حنّا Henna

تنطلق اليوم مجلة مفازة الرقمية بعد نحو عام من العمل الحثيث. تضم المجلة 10 مقالات بالعربية والانكليزية. وقد تم إنجاز هذا المشروع عبر دعم مجلس تورنتو للفنون، ومجلس كندا للفنون. زوروا موقعنا لقراءة مجلة مفازة عبر الرابط أدناه. https://bit.ly/4dNBKdO ____ Today, we launch Mafaza Digital Zine, after one year of hard work. The Magazine includes 10 articles in Arabic and English, and it was made possible by the support of the Toronto Art Council and Canada Council for the Art. https://bit.ly/4fSlnOL

Get your tickets from our bio. —- Four artists from Palestine and Syria present a breathtaking performance at Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto. Featuring the poets Mosab Alnomire and Wael Saad Aldin, and the musicians Abdul Wahab Kayyali and Majd Sekkar, Mafaza powerfully engages with themes of grief, loss, asylum, and hope through poetry and live music. The performance, directed by Ahmad Meree, is a unique and deep reflection on the atrocious realities in the Middle East. The word Mafaza in Arabic means the dry and barren desert. The root of Mafaza comes from the root for winning (فوز), and Mafaza means the land of winning: those who cross its barren harshness alive are the lucky winners. To overcome the existential challenge of Mafaza, one must arm themselves with patience, focus, and hope. By mobilizing Mafaza as a metaphor, this show aims to highlight the challenges faced by refugees and survivors of atrocities, those who work to heal, and continue the struggle for justice while facing complex systems and policies. These systems do not only lack the knowledge and sensitivity to deal with trauma and cultural specificity; they continue to cause atrocities, directly or indirectly. The show will be presented in both Arabic and English —— Poets: @waelsaadaldin & Mosab Alnomire Musicians: Abdel Wahab Kayyali & Majd Sekkar Director: Ahmad Meree Lighting designer: Chris Mallow ski Stage Manager: @rahaf__f97 Photography by: @fadirsalib Graphic design: @habescht Translation to English: @sira36abaqi _____ Thanks to our community partners @pamenar_km @acctonline @bamcollectivee @marsm.ca @jumpstartrefugee ——- Special thanks to Modern Times Stage Company & Ahlam Hassan

IT’S PSYCHALEPPO WEEK 💥 Get to know @hellopsychaleppo - the Syrian electronic music pioneer redefining what Arabic electronic music can be. Through his fusion of traditional Arabic melodies, electronic soundscapes, and emotional storytelling, he transforms rooms into living, breathing spaces of rhythm. His sets are cathartic, danceable, and deeply human. From #Aleppo to global stages, he brings his hits from Cipher + fan favourite classics + unreleased tracks to #Montreal and #Toronto this weekend 🪬 📍 Montreal - Nov 7 @barleritzpdb 📍 Toronto - Nov 8 @cafeteria_____ 🎟️ Get tickets via marsm.ca (link in bio) Big love to @umanotaculture @tapestry_jam @nomada.project @hennaplatform for helping us amplify visionary voices like Hello Psychaleppo 🖤 #EDM #arabicelectronic #torontoravecommunity #montrealravers #electronicmusic #torontoevents #montrealevents #nightlife

🥧 ARZÉ When Arzé’s scooter is stolen, threatening her fragile catering business, she is joined by her son on a wild ride through Beirut’s vibrant streets, uncovering secrets and confronting challenges in this heartfelt comedic-drama. 🎬 Mira Shaib Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt | 2024 | 93’ | Arabic 💬 Virtual Q&A with writers and producers Louay Khraish & Faissal Sam Shaib moderated by Mona Maarabani. 📍Saturday June 21 | 7:00PM 📍Innis Town Hall | 2 Sussex Ave. 🎟️ arabfilm.ca Community partner: @hennaplatform

This Thursday, Feb 6th, Gamal Mansour will be talking about his visit to Syria to understand the recent developments after the fall of 54 year brutal dictatorship of Assad. Where from, where to, and what to do? Location: Jackman Humanity Building, University of Toronto. Room 100 This event is a collaboration between Henna Platform and University of Toronto’s NMC. See you there

November 8th marked the first of three sold-out shows for the Mafaza project, a result of two years of artistic dedication intertwined with pain and resilience. This project brought together two poets and two musicians to archive the heartbreaking stories of Syrians who became victims of war—those who lost their lives, were imprisoned, or were forced to flee. I’m incredibly proud to have been the music composer for this project, in partnership with the outstanding oud player Aboud Kayali. Together, we strived to translate the extraordinary words of poets Mosab Al Numairi and Wael Saadeldin into melodies. Immense gratitude goes to our director, Ahmed Meree, whose artistic vision elevated Mafaza to new heights. A special thanks to Henna Platform for producing this show with such professionalism and care. This project is not just art; it’s a voice, a memory, and a tribute to the resilience of the Syrian people. #Mafaza #SyrianStories #ArtAndResistance #MusicAndPoetry #SyrianArtists #Oud #Clarinet #artforchange

