Welcome to The Grapevine – a monthly series from Pink Jinn where we pass the mic to artists, thought leaders, influencers and pioneers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the global diaspora. They’ll be sharing their top arts, culture and lifestyle picks with all of us – from the books and podcasts shaping the way they think, to the music, food, places and brands that bring magic to their everyday.
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We’ve got a fabulous edition of the Grapevine for you this month, including beauty recommendations from the woman who literally wrote the book on eyeliner! Journalist and author Zahra Hankir has joined us to share the art and music that inspires her, recipes and places woven into her family history, and much more.
You may know Zahra as the editor of hard-hitting anthology Our Women on the Ground, or for her work as a journalist for the likes of Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, or Gal-dem, or perhaps you’ve already got your hands on her latest triumph – Eyeliner: A Cultural History. From Nefertiti to guyliner via Japanese geishas and Amy Winehouse, Eyeliner delves into the dynamics of power, beauty and identity woven through the history of this make-up bag staple. Read on for Zahra’s top recommendations – your reading and listening for 2024 is sorted!
AN ARTIST, DESIGNER OR CREATOR WHO INSPIRES YOU
I’m a fan of the Palestinian creator Shirien Damra, whose colorful imagery fuses art with political activism and social justice causes. Besides spotlighting the Palestinian cause, Damra’s art is intersectional; it has centered communities of colour, amplifying social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter and the Stop Asian Hate campaign.
Image: @shirien.creates
ALL-TIME FAVOURITE SONG
These days I’ve been listening a lot to Ya Bahriye by the Lebanese singer and composer, Marcel Khalife. The song is filled with a zeal that remains pertinent, especially in the current moment. As I’m originally from Sidon, Lebanon, the mention of the sea and its sailors really resonates with me. There’s so much despair out there today but the song reminds us to find hope in solidarity.
THE BOOKS YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN
I’m currently reading A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy, by Nathan Thrall – it’s a harrowing but necessary read which explores the “deadly red tape of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.” I also recently read Doppelganger by Naomi Klein which I loved.
GO-TO PODCAST
Kerning Cultures. It’s sadly no longer producing new episodes but its deep dives into the region and the quality of storytelling are unmatched. Among my favorite episodes are Jerusalem Calling, Trancing with the Zars, and Lebanon, USA. Special shoutout to Dana Ballout and Alex Atack who continue to do incredible work elsewhere.
FAVOURITE DISH OR RESTAURANT
The first dish that comes to mind is ful – fava bean stew. It’s not only delicious and nutritious, it holds a special place in my family history. My grandfather Abu Adel used to be a ful and hummus seller. He started his career as an orphan in Haifa, Palestine, where he traveled all around the city and its outskirts to sell ful and hummus from pots off of the back of a donkey. He saved up for years, until he could afford to buy land and build a home for his family. In 1948, he and my grandmother and uncles and aunts were exiled from their homes to South Lebanon as part of the Nakba (my grandmother was pregnant with my father at the time); with very little money and next to no possessions, my grandfather once more started his business from scratch in my hometown, Sidon. His ful and hummus were so popular that he was known as Malek el Ful (the King of Ful) in both Haifa and Sidon. He continues to be referred to as such today, though he passed away before I was even born. When I eat ful back home in Lebanon, I’m indulging in my favourite breakfast (which I love to eat alongside fresh veggies), while also honouring his legacy.
Abu Adel and son at Ful Abu Adel in Old Sidon, 1970 Image courtesy of the Hankir family
A SMALL BUSINESS MAKING WAVES
I wrote much of my second book, Eyeliner: A Cultural History, at the independent coffee shop Villager on Classon Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Besides having excellent coffee and pastries (I’m a pastries girlie), its staff have such a vibrant energy and its ambiance is electric. I love how much light it gets, how high its ceilings are, and its abundant dangling plants. I feel like I’m part of a community there – it exemplifies why I love living in New York.
Image: @villager_ny
FAVOURITE PLACE ON EARTH
The souks of Sidon will always have my heart. The strolls I’ve taken there with my mother, to buy jewellery, spices and qatayef (especially during Ramadan), are among my favorite lifelong pastimes. There’s something infectious and wholesome about these bustling streets—the clinking of coffee cups, the collision of delicious scents, the older men smoking shisha, the kids playing hide and seek, the hidden gems of architecture and culture. Mostly, it just feels like home.
Sidon, Lebanon
WILD CARD
Beauty brand! I love Huda Beauty, not only because of how great her eyeliner and baking powder products are, but also because of her origin story as the daughter of Iraqi immigrants in the US, and that she is unapologetically political and outspoken.
You can follow Zahra on Instagram or X and you can order your very own copy of Eyeliner here!
