Arts, Culture & Entertainment – Page 3 – Arabian Records (1st post : Eid Al Fitr – 01st Shawwal 1439 (AH) / 15th June 2018 ) / (BETA testing – Research

MOROCCO : CNDH President Amina Bouayach Receives 2025 Mediterranean Foundation Award in Naples, Italy

Bouayech praised Morocco’s efforts in promoting human rights including recently proposed changes to the country’s family code.

Amina Bouayach, the President of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), has been awarded the 2025 Mediterranean Foundation Award for her contributions to promoting human rights in Morocco and internationally.

The award, presented to her on Friday in Naples, Italy, recognizes individuals or organizations dedicated to upholding the values of human dignity and freedom.

Established by Italian sculptor Mario Molinari, the Mediterranean Prize is a symbol of peace and coexistence between countries. It recognized Bouayach’s work in advancing equality, justice, and fundamental freedoms, the foundation said in a statement.

During the ceremony, President of the foundation, Michael Capasso, along with international jury members and Professor Abdelhak Azouzi, praised Bouayach for her extensive work in human rights.

Bouayach was born in Tetouan, a small city in northern Morocco. For decades, she has been a tireless advocate for women’s and children’s rights, often speaking out against the injustices they face. She has also worked to improve the rights of marginalized groups around the world.

In recognition of her dedication and leadership, King Mohammed VI appointed her as president of CNDH in 2018.

She has also held significant positions in global human rights organizations, including Vice-President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights.

In addition to her work in human rights, Bouayach has had a career in diplomacy, having served as Morocco’s Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia.

In her acceptance speech, Bouayach expressed gratitude for the recognition and praised Morocco’s efforts in promoting human rights. She particularly mentioned recent reforms like the vote in favor of a universal moratorium on the death penalty.

“This distinction, while touching me as a woman and activist, is primarily a tribute to my country, Morocco, for its unwavering commitment to the universal values of dignity, justice, and equality,” Bouayech said.

She also mentioned the proposed reforms to Morocco’s family code and they recognize women’s contributions in the household when distributing marital property. “These ambitious reforms, full of hope, aim to strengthen the rights of women and children, bringing significant advancements,” Bouayach said.

CNDH President also noted that the Mediterranean is more than just a geographic area; it is a place rich with shared history, where different cultures have come together to build a common heritage.

She acknowledged the challenges the region faces, such as conflicts and climate change, but stressed that the Mediterranean’s heritage of humanity and diversity offers hope and the potential for renewed dialogue.

In addition, she noted the important role of women in driving social and political change in the Mediterranean, especially in Morocco.

“I dedicate this award to all Mediterranean women who, every day, build bridges between cultures and generations,” she concluded.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO

SAUDI ARABIA : King Faisal Prize announces winners for 2025

KSU professors, Canadian and Japanese scientists achieving breakthroughs in cellular therapy and carbon nanotubes win coveted prize

Selection committees held meetings at King Faisal Prize headquarters to select winners in Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science

The King Faisal Prize 2025 laureates were announced at a ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday night.

Two King Saud University professors, a Canadian scientist who achieved a breakthrough in cellular therapy and a Japanese scientist doing pioneering work in carbon nanotubes were winners of the most coveted prize in the Arab world.

Announcing the KFP 2025 winners, Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, secretary-general of the King Faisal Prize said: “The selection committees of the King Faisal Prize 2025, after meticulous deliberations that were held from Monday to Wednesday, have reached decisions for the prize’s four categories: Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science. As for the fifth category, the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, the announcement will be made at the end of this month.”

The King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies for 2025 (Topic: Studies of Archaeology in the Arabian Peninsula), was awarded jointly to Professor Saad Abdulaziz Alrashid and Professor Said Faiz Alsaid. Both are Saudi nationals and professors at King Saud University.

Alrashid was awarded the prize for his contribution to the study of Islamic archaeological sites and inscriptions of the Arabian Peninsula, which laid the scientific and methodological groundwork for scholars in this field.
His work has enriched scientific knowledge about Islamic civilization and has become an empirical source for future generations of researchers.