هذه مقتطفات من عرض مفازة الشعري الموسيقي المسرحي، الذي أنتجته منصة حنّا مؤخراً. كان هذا العرض في مجمله استجابة إلى واقع فظيع عاشه السوريون على مدى 54 عاماً، وانتهى قبل أيام بسقوط النظام السوري المتوحش. لفد انفتحت أبواب السجون وعاد سوريون كثر إلى بيوتهم بعد اقتلاع مرير. ونحن إذ نقول ذلك سعيدون بأن يصبح عرض مفازة توثيقاً لمرحلة مريرة مرّت، بدل أن يكون تصويراً لراهنٍ مرّ وعصيب ومسدود الآفاق. سنكمل عرض مفازة في المستقبل في عدة مدن كندية وأوروبية بكونه وثيقة فنية وثقافية على مرحلة تاريخية نأمل أن تكون قد انطوت إلى الأبد. ربما سنعرضه في دمشق وحلب وحمص أيضاً، من يدري؟ على أمل الحرية لفلسطين أيضاً. ..... Some shots from Mafaza theatrical poetry and music performance, produced by Henna Platform recently. This show was mainly a response to atrocious realities experienced by the Syrian people for 54 years, and this reality changed days ago with the fall of the brutal Syrian regime. The prison gates are open now, and many Syrians have returned to their home after being ruthlessly uprooted. We are happy to continue working on Mafaza as documentation of a bygone ugly period, instead of being a portrait of an atrocious current reality. We will continue showing Mafaza in many Canadian and European cities, as a testimony to an era that is over, hopefully, forever. Maybe we will show it soon in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. Who knows? Free Palestine too. ------ Poets: @waelsaadaldin & @mosabalnomire Musicians: @akayyali & @majdsukarmusic Director: @ahmad.meree Lighting designer: @cmalkows Stage Manager: @rahaf__f97 Photography by: @fadirsalib & @joshuabest Graphic design: @habescht Translation to English: @sira36abaqi _____ Thanks to our community partners @pamenar_km , @acctonline , @bamcollectivee , @marsm.ca and @jumpstartrefugee ——- Special thanks to Modern Times Stage Company & Ahlam Hassan --- Video by @teyama.alkamli

🌟 Thank You 🌟 We are grateful to everyone who joined us in our three live full-house performances. Your presence and support brought immense strength and hope to our message. We are confident and excited to do more shows. Stay tuned for more exciting events and performances. Photos by: @joshuabest Creative Team: Poets: @mosabalnomairy & @waelsaadaldin Musicians: @akayyali & @majdsukarmusic Director: @ahmad.meree Stage Manager: @rahaf__f97 Lightning Designer: @cmalkows Graphic Design: @habescht #Mafaza #Gratitude #ThankYou #LivePerformance #CommunityLove #Theatre #torontotheatre #toronto #Grateful #Appreciation #Thanks #Thankful #Support #AudienceLove #ShowSupport #Performance #LiveShow #Event #LoveAndSupport #ThankYouAll #WeAppreciateYou #HeartfeltThanks

Thank you for being a part of our recent performance. Your participation and support mean so much to us. Please share your thoughts and feedback about the show. Your insights help us grow and create even more impactful performances. 📸✨ Photos by: @joshuabest Creative Team: Poets: @mosabalnomairy & @waelsaadaldin Musicians: @akayyali & @majdsukarmusic Director, set & custom design: @ahmad.meree Stage Manager: @rahaf__f97 Lightning Designer: @cmalkows Graphic Design: @habescht #Mafaza #Mafazaproject #feedback #shareyourexperience #communitylove #liveperformance #audiencefeedback #thankyou #support #impactfulmoments #photoshare #wevalueyourinput

Final Curtain Call! 🌟 Just a heads-up that the last performance of Mafaza is on Sunday, Nov 10th, at 2:00 PM. It’s been an incredible journey, and we want you to be part of this special moment. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience! #Mafaza #MafazaProject #SurvivalJourney #TheatricalPerformance #PoetryAndMusic #TheatreForChange #TorontoEvents #torontotheatre #SurvivalStories #BehindTheScenes #Hope #Resilience #TheatreLovers #MusicalTheatre #CulturalEvent #PoetryAndSurvival #ResilienceThroughArt #StorytellingForJustice #HopeInExile #RefugeeStories #TorontoTheatre #LivePerformance #ArtAndCulture #getyourtickets

Get your tickets from our bio

🌟 Meet the Lighting Designer of MAFAZA: Chris Malkowski! 🌟 We are thrilled to introduce Chris Malkowski, our brilliant lighting designer for MAFAZA. Based in Toronto, Canada, Chris has an impressive portfolio, having designed lights for over 100 productions across dance, drama, opera, musical theatre, art installations, and live events. Chris’s work has illuminated stages at prestigious venues such as the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Vancouver Opera, Soulpepper Theatre, and Canadian Stage. His talent has also shone on international festival stages in Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland) and North Africa (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco). Recent productions by Chris include: Microphone Controller (Dance Made in Canada Festival) King Lear (Stratford Festival) Chitra (Shaw Festival) HMS Pinafore (Vancouver Opera) Face to Face (Naishi Wang) Gloria (ARC / Crow’s Theatre) Waves of Flesh (Staats Berlin Ballett / Komische Oper Berlin) AF (Canadian Stage/Red Sky Performance) Suitcase (Theatre Passe Muraille) Pass Over (Obsidian Theatre) Black Drum (Deaf Cultural Centre / Soulpepper) Chris is a full member of the Associated Designers of Canada IATSE Local 659 and is represented by Catalyst TCM Inc. @cmalkows Join us in celebrating the incredible work of Chris Malkowski and stay tuned for the magic he brings to MAFAZA! ✨ #Mafaza #Mafazaproject #LightingDesigner #TheatreMagic #ChrisMalkowski #MAFAZA #StageDesign #TheatreLife #BehindTheScenes #TorontoTheatre