For many women, belly dance can be a journey home to the body; a remembering of an ancient and intuitive force. For centuries, women have gathered through movement and ritual to connect with their bodies, their femininity, and the sacred center of the pelvis.

In the ancient cultures of the Middle East and North Africa, traditional women’s dances have, in some accounts and oral traditions, been associated with rites of passage such as marriage, childbirth, fertility, and other moments of transformation. Through the undulation of the hips and pelvis, women could experience their bodies in a different way, where they can be felt, inhabited, and honored.

Today, belly dance can offer that same invitation to breathe into the pelvis, awaken forgotten sensations, release emotion, and rediscover the pleasure of moving freely within one’s own body. It is a practice of coming home to the hips, to the pelvic floor, to the breath, and ultimately, to oneself.

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Moving between her experience as a Malaysian woman connected to Egypt through marriage and her growing relationship with belly dance, Atiqah Ghazali-alKashif challenges the Western tendency to reduce belly dance to erotic spectacle. She locates the dance within a distinctly female social world, such as weddings, homes, gatherings, and moments of shared joy, where movement becomes a form of cultural memory passed between generations.

As she becomes more comfortable with belly dance, she also becomes more connected to her own body and femininity. The dance becomes a way of letting go, feeling pleasure, and simply being present in her body. 

She shows us that belly dance can speak in ways words cannot; a language of movement through which women can carry culture, awaken memory, express what lies beneath the surface, and find their way back to a sense of belonging.

Read the article here.

Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi's Grandmother's Secrets totally changes how you look at belly dancing, showing it's way more than just a performance. She connects it back to its roots as an ancient tradition that women used for healing, strength, and bringing communities together.

Blending memories of her childhood in Iraq with stories drawn from history, Al-Rawi leads us on a fascinating journey from ancient goddess rituals to the present day. Her writing feels like uncovering something long buried; a forgotten history carried quietly in women’s bodies, passed from one generation to the next.

Inspiring, intimate, and wonderfully accessible, Grandmother’s Secrets is a beautiful read for anyone drawn to women’s history, the poetry of movement, or the deeper cultural stories hidden beneath the surface of Middle Eastern traditions.

Read more here.

Felukah’s "Fruitseller" is a brilliant collision of smooth, minimalist trap beats and Cairo street culture. Produced by Vinay, the track pairs a dreamy, hypnotic soundscape with Felukah’s effortless bilingual flow, switching between English and Arabic with a jazzy cadence. Underneath the catchy hook paying tribute to neighborhood fruit vendors, she drops sharp, clever double entendres about the everyday hustle and identity. It is a slick, thoughtful piece of underground hip-hop that bridges New York and Cairo with total ease.

Listen here.

“Game of Hell” is the first story in the series The Full Story (Al-Qissa Al-Kamila), an Egyptian drama project that presents standalone stories inspired by real crimes and cases. It follows the intersection of two very different worlds through the internet, before a digital game turns into a crime that crosses the boundaries of the virtual world and enters reality. The story centers on a highly intelligent teenager who appears to those around him to be living a seemingly perfect life, while secretly hiding a mysterious side connected to technology and the internet. Alongside him is a man who presents himself to others as a religious and calm individual. The two characters’ lives intersect online, and they gradually become involved in a game that extends beyond the boundaries of the screen.

Watch it here.

Located in Gemmayzeh, Mayrig brings traditional Armenian recipes to the table while incorporating Lebanese and Mediterranean influences, creating a menu that feels both familiar and distinctive. Armenian cuisine is particularly interesting for the way it reflects centuries of cultural exchange, combining flavors with ingredients and techniques influenced by the Middle East and Mediterranean. From mante and fishna keufteh to vospov keufteh, Mayrig gives you a chance to experience this unique culinary tradition in a warm, home-like setting.

Find out more here.

Catching a live set by Stormalong is such a cool way to dive into Egypt's underground indie scene. With their moody guitar vibes and deep, chill vocals, they really capture that artsy, late-night Cairo mood. Seeing them live at a local cultural space or indie venue gives you a front-row seat to all the amazing underground talent right now, where local bands and singer-songwriters just get to jam out in a super welcoming, community-focused crowd.

Find out more here.