Alsaid was awarded the prize for the originality of his scientific studies, which are based on rich literature and published in several languages. His adaptation of a comparative methodology in studies of inscriptions and ancient writings of the Arabian Peninsula has had a profound impact on understanding the history of the Arabian Peninsula’s civilizations before Islam.
His studies are an important scientific reference for scholars of the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the ancient Near East.

The King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language and Literature (Topic: Studies of Identity in Arabic Literature), was withheld due to the nominated works not reaching the criteria for the prize.

The King Faisal Prize for Medicine (Topic: Cellular Therapy), has been awarded to Michel Sadelain (Canada), Stephen and Barbara Friedman chair and director, Center for Cell Engineering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Sadelain has been awarded the prize for his pioneering work in cellular therapy, and in particular for the genetic engineering of immune cells with “chimeric antigen receptors” (CAR-T).
Dr. Sadelain led the team that designed and tested clinically effective and novel CAR-T agents for the treatment of blood cancers.
His group identified CD19 as an effective CAR target and included a CD28 domain in the CAR construct, resulting in strikingly effective clinical responses.
Dr. Sadelain continues to improve CAR-T cell efficacy by devising strategies to overcome treatment resistance. This approach also shows promise in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and solid tumors.

The King Faisal Prize for Science for this year was awarded in physics to Sumio Iijima, a professor at Meijo University, Japan.

Iijima has been awarded the prize for establishing the field of carbon nanotubes, following his pioneering discovery of carbon nanotubes using electron microscopy. This new class of one-dimensional carbon materials has had a powerful impact on fundamental solid-state physics and material science.
His work has opened new avenues for developing wide-ranging, practical applications in nanotechnology, ranging from electronics to energy storage systems and biomedicine.

The General Secretariat of the King Faisal Prize commended the 2025 laureates and offered thanks to the distinguished members of the selection committees and the experts for their valued contributions.

The selection committees for the prize’s four categories — Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science — convened at the prize’s headquarters from Monday to Wednesday.

The selection committees included prominent experts, scholars and specialists from 16 countries.

The KFP was established in 1977, and was awarded for the first time in 1979 in three categories — service to Islam, Islamic studies, and Arabic language and literature. Two additional categories were introduced in 1981 — medicine and science. The first medicine prize was awarded in 1982, and in science two years later.

Since 1979, the KFP in its different categories has awarded about 300 laureates to those who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes.
Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate’s name and a summary of the work that qualified them for the prize.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA /

EGYPT : Meet Professor Essam Safi El-Din: An Egyptian architect and tutor

As he submitted the final maquettes (small-scale models) of Egypt’s folk architecture to the soon-to-open Museum of Folk Arts, Ahram Online spoke to the master himself about the merits and grace of architecture.

To Professor Essam Safi El-Din, architecture is an authentic musical note that resonates with the human touch of the people who conceptualised, built and lived in the building.

Known as the Architect and Tutor who, for over 55 years taught, designed and founded the house of Egyptian Architect and The museum of Folk Arts, Essam Safi El-Din has always believed in the philosophy and grace of popular architecture.

From Shubra Tramway to El-Refaai and Sultan Hassan

“In the 1980s, I designed the pedestrian passage between Sultan Hassan and El-Refaai Mosque, which was originally the tracks of the tramway. So my sketches were inspired by my daily tram ride from Shubra where I lived as a child in 1947 to the Citadel. I copied the same pattern that the tram took from narrow streets that end up in a vast square and the pedestrian area captured the grace and serenity of the architectural gems of the two heritage mosques,” he told Ahram Online.

On revisiting the tramway voyages with open eyes, Safi El-Dien realised that his eyes captured the human wisdom and truth in the details of the buildings that ran by him as the tramway moved across various districts of Cairo.

