Ammani Creators on Gaza, Their Art, and What Brings Them Hope Right Now

Going Places

In this episode of Going Places, a conversation with three remarkable Ammani creators: Sarah Shabbar, a journalist and editor at Jordan News Daily, an English Language media organization in Jordan; Hussein Alazaat, artist, calligrapher, and founder of Elharf Studio, a platform for arts and culture in Amman; and Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian Balkan singer whose captivating song, "Abbad El Shams," is the theme song for our podcast this season.

The conversation you're about to hear today was recorded last October, two weeks after the current escalation of violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

Together, we processed the emotions of collective pain, sorrow, and anger, what these artists feel about the Western perspectives on Israel-Palestine, what’s changing in this situation that generations of people in the Middle East have grown up with, and what is the role of artists in this moment.

I want to say thank you to Sarah, Hussein, and Rawan for coming on the show at such a raw and difficult moment to share their thoughts and experiences with us, and I hope you take a listen to what they have to say.

This episode and the entire season is brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The importance of critical examination of headlines and seeking context in reporting
• Collective healing and activism in response to the ongoing struggle in Palestine
• The interconnectedness of social justice movements globally, from Black Lives Matter to indigenous rights
• The need to address injustice before discussing peace and coexistence
• The power of social media in raising awareness and facilitating change
• The role of civilian journalism in capturing events
• The hope that the world's attention will translate into meaningful change
• The role of art and creativity in processing emotions and raising awareness
• The evolving creative community in Amman
• Collaboration and support in Amman's creative community
• Curiosity and exploration as keys to discovering Amman's creative scene
• Venues for music and cultural events
• Hussein finds hope in the wonder of discovering new tools, projects, and touring his city. Sarah shares that she has seen a positive shift in people's willingness to listen and discuss important topics in Jordan.
• Rawan mentions that her relationships, faith, and the lessons from nature give her hope.

Featured on the show:

• Journalist Sarah Shabbar: https://www.instagram.com/jordannewsdaily
• Artist & calligrapher Hussein Alazaat: https://www.elharf.com
• Palestinian-Balkan musician Rawan Roshni: https://rawanroshni.com
• Abbad El Shams song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds7sXkk3YWw

Get more information at:

Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

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Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more.

Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Our theme music this season, Abbad El Shams, is provided by Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian/Balkan singer based in Jordan.

Mentioned in this episode:

Visit Jordan

This episode and the rest of this season are brought to you by Visit Jordan. Jordan is a beautiful country in the Middle East that has something for everyone: in a relatively small area, it packs diverse landscapes like the Mediterranean forests of Ajloun, deep canyons in Wadi Dana, the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Let Jordan be your host for your Middle Eastern adventures. Go to Visit Jordan to learn more.

Visit Jordan