad Bakri
2021-07-31 09:00 - 11:00 | WA
About the film
Zahra is a Palestinian woman, from the village of al-Bane in the Galilee. Beginning with her childhood before the 1948 war, this compelling documentary takes us through the country’s turbulent history, as seen through the eponymous heroine’s eyes, and the perspectives of those around her. As Zahra grows, we experience the violent establishment of Israel, subsequent life under martial law (1948-1966), and the radical transformation of Palestinian society from a majority to a disenfranchised minority in their own homeland.

Click here to register for this event.
The film screening will be followed by a discussion with the film director Mohammad Bakri. Screening will start at 12:00 Noon US EDT; 7:00 PM Palestine Time. Duration: 1:03;00. Arabic with English subtitles.

The Art Historical Timeline of Palestinian Embroidery
2021-08-01 | WA
Class Type: Lecture Series
Difficulty Level: All Levels
Prerequisite: None
“The Art Historical Timeline of Palestinian Embroidery” is a six-module lecture-based course that combines existing art historical scholarship with Wafa Ghnaim’s most current, peer-reviewed research to explore and expand the traceable origins of traditional Palestinian textiles throughout the centuries.
Class Dates & Times:
The modules will be released on August 1, 2021. Optional live class discussions are scheduled for students to join with the instructor, ask questions, and share their thoughts with the community.
Modules:

Module 1: Traceable Origins of Traditional Palestinian Costume (2 hr)
Module 2: English and European Holy Land Portraiture (2 hr)
Module 3: Photography of the Holy Land (2 hr)
Module 4: Regional Distinctions of the Modern Period 1850 -1948 (2 hr)
Module 5: Exile & Dispossession in the Late Modern Period, 1950s – 1970s (2 hr)
Module 6: Palestinian Revivalism & The Avant-Garde, 1980s – current (2 hr)
Module 7: Live Class Discussion (2 hr)

Where
100% online through Tatreez & Tea Central
$200 for 3 month access to all content.

November Delegation to Palestine: Land & the Environment - Deadline to Apply
2021-08-01 | WA
Help Eyewitness Palestine respond to this request and join us in Palestine in November 2021! In order to move forward, we need to receive as many applications as possible by August 1st. Apply today!

Hear from Palestinian farmers and learn of the importance of agriculture to the economy, culture, and as a form of self-determination. Learn about threats to the environment, Israeli exploitation of natural resources, and the struggle of Palestinian communities to maintain access to land, their homes, water and other resources, all in the face of forced expulsion.
We will visit Om Sleiman Farm, Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, and many other areas of Palestine. This delegation is also your opportunity to visit Palestine during the olive harvest season.

Please Apply by August 1st! We will reassess interest and viability to travel under Israeli regulation at this time. Without enough applicants, we cannot proceed!

Let’s show our partners in Palestine that we are willing to show up for them!
About the Delegation
This delegation is your opportunity to visit Palestine during the olive harvest season — a culturally rich and important time for collective resistance.
Hear from Palestinian farmers and learn of the importance of agriculture to the economy, culture, and as a form of self-determination. Learn about threats to the environment, Israeli exploitation of natural resources, and the struggle of Palestinian communities to maintain access to land, their homes, water and other resources, all in the face of forced expulsion.
As with all Eyewitness Palestine delegations, you will also meet additional Palestinian organizers and Israelis working in solidarity for peace with justice. The delegation will also visit many important historical sites.
Delegation Ground Costs: $3,000.00 – Scholarships Available (does not include international airfare)

Virtual Book Launch - In My Mother's Footsteps by Mona Hajjar Halaby
2021-08-01 09:00 - 11:00 | WA
All times are based on US EDT – 12 Noon = 7:00 PM in Palestine.

Please click here to register for this event.
“Refugees are like seeds that scatter in the wind, and land in different soils that become their reluctant homes,” my mother once told me. As a small child, I looked up at my mother and clutched her hand. The puffiness of her palm reminded me of a loaf of warm pita bread, and when she laced her fingers into mine like a pretzel, I felt safe. I would have walked with her to the ends of the earth.
When Mona moved from California to Ramallah to teach conflict resolution at the Ramallah Friends School for a year, she kept a journal. Within its pages, she wrote her impressions of her homeland, a place she had only experienced through her mother’s memories.

Examining Health Care Under Occupation in Israel/Palestine: Ethical & Medical Realities
2021-08-01 16:00 - 17:00 | WA

Home Away FROM HOME: Julian Pena Gallery
2021-08-05 - 2021-08-27 | Julian Pena Gallery, 1633 Bellevue Ave Suite E, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
When it comes to being of Middle Eastern descent and living in the U.S., one’s life experience includes regularly facing varying degrees of prejudice and discrimination. While these people feel grounded and a sense of belonging in their homes where their identities and cultures are very much alive, they are forced to confront feelings of otherness when they step outside whether it’s through receiving judgmental glances, harsh words or physical violence. With eyes on the outside, Middle Easterners who live in other parts of the world experience these struggles indirectly; feeling an instinctive connection to those in the U.S., they are affected by what they see and hear on the news or social media. “Home Away From Home” exhibits original work by artists of Middle Eastern descent living in the U.S. and abroad who attempt to explore themes of underrepresentation, isolation and racism while navigating the physical and emotional disconnect between themselves, their cultures and the places they call home.