Handmade Architecture

A child to a renowned architect, Safi El-Din has always been fascinated by designing houses. Making his own handmade maquettes was his passion since childhood. “Since I was seven-years-old I was charmed by architecture and my prize for doing my homework was that I would go to my father’s architecture office and draw with him. My eyes started to watch the buildings and ask who built it and why,” he remembered. This passion was manifested into Egypt’s oldest mockup and design architecture in Egypt and the Arab World.

Passion for Old Buildings

Describing his favorite work spot in his home, Safi El-Din revealed to Ahram Online his relationship with the radio. “Wherever I work, I have two radios to choose from, one set to a music programme and the other to the Quran channel,” he noted

“I was always enchanted by the old architecture because of its beautiful art effects, motifs and language. There is a human and visual dialogue between me and the building because I feel the presence of the head of builders, the builders, and the inhabitants of such building. Old architecture is close to me for it fits the human scale with all its space, physiological and emotional needs,” he explained, describing how buildings can promote serenity and induce better mood for humans.

“You see, architecture is still music, and an architect has to be an artist who has a taste in music,” he explained.

Inspiring Architects

“The architects that have inspired me at an early age are Said Karim whose sketches were the first drawings I have seen in my Dad’s office. I was very fond of Hassan Fathy and Ramsis Wissa Wassef because they have this great sense of belonging to the local building techniques as a mission and a cause,” he added. His passion to safeguard the valuable knowledge in architecture and the grace of local architecture was passed on to all the students he taught and mentored in college throughout the course of over 55 years of academic world. However his keenness to pass on such knowledge to the public made him go the extra mile.

The House of Egyptian Architecture and The National Folk Museum

In the early 1980s, he wanted to document all types of Egyptian architecture under one roof. The Ministry of Culture granted him the current House of Egyptian Architecture. The charming Ottoman-style house that belonged to Hassan Fathy – the father of modern architecture in Egypt – was once the studio of Orientalist artists and has since become a cultural hub, and a museum of local architecture.

Safi El-Din’s maquettes portraying the unique identity of Egyptian architecture were the foundation of The National Folk Art Museum that held its soft opening a few months ago.

Located at the High Institute for Folk Arts in the Haram district, Giza, the official opening date for the museum has not yet been announced.

“The National Folk Art Museum is different from any museum of history because it is not focused just on the historic facts, it is more focused on the cultural value of such items in that era. The value of architecture and its types and how it is comforting. Folk arts as well as folk architecture, reveal the indigenous roots of culture, conduct, the skills of craftsmanship and handicrafts, ” he added.

Essam Safi El-Din’s name resonates with success and authenticity. There is a library dedicated to his works at the British University in Cairo, and he is currently working on a book on his eternal dialogue between architecture and art.

Gems of Wisdom

The most important thing that I have learned is that the value of history is not about knowing the facts, it’s about contextualizing such facts. He stated that his motto in life is a verse from the Quran stating that God will reward all your efforts.

“A person needs to know what his/her mission in life is; why is he here? We need to teach architectural criticism as a subject not a mere cross cutting theme. We need to know the impact of architects on social life and the environment.”

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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EGYPT

QATAR : Lusail’s New Year festivities set Guinness World Record

Qatari Diar received a Guinness World Records distinction for “the most fireworks launched by multirotors/drones in an aerial display.”

The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.

The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.

The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.

The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.

source/content: thepeninsulaqatar.com (headline edited)

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QATAR

QATAR: The Story of a Ball – World’s Largest Art Canvas unveiled – awarded by Guinness Book of Records

The Ministry of Culture unveiled the largest painting on canvas in the world by the artist Emad Al Salehi, at Qatar University yesterday.

The 9,652 sq metre artwork, equivalent to the size of a football field, is titled The Story of a Ball and was adjudged as the largest art canvas by the Guinness Book of Records officials.

The painting tells the history of the World Cup from its inception in 1930 until the World Cup 2022, which combines culture, history and sports and embodies the landmarks and icons of all the World Cup tournaments in Qatar.

