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Podcast: The Queer Arabs

Episode 141 [in English]: Rime Salmi


Rime Salmi is a singer-songwriter whose work channels the fusion between her Moroccan heritage and Canadian upbringing. She sings in French, English, Spanish, and Arabic, weaving in rhythms from across the African continent and diaspora. Directed by Reda Lahmouid, the video for her cover of Warda’s “Batwanes Beek” features well-known dancers in the Montreal LGBTQ scene making the city their catwalk. 

Rime joined us to discuss staying connected to her roots through music, becoming a more conscious ally to queer people in the MENA, releasing music in times of crisis, her upcoming tracks, and more.

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Episode 140: Reading Is Just Recognizing Shapes

Sheyam Ghieth is an Egyptian-American artist exploring themes of language, liberation, queerness and exile through illustration, hand lettering, pattern making and graphic design. Her “QUEER in Arabic” and “Nonbinary in Arabic” T-shirt designs have raised relief funds for queer and trans Muslims and Arabs since Ramadan 2020. 

Sheyam has created graphics for Netflix, Hulu, A24, HBO and FX; and has designed for shows such as Orange is the New Black, The Americans, and Ramy. Born in Cairo, she has lived all over, including Rome, Zimbabwe, Sudan, NYC and, most recently Portland. She is a former bus driver and an ex-journalist. She lives and creates with her partner, with whom she directed and produced the award-winning transgender scripted series “BROTHERS.”

Sheyem joined us to talk about finding queer community through art, navigating the entertainment industry with its often limited scope of representation, the importance of maintaining a connection to the Arabic language, and more!

 

Instagram @sheyamghieth

 

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