Lebanon

Zahra Hankir | The Grapevine

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. 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.

Women’s History Month: 6 Awe-Inspiring Women From The Middle East And North Africa

It’s Women’s History Month, and here at Pink Jinn there’s nothing we love more than celebrating the achievements of incredible women. To mark the occasion, we’re going on a trip through history to highlight the stories of 6 awe-inspiring women from the Middle East and North Africa who we should all know more about. From warriors, freedom fighters and activists to pioneers in the fields of healthcare and even aviation, this is a pretty amazing collection.

READING LIST | 8 Books to Help You Understand Lebanon

With Beirut in people’s hearts at the moment, we have a reading list for you that will increase your understanding of Lebanon from its turbulent history to its beautiful culture. Whether you’re looking for a challenging non-fiction read, or you want to learn how to cook some delicious Lebanese recipes, this reading list will help you to learn about this incredible country and its people.

RECIPE | Lebanese koftas with griddled flatbreads

There are so many pronunciations for this Middle Eastern dish, from kafta to koftas, kebab…

7 Incredible Family-Friendly Destinations In The Middle East

Dubai-based blogger Keri Hedrick of Our Globetrotters shares her top recommendations for family-friendly travel in the Middle East, with the destinations chosen by the globetrotters themselves – her kids!

8 places you won’t believe are in the Middle East

The Middle East has been heavily stereotyped and romanticised over the years. Stories of conflict, violence and religious extremism have bombarded the western media in recent decades, shaping a narrow view of the Middle East and its people. The following list contains 8 incredible places that shatter the traditional stereotypes and showcase the remarkable diversity of the Middle East.

Arabic Coffee: 5 things you didn’t know about coffee and its roots in the Middle East

Here’s a list of a few things you may not have known about the history of coffee and what makes Arabic coffee the cultural institution it is in the Middle East and North Africa.

10 essential ingredients for Middle Eastern sweets and desserts

The Middle East is the home of some of the world’s most delicious and indulgent sweets and desserts, from Turkish Delight to Kunafa and Bastani – Iranian ice cream. To make Middle Eastern sweets and desserts at home, make sure you add these 10 cupboard essentials to your shopping list.

3 Arab women filmmakers causing a stir

You may have seen the news of the recent successes of Syrian wife, mother and filmmaker Waad al-Kateab’s remarkable documentary, For Sama. We thought this would be an excellent opportunity to showcase and celebrate Waad’s story and her success, along with some of the other great achievements of Arab women in film in recent years. Below are three incredible films from inspiring female directors from the Arab World that you absolutely need to watch!