Advertisement Close
Menu
Arab America

Arabic 101

Arabic Word of the Day

Shami and Levantine Dialect

Arabic:

Benna (m)

English:

Builder

Play recording

AraBIT

Arab Trivia

Arab Contributions Naguib Mahfouz began writing when he was seventeen. The appearance of the Cairo Triology, Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, Sukkariya (Between-the-Palaces, Palace of Longing,...

Read More

Poll

Will the Trump Administration Shift U.S. Policy in Favor of Palestine?

  • No (87%)
  • Yes (13%)
Loading ... Loading ...

Copyright © 2026 Arab America

Go top

Arabic Music

Pathbreakers of Arab America—Simon Shaheen

By

This is the eighty-ninth in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series features personalities from various fields, including entertainment, business, sports, science, the arts, academia, journalism, and politics. John Mason, contributing writer, highlights our eighty-ninth pathbreaker, Simon Shaheen, Palestinian-born orchestra leader who has become one of Arabic music’s most prominent ambassador and most active educators in the United States.

8 Arabic Language Songs For Arabic Language Learners

By

By Katie Beason / Arab America Contributing Writer One tried and true method of all language learners in listening to songs in their target language, especially for Arabic language acquisition. Learning Arabic as a non-heritage speaker can be a special challenge. Understanding the verbal sentences structures, rhetorical devices, and various means of pronunciation across different … Continued

“Music as an Escape”: 40 Minutes with Sommer Forrester

By

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Sommer Forrester’s journey through music and identity is one of blending cultures, disciplines, and personal resilience. Sommer is an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where she leads the music education program. Raised on a rich tapestry of Arabic music and Western classical influences, she … Continued

“Music is the Glue”: 40 Minutes with Hadi Eldebek

By

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Hadi Eldebek is an artist and educator committed to connecting his values and passions to his work in the arts, culture, and education in New York City. Born and raised in Lebanon, he draws inspiration from his roots while embracing opportunities to learn, explore, and engage with … Continued

The Rahbani Brothers: The Architects of Fairuz’s Legacy

By

By: Fedal Hanoun / Arab America Contributing Writer People frequently refer to Fairuz, the legendary Lebanese vocalist, as the “Voice of the Arab World.” Her divine voice, combined with her meaningful lyricism and captivating songs, has resonated with audiences for decades. The Rahbani brothers, Asad and Mansour, contributed their brilliance and creativity to her exceptional … Continued

A Love Song to Eternity: Fairuz’s ‘Bektob Ismak Ya Habibi’

By

By: Fedal Hanoun / Arab America Contributing Writer The Song’s Significance and Fairuz’s Cultural Influence Fairuz, a Lebanese singing icon, has captured listeners internationally with her wonderful voice and expressive lyrics. One of her most renowned songs, “Bektoub Ismak Ya Habibi,” translates as “I Write Your Name, My Love,” is a heartfelt confession of love … Continued

Rewriting the Music Playbook: Harget Kart’s Art of Fusion

By

By: Yara Marei / Arab America Contributing Writer Imagine a band that takes the ordinary, lights it on fire, and from the ashes creates something extraordinary. This is Harget Kart—a name that, in the Arabic Jordanian dialect, means “to burn a photo card.” Just as their name suggests, Harget Kart has set the conventional boundaries … Continued

Afifa Iskandar, The Iraqi Blackbird

By

By: Menal Elmaliki / Arab America Contributing Writer Afifa Iskandar Estefan, عفيفة إسكندر إصطيفان, is one of the most famous Iraqi singers of the 20th century. She is known for her traditional style of singing. Maqam-al-Iraqi is an old musical tradition that emphasizes the beauty of language. Modern Iraqi maqam is a genre of Arabic maqam … Continued

Dalida: The International Diva Who Became an Egyptian Icon

By

By: Norah Soufraji/ Arab America Contributing Writer An Egyptian Icon Music is at the very heart and soul of Egyptian national pride. For decades, the likes of Um Kalthoum, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Mohammad Abdel Wahab, transfixed the Arab world with their melodies. Along with these icons of Arab music, we can also find Dalida, … Continued

Anghami, the Arab World’s Most Popular Music Streaming Platform

By

By: Mariam Alyakoob / Arab America Contributing Writer What is Anghami? Anghami is a digital music streaming service that is most commonly used in the Arab world.  Similar to Spotify, Anghami uses a subscription based business model for revenue, being their biggest source at 65% of total revenue. They also offer free based subscriptions as … Continued

Amazing Rock Artists from around the Arab World

By

By: Malorie Lewis / Arab America Contributing Author Rock music established itself in the early 1940s in the United States. Throughout time the popularity of this genre of music is typically characterized by its rhythm esthetic, and the use of particular musical instruments. Foundationally speaking, it is a music of the people. Rock music was … Continued

Fairouz Foty in America!

By

By: Yasmina Hage/Arab America Contributing Writer Fairouz Foty is an operatic spinto soprano of Palestinian and Egyptian origins. She grew up in Washington, DC. and is very attached to her Arab roots.  Fairouz wants to make everything possible to promote and give a more accurate image of her heritage and Arab history in this field. … Continued

25 Results (Page 1 of 3)