The unveiling of the artwork comes at a time when the country is in the midst of the FIFA World Cup Qatar and as it readies to celebrate its National Day on December 18, 2022.

At the inaugural ceremony, a video was shown about the stages of completion of the huge artwork, after which the Guinness Book of Records certificate was handed over, marking its entry into the record book, in the presence of the Ministry of Culture officials and media.

source/content: thepeninsulaqatar.com (headline edited)

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Artist Emad Salehi receives Guinness World Record Award from the Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al Thani during the inauguration Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed

Artist Emad Salehi receives Guinness World Record Award from the Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al Thani during the inauguration Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed

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QATAR

EGYPT: Billboard Arabia Grants Sherine Abdelwahab the ‘Global Force Award’, making her the First Arab Artist to be conferred this prestious award

Billboard Arabia granted famed Egyptian singer Sherine Abdelwahab Global Force Award.

“I hope that my work reaches the entire world. That’s always been a dream of mine” AbdelWahab said.

The Egyptian star added that she is thrilled and proud that there is a music award specifically for women.

Billboard Arabia in partnership with Billboard Women In Music 2024, granted AbdelWahab this prestigious award to be the first Arab Artist to receive it.

Abdelwahab released her latest song titled “Dahab” on February, 2024.

The song is written by Tamer Hussein and composed by Madin.

Abdelwahab makes her debut performance in Dubai in 2023. Abdel Wahab has captivated thousands of audiences around the Arab world with her melodious voice, charismatic stage presence and managed to establish herself as one of the most popular and beloved singers in the Middle East. She is a popular Egyptian singer who was born in 1980. She started her career in 2000.

Two years later, the music producer Nasr Mahrous who strongly believed in Abdelwahab paired her with Tamer Hosny on the same music album.

The album achieved booming success; Abdelwahab and Hosny became mega stars. She released a lot of successful songs such as “Masha’aer’’ (Emotions), “Albi Leek” (My heart is for you), “Garh Tany” (Another wound), “Lazem Ayesh” (I have to survive), “Batmenak” (I am Reassuring you) among others. She acted in one movie along with the Egyptian mega star Ahmed Helmy entitled “Mido Mashakel” (Mido always makes problems).

Her soap opera “Tare’y” (My path), released in 2015, achieved great success. Abdelwahab is famous for her emotional, melodious voice that has a significant touch of intimacy. She is consistently hailed as one of the most talented and successful singers of her era, being dubbed as “The Queen of Emotions” for her popular romantic ballads.

source/content: egypttoday.com (headline edited)

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Sherine Abdelwahab

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EGYPT

EGYPT : NCE CEO Khaled Noby selected as impact maker for COP29 communications campaign

Khaled Noby, CEO of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), was selected as an impact maker for the COP29 Global Communications Campaign. This nomination recognizes NCE’s pioneering work in safeguarding biodiversity in Egypt.

NCE announced that Noby was selected on 19 November as one of the 50 impact makers in a global communications campaign launched by Nigar Arpadarai, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29.

The Impact Makers campaign seeks to amplify the voices of leaders significantly impacting how to address the climate crisis. Through his leadership, Noby has played a crucial role in shaping Egypt’s dialogue around nature conservation and renewable energy. His nomination is part of a more significant effort to ensure that global climate strategies include biodiversity conservation as a fundamental element of the transition to renewable energy.

NCE is dedicated to integrating biodiversity conservation into the renewable energy sector. It aims to balance the country’s growing energy needs with the urgent necessity of protecting its rich and diverse wildlife and biodiversity.

NCE is witnessing the ambitious expansion in renewable energy production in Egypt, driven by the growing domestic demand and the need to cut climate change emissions from fossil fuels. However, this transition to renewable energy production negatively impacts habitats and wildlife. Renewable energy infrastructure has been reported to cause significant fatalities in various wildlife forms, particularly migratory birds.

While most conservation efforts have focused on mitigating the impacts within wind farms, NCE has been paying attention to another significant threat that needs to be adequately acknowledged: bird collisions with overhead transmission lines (OHTLs).

