MOCAfest 2015: Omar Offendum preaches love and justice with hip-hop

The Syrian-American spoken word artist and peace activist connect lines of solidarity across different marginalized groups with his music. Born to Syrian parents in Saudi Arabia, Omar Offendum moved to the US when he was very young. He first lived in Washington DC, where he studied at an Islamic school, before moving to Los Angeles, … Read more

MOCAfest 2015: Alia Khan making a difference through fashion and charity

She’s cool, she’s suave, she’s full of heart. Alia Khan is one of the big hitters in Islamic fashion and in this intimate interview with Aquila Style, she reveals her motivations behind her business, the Islamic Fashion and Design Council (IFDC), women’s rights, hijab, the gradual fusion of cultures that is beginning to happen in Islamic fashion … Read more

MOCAfest 2015: Tasneem Chopra on authentic Muslim narratives to combat Islamophobia

The Australian consultant with a hybrid upbringing believes that the arts are valuable channels of participation and communication across and within communities. Of Indian descent, born in Kenya and raised in Australia, writer and consultant Tasneem Chopra know a thing or two about living across cultures. In 2014, she contributed an essay to the book … Read more

MOCAfest 2015: eL Seed gives Islamic art a new breath with calligraffiti

This Tunisian-French artist with a vivid passion for street art wants to make people question themselves, create human connections and revive their heritage. eL Seed was born and raised in suburban Paris to Tunisian parents. He started spraypainting in the 90s, as form of self-exploration of his multiple identities and heritage. With hip-hop, graffiti and … Read more