Virtual Event: Mona Awad with Heather O'Neill — All's Well: A Novel
2021-08-05 19:00 - 20:00 | WA
This is a virtual event taking place via Zoom Webinar.
Third Place Books is thrilled to welcome Mona Awad for a discussion of her latest novel, All’s Well, dubbed “wacky and delicious” by Lauren Groff and “daring, fresh, and entertaining” by George Saunders. She will be joined in conversation by Heather O’Neill, the sensational author of The Lonely Hearts Hotel and the forthcoming novel When We Lost Our Heads.
All’s Well is the August selection for our Signed First Editions Club! Our Signature Reads subscription box delivers six new fiction titles to your door each year, selected by our booksellers from both established award-winning authors and the hottest debuts. Subscribe to our Signed First Edition Club now, and you’ll receive a copy of All’s Well signed by the author, a letter from our staff sharing our love for the book, a custom bookmark, and a surprise gift. Join today, or give a year of books to the bibliophile in your life!

Mediterranean Journey: 5-Day Kids' Camp (includes one day of Tunesia and one of Lebanon!)
2021-08-09 09:30 - 2021-08-13 11:00 | WA
Instructor: Cam Zarcone
Price: $150
AGES 8 TO 15
COOK-ALONG

DESCRIPTION
The foods of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are known for their fresh ingredients and bold spices. Junior chefs will cook along with Cam and learn how make some of the most well-known dishes of the region. They’ll chop, simmer, roll and bake as they learn fundamental skills for a lifetime of success in the kitchen.
With gluten, dairy and eggs; optional meat.

MENU

Day 1: Greece: Stuffed Tomatoes with Tzatziki; Pasteli (Honey-sesame Candy)
Day 2: Tunisia: Shakshuka (Fried Eggs with Tomatoes); Melon Salad
Day 3: Turkey: Turkish-Spiced Meatballs; Fig Cookies
Day 4: Lebanon: Mezze Platter and Homemade Flatbreads
Day 5: Israel: Burekas (Savory Cheese Pies); Tahini Cookies

Day 1: Monday, August 9, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 2: Tuesday, August 10, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 3: Wednesday, August 11, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 4: Thursday, August 12, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Day 5: Friday, August 13, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Falafel and Pita - PCC Cooking Class
2021-08-10 17:00 - 18:00 | WA
Make any night falafel night! Tiago will share his take on this popular Arabic takeout dish, one of his favorite foods. From dough to fluffy final product, he’ll demonstrate how to make fresh-grilled pita bread before blending, flavoring, forming and frying the falafel. To complete the meal, he’ll whip up a tangy tahini sauce to drizzle on top.
Vegan with gluten.
About the instructor: Tiago graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2014. After graduation, he honed his skills as a lead sauté cook for a fine dining establishment. He has been teaching cooking classes for the last several years and has found teaching to be one of the most gratifying experiences of his life. Tiago is also a wine enthusiast and certified sommelier.
This event will be live on Zoom!

Seattle Arab Festival 2021 (Virtual)
2021-08-12 - 2021-08-15 | WA
The Arab Festival in Seattle will happen on August 12 through August 15, 2021.
The Arab Festival will focus on virtual life and pre-recorded events. We will share local talents, story telling, food demo, fashion show and more.
Please follow us on our social media and our website for new updates.
https://seattlearabfestival.org/

Leïla Slimani w/ Elliott Bay Book Company
2021-08-13 11:00 - 12:00 | WA
We are thrilled to be partnering with nous amis at Alliance Française de Seattle to virtually present one of the most dynamic writers in the world today, France-based Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani. Author of (these are titles in English) Adèle, The Perfect Nanny, and Sex and Lies, books which have garnered critical acclaim in France and all over the world, she is here with her newest, published in the U.S. as In the Country of Others (Penguin). Originally published as Le Pays de Arbes (Gaillmard), which we should have copies on-hand of, along with the English translation, this book is the first of a projected trilogy, loosely tracing Leïla Slimani’s own family story.
“The world of this novel – Morocco after World War II, leading up to the revolt against French colonialism – is beautifully created. Personal life, social life, everyday life spring vividly from the page, and we feel deeply for the family caught in the middle of the conflict of history. An exceptional, powerful novel from this justly celebrated writer.” – Salman Rushdie.
“Leïla Slimani is a wonderful writer, and this gorgeous novel brings vibrantly to life the vanished world of 1950s Morocco, in a narrative at once richly layered and deceptively simple. I loved it and didn’t want it to end.” -Claire Messud.
“A powerful and compelling family saga—about women and subjugation, otherness and belonging, and the often conflicting loyalty to both family and country—written with a deftness that has come to define Leïla Slimani’s writing. It will no doubt resonate in the reader’s mind long after the final sentence is read.” – Christine Mangan.
Presented by ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SEATTLE and Elliott Bay Book Company.