Moreover, NCE has effectively advocated adding local biodiversity loss to national and international agendas. Nonmigratory wildlife faces equally severe threats from poorly planned renewable energy infrastructure, yet the lack of data on local species often diverts conservation efforts towards migratory wildlife. NCE has led a successful national effort to translocate the threatened native reptile, the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia), in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) and SafeSoar. Thirteen individuals of this endangered lizard species were safely translocated from the AMUNET Wind Farm site before construction, exemplifying effective conservation action.

“I am truly humbled to be recognized as an Impact Maker by the High-Level Champions team. This honour belongs equally to my dedicated colleagues at NCE, whose unwavering commitment to nature conservation in Egypt inspires me every day. This is a celebration of our collective efforts — I’m simply privileged to represent such a sincere and hardworking team,” said Noby.

“This recognition of Khaled Noby is very well deserved and reflects his commitment and dedication to advancing the conservation of nature in Egypt; it also represents the collective effort of the NCE team and their success, under the stewardship of Khaled, in becoming a leader in the conservation field in the Middle East and North Africa. Congratulations to Khaled, NCE, and Egypt for this recognition,” said Sherif Baha El Din, NCE board chairman.

Noby’s inclusion in the campaign places a spotlight on Egypt’s unique position at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, highlighting how the country can serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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EGYPT

ALGERIA: Ahlam Mosteghanemi named Cultural Personality of the Year at SIBF 2024

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has named renowned Algerian author and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi as the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ for the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) in recognition of her remarkable contribution to Arabic literature over five decades. Her novels have captivated readers across the Arab world, establishing her as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Arabic writing.

Ahlam Mosteghanemi is one of the most influential contemporary Arab authors, acclaimed for her ability to merge profound social commentary with pan-Arab themes. Her works critically explore the relationship between society and women while reflecting on pivotal historical events that have shaped modern Arab culture. The late Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella famously described her as a ‘shining Algerian sun in Arabic literature,’ commending her dedication to the Arabic language and the nation’s rich history.

As part of SIBF’s annual programme, SBA selects a ‘Cultural Personality’ to showcase influential figures whose work has enriched both the Arab and global cultural landscapes, reflecting the authority’s commitment to honouring those who have made lasting contribution in fields such as literature, poetry, and philosophy. By highlighting these figures, SBA seeks to inspire future generations and reinforce the region’s cultural identity.

Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, emphasised that the annual selection of a cultural personality reflects the vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. “His Highness believes that people are at the heart of every achievement, particularly in knowledge, culture, and thought. These are the domains where nations’ experiences are preserved, thanks to the literary and intellectual contributions of individuals whose works have been a staple in homes and libraries worldwide.”

In 2009, she published Nessyane.com and Their Hearts with Us and Their Bombs on Us, addressing the US invasion of Iraq, followed by Al Aswad Yalikou Biki in 2012. Her voice, marked by themes of freedom and authenticity, has deeply resonated with Arab readers.

He added: “Ahlam Mosteghanemi holds a unique place in Arabic literature. Her novels resonate with readers of all ages and intellectual backgrounds across the Arab world, a rare achievement for any author. By celebrating her journey and other remarkable literary experiences, we expand the horizons of Arabic literature, strengthen the relationship between societies and their creative leaders, and contribute to elevating the quality of published content.”

A thoughtful presence

Spanning more than five decades, Mosteghanemi’s literary career began with In the Harbour of Days (1971) and continues with her latest work, I Became You. Her celebrated trilogy – Zakirat Al Jasad (1993), Fawda el Hawas (1997), and Aber Sareer (2003) – remains a landmark in contemporary Arabic literature. In 2009, she published Nessyane.com and Their Hearts with Us and Their Bombs on Us, addressing the US invasion of Iraq, followed by Al Aswad Yalikou Biki in 2012. Her voice, marked by themes of freedom and authenticity, has deeply resonated with Arab readers.

