Afikra | عفكرة

Afikra | عفكرة is a global education and media organization transforming interest in history of Arab and culture into active intellectual curiosity. By exploring the history of Arab countries and their rich cultural traditions, we aim to reframe narratives and deepen understanding of the culture of Arab countries—past, present, and future.

Afikra is made up of approximately 100,000 members across 30 chapters globally. We have worked with educational and cultural institutions like Barjeel Foundation, Google Arts & Culture, Twitter, Netflix, University of Chicago, NYU Abu Dhabi, British Council, Columbia University Global Centers, Alserkal Advisory, Qatar Museums, Qatar Foundation International, TED, VCUarts Qatar, The Arab American National Museum (AANM), Zayed University, and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth .

Over the past three years, we have interviewed 100s of experts and artists whose work shapes our understanding of the region, including: Hisham Matar (Pulitzer Prize Winner), Rashid Khalidi (Columbia Professor), Isabella Hammad (Novelist), Naomi Shihab Nye (Novelist & Poet), Alsarah (Alsarah the Nubatones), Huda AbiFarès (Founding Director of the Khatt Foundation), Tala Bashmi (MBC Top Chef Finalist), Mounia Akl (Film Director of Costa Brava, Lebanon), eL Seed (Artist), Paul Salem (President of Middle East Institute), Mai Masri (Filmmaker, Director, & Producer), Georges Corm (Economist), Sultan Al-Qassemi (Barjeel Art Foundation Founder), Farouk El-Baz (Scientist & Geologist on 1969 Apollo 11), Karl Sharro “Karl ReMarks” (Architect & Satirist), Nasser Rabbat (Director of the MIT Aga Khan Program), Khaled Beydoun (Professor of Law & Researcher on Islamophobia), and Omar Offendum (Rapper and Poet). These interviews are featured in our Arab History Podcast, which explores their significant contributions and perspectives.