Landback U: Palestine and Indigenous solidarity
2021-08-14 13:00 - 14:30 | WA
Join us to ground yourself in Palestinian history and resistance through stories and first hand accounts. Led by our own Sandra Tamari and Lenna Zahran Nasr of the Palestinian Youth Movement.
The Right of Return and the Right to Remain, that’s our demand and that’s what we’ll be discussing Saturday, August 14th for LANDBACK U’s session on Palestine & indigenous solidarity. LANDBACK U is a free, comprehensive, online learning platform to engage in political education and discussions on topics critical to the Indigenous movement to reclaim land and relationship to land.
We are grateful to our relatives at NDN Collective for hosting this session and for their unwavering solidarity.

From Bethlehem to Gaza: Palestinian Culinary Resilience & Liberation!
2021-08-16 15:00 - 17:00 | WA
Join Middle East Children’s Alliance & Just World Educational virtually for a summer meal prepared by Vivien Sansour and Laila El-Haddad, together in Laila’s garden. In this exclusive seasonal cooking demonstration, they will discuss resilience against both the physical and culinary partitions of the occupation – as well as its attempts to destroy diversity of food. In this moment of new imagining for Palestine, how can we create a plate that threads us together?
Sign up for this special webinar by making a donation below! Suggested donation of $10 per person.
Your tax-deductible gift will support MECA’s programs in Gaza.

Virtual Event: Shugri Said Salh with Mathangi Subramanian — The Last Nomad
2021-08-17 18:30 - 20:00 | WA
Third Place Books welcomes author Shugri Said Salh for a presentation of her debut memoir, The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert. She will be joined in conversation award-winning writer and educator Dr. Mathangi Subramanian.

About The Last Nomad. . .
“I am the last nomad. My ancestors traveled the East African desert in search of grazing land for their livestock, and the most precious resource of all—water. When they exhausted the land and the clouds disappeared from the horizon, their accumulated ancestral knowledge told them where to move next to find greener pastures. They loaded their huts and belongings onto their most obedient camels and herded their livestock to a new home.”
When Shugri Said Salh was six years old, she was sent to live with her nomadic grandmother in the desert, away from the city of Galkayo. Leaving behind her house, her parents, her father’s multiple wives, and her many siblings, she would become the last of her family to learn a once-common way of life. The desert held many risks, from drought and hunger to the threat of predators, but it also held beauty, innovation, and centuries of tradition. Shugri grew to love the freedom of roaming with her goats and the feeling of community in learning the courtship rituals, cooking songs, and poems of her people. She was even proud to face the rite of passage that all “respectable” girls undergo in Somalia, a brutal female circumcision.
In time, Shugri would return to live with her siblings in the city. Ultimately, the family was forced to flee as refugees in the face of a civil war—first to Kenya, then to Canada, and finally to the United States. There, Shugri would again find herself a nomad in a strange land, learning to navigate everything from escalators to homeless shelters to, ultimately, marriage, parenthood, and nursing school. And she would approach each step of her journey with resilience and a liveliness that is all her own.
At once dramatic and witty, The Last Nomad tells a story of tradition, change, and hope.

Yassin Adnan and Alex Elinson with Laila Lalami
2021-08-18 16:00 - 18:00 | WA
Moroccan author Yassin Adnan, translator Alexander Elinson, and longtime Elliott Bay friend and noted, award-winning author Laila Lalami are all set to virtually be on hand for this program centered around the U.S. publication of Yassin Adnan’s spirited novel, Hot Maroc (Syracuse University Press).
“Finally, the vibrant work of Yassin Adnan is available in English. Alexander Elinson’s playful translation of Hot Maroc brings us into the heart of today’s Marrakech, an ancient city weathering the rapid changes brought by modernization, globalization, and, most importantly in this book, the Internet. At once a commemoration of the past and an insightful look at our influence on the present, Hot Maroc expands our ideas of a country that has been woefully underrepresented in English-language literature, while taking us on a wild ride through an anonymous online world that holds the power to reveal our true selves.”—Emma Ramadan.
“A witness to his age like any true writer, Yassin Adnan paints a complex and forceful portrait of a Morocco where so often, reality exceeds fiction. Fluidly and beautifully written, this novel is a superb addition to a youthful new wave of Moroccan creative work.”—Tahar Ben Jelloun.
If we have people properly ‘situated’ for this evening which the zoom era makes possible, author Yassin Adnan will be joining us from Marrakech (where he has long been an esteemed prose writer, poet, and journalist), Alexander Elinson from New York (where he is head of the Arabic program at Hunter College, CUNY, and has written his own books and translated works by Youssef Fadel), and Laila Lalami, serving as interlocutor and guide here, joining us from southern California, teaching there at the University of California, Riverside, and writing several acclaimed novels, with her most recent book being a timely book of essays, Conditional Citizens.
This should be a delight on several counts.

STORYTELLING THROUGH SPORTS
2021-08-21 10:00 - 11:00 | WA
Saturday, August 21st from 1 pm to 2 pm
The panel will feature three different Palestinian sportswomen and men who will share their stories around the importance of sports in their life. They will speak to how they are navigating everyday life under occupation to excel and create sport opportunities for themselves and their local community.
Get tickets