Throughout her illustrious career, Mosteghanemi has earned numerous accolades, including the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature and the Best Arabic Writer award during the Beirut International Award Festival (BIAF). Arabian Business and Forbes have recognised her as one of the most influential Arab women in literature and culture.

Additionally, Mosteghanemi served as a UNESCO Ambassador for eight years and was awarded the 2015 Arab Woman of the Year Award in London under the patronage of the Mayor of London and Regent’s University. In 2009, she received the Beirut Shield.

Mosteghanemi earned her doctorate in sociology from the Sorbonne University in 1982 before moving to Lebanon in the early 1990s. There, she published Zakirat Al Jasad, a novel that significantly impacted the literary world. The book sold over three million copies and was awarded the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 1998. It is also recognised as one of the top 100 Arabic novels of the 20th century.

source/content: gulftoday.ae (headline edited)

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Ahlam Mosteghanemi poses for a photograph. File photo

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ALGERIA

CHAD : How an African pastry chef Hissein Mahamoud Barkai brought Chadian chic to Paris

Hissein Mahamoud Barkai won France’s Lebey Prize for best artisan in 2022. A member of the Toques françaises association of chefs, he’s become an ambassador for Chadian gastronomy around the world, with hallmark creations like the “Paris-N’Djamena”.

Barkai was born in Chad and after training in France as a pastry chef now spends his time between Paris and N’Djamena.

His cuisine is a delicate fusion of locally sourced ingredients such as dates, almonds and sorghum flour married with French savoir faire.

In October this year he was awarded the 2022 Lebey Prize for best artisan, but earning recognition in his native Chad, where cooking is reserved to women, was a slog.

“Being a Chadian man and cooking is near impossible, even Utopian,” he told RFI’s Nathalie Amar. “I was lucky to live in France and be able to do what I wanted to do, but it’s not easy to be able to cook here in Chad.”

Barkai hails from the north of Chad, where he was born into the Gorane ethnic group.

“In my village of birth only women can cook, so I was touching on a sensitive issue. They’re very welcoming people but they are proud of their traditions and dignity.”

So while Barkai, like many chefs, enjoyed showing off photos of his creations on social media, he used a pseudonym in the early days.

“I was in Montpellier and rather than calling myself Mahamoud, I used Al Hussein. It was close to my real name, but meant that people wouldn’t know straightaway that it was me,” he explains.

After a while he understood he couldn’t spend his life hiding. He made a short video, “a sort of culinary coming out” and posted it on YouTube.

It allowed Barkai to publicly embrace his passion.

“I received countless positive messages from people encouraging me and saying they’d like their son to do the same thing and so on. That’s how the doors opened and it was a psychological relief. A weight had been lifted.”

Feast your eyes on some of Barkai’s creations by clicking on the slideshow below.

Pastries by Hissein Mahamoud Barkai, aka the Desert Pastry Chef

A culinary journey

To the naked eye Barkai’s pastries look like any high-end French patisseries.

“You’d never suspect they’d be part of African or Chadian gastronomy,” he says.

But once you see it on your plate and taste it, “that’s when you start travelling, when you’re in something completely unique: African, Chadian, the land of the Sahel”.

He reels off a few of the many regional ingredients that go into his recipes: balamites, dates, black tamarind, hibiscus, moringa.

One of his specialties is a cup cake made with red or white sorghum flour. Not only is it locally sourced in Chad, it’s naturally gluten-free.

When cooking in N’Djamena, he avoids importing expensive products from France wherever possible – replacing butter with shea butter, wheat flour with sorghum or ground pea flour.

From Brest to N’Djamena

His hallmark patisserie is the Paris-N’Djamena – a version of the famed praline cream-filled cake known as Paris-Brest.

However, the only thing he’s kept from the classic French recipe is the choux pastry.

He replaced the praline cream with almonds and the fruit of the balanite tree (Balanites aegyptiaca), known more commonly as wild date in English and “savonnier” (soap tree) in French because its bark produces a soapy effect.

