Jaffat El Aqlam is an independent platform that celebrates artistic creations by humans from/based in the MENA region, establishing its digital existence through zines, open calls, workshops, and collaborative dialogue. Established in 2014, Jaffat El Aqlam has grown to become an open space for artists/designers, writers, musicians, poets, start-ups and researchers to feature their work and contribute to the exploration of identities for those within and out of the MENA region.

In addition to our burgeoning existence on the Internet, we publish zines, conduct workshops, and sell merchandise realised by contributors. We are a self-sustained project - 100% of our profits go towards its continuation.

*Jaffat El Aqlam is an Arabic phrase that loosely translates to ‘Dried Out Pens’, a name derived from the gradual disappearing use and consumption of traditional media.

THE TEAM

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SARAH AHMED
FOUNDER &
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sarah is a 27 year old, Networking & Security in information technology graduate. When she's not stressing out about work or meeting self-made deadlines, she experiments with glitch art, film photography or watercolors, plays odd video games, listens to what her family calls ‘alien music’ and waters her plants.

website • instagram

RAMA DUWAJI
ILLUSTRATOR

Rama Duwaji is a Syrian illustrator and visual artist born and currently based in the U.S.A. Rama's work mainly consists of illustrations and simplified designs. She utilizes her art work to discuss topics within the Middle East, such as beauty standards and misogyny

instagram

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AMNA SAIF
EDITOR

Although she prides herself on being a cynical unperfectionist, Amna Saif [ironically] wishes to live in a community where morality and aesthetics come first and foremost, one day.

twitter • instagram

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NADIM CHOUFI
RESEARCHER

Nadim Choufi is an artist that currently resides in Lebanon.

website • twitter • instagram

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DEENA RASHED
EDITOR

Deena completed her Bachelor's in International Studies in 2015, with a very dodgy specialisation in Culture & Society, and an even dodgier minor in English Literature. She is currently in the process of researching parts of her Pakistani "ethnicity" that she may have ignored for the past 21 years.

instagram

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OMAR ELSADEK
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR

A 26 years of age fatigued sad flower boy and a sad emotional anime enthusiast, also an electrical engineer.

Omar experiments with a mixture of analog photography, paintings, and digital art as a form of expression; giving paintings new life, in a way.

twitter • instagram

 
 

INTERVIEWS & PRESS:

 

EVENTS, TALKS & WORKSHOPS:

  • 8 FOLD ZINE WORKSHOP - WITH JAMEEL’S ART CENTER
    PART OF SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 1
    DUBAI, 11th JULY 2019

  • 8 FOLD ZINE WORKSHOP - WITH JAMEEL’S ART CENTER
    PART OF SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 2
    DUBAI, 25th JULY 2019

UPCOMING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S NOTE:

Do not hesitate to continuously submit your pieces of poetry, short stories, prose, music and even visual art. We try our best to publish everything, but in the end, it's all about how much your pieces stand-out; so make sure you send in your best-est-est work.

Collaborations and modern digital art (image macros, gifs, glitch art, alt lit etc) are actively encouraged in this space. If you have any ideas you'd like to discuss with us, feedback or constructive criticism, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Guest posts from outside the MENA region are very much welcomed with limited slots per issue.