The tree’s oval fruits resemble dates, though their taste is far more acidic, Barkai explains.

Chadians traditionally suck on the fruit to cleanse the stomach, help with breast-feeding, strengthen hair and boost their immune system.

Replacing the hazelnut-based praline cream with almonds is a challenge, he says, because of their bitter edge.

“We have people here who are specialised in cracking the hard nut, removing the bitter centre and blanching it several times to reduce the bitterness.”

But he remains attached to the slightly tart twist the almonds and balanites give his dessert.

Passing on the passion

Paris is a pastry chef’s dream location but N’Djamena is still largely unexplored culinary territory.

Barkai has trained “at least 150 women in the profession” since he’s been travelling between the two capital cities. Trainees include young mothers and housewives who’ve been able to build up small micro-entreprises to support their families.

“I’m very proud, I’ve seen there are plenty of women who are now managing to live off what I’ve taught them.”

source/content: rfi.fr /RFI ( headline edited)

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CHAD

SAUDI ARABIA : 4,000-year-old town discovered hidden in Arabian oasis

Then an ancient 14.5 kilometer-long wall was discovered at the site

When Al-Natah was built, cities were flourishing in the Levant region along the Mediterranean Sea from present-day Syria to Jordan

The discovery of a 4,000-year-old fortified town hidden in an oasis in modern-day Saudi Arabia reveals how life at the time was slowly changing from a nomadic to an urban existence, archaeologists said on Wednesday.

The remains of the town, dubbed Al-Natah, were long concealed by the walled oasis of Khaybar, a green and fertile speck surrounded by desert in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula.

Then an ancient 14.5 kilometer-long wall was discovered at the site, according to research led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux published earlier this year.

For a new study published in the journal PLOS One, a French-Saudi team of researchers have provided “proof that these ramparts are organized around a habitat,” Charloux told AFP.

The large town, which was home to up to 500 residents, was built around 2,400 BC during the early Bronze Age, the researchers said.

It was abandoned around a thousand years later. “No one knows why,” Charloux said.

When Al-Natah was built, cities were flourishing in the Levant region along the Mediterranean Sea from present-day Syria to Jordan.

Northwest Arabia at the time was thought to have been barren desert, crossed by pastoral nomads and dotted with burial sites.

That was until 15 years ago, when archaeologists discovered ramparts dating back to the Bronze Age in the oasis of Tayma, to Khaybar’s north.

This “first essential discovery” led scientists to look closer at these oases, Charloux said.

Black volcanic rocks called basalt concealed the walls of Al-Natah so well that it “protected the site from illegal excavations,” Charloux said.

But observing the site from above revealed potential paths and the foundations of houses, suggesting where the archaeologists needed to dig. They discovered foundations “strong enough to easily support at least one- or two-story” homes, Charloux said, emphasising that there was much more work to be done to understand the site. But their preliminary findings paint a picture of a 2.6-hectare town with around 50 houses perched on a hill, equipped with a wall of its own.

Tombs inside a necropolis there contained metal weapons like axes and daggers as well as stones such as agate, indicating a relatively advanced society for so long ago.
Pieces of pottery “suggest a relatively egalitarian society,” the study said. They are “very pretty but very simple ceramics,” added Charloux.

The size of the ramparts — which could reach around five meters (16 feet) high — suggests that Al-Natah was the seat of some kind of powerful local authority.
These discoveries reveal a process of “slow urbanism” during the transition between nomadic and more settled village life, the study said.

For example, fortified oases could have been in contact with each other in an area still largely populated by pastoral nomadic groups. Such exchanges could have even laid the foundations for the “incense route” which saw spices, frankincense and myrrh traded from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean.

Al-Natah was still small compared to cities in Mesopotamia or Egypt during the period.

But in these vast expanses of desert, it appears there was “another path toward urbanization” than such city-states, one “more modest, much slower, and quite specific to the northwest of Arabia,” Charloux said.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA