Yousif Nur

The New Arab Meets: Saharan desert blues band Tamikrest, whose fifth album Tamotaït offers songs of freedom and resistance from the painful longing of exile.

The New Arab meets: Singer-songwriter Kamilya Jubran, whose work has been deeply intertwined with the evolution of the Palestinian cultural scene and a trailblazing force in experimental music.

Vulnerability, tenderness, poignancy, scandal and tragedy: A play that has it all, documenting renowned Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum's legendary life, reviews Yousif Nur.

Atlas Electronic is one of Morocco's leading electronic music festivals, held close to the city of Marrakech.

Culture: Regarded as one of Morocco's most well attended events, the Gnaoua Festival brings different music genres from around the world together to be enjoyed by all ages and groups.

From dabke to debates, the two-day family-friendly event drew in thousands of people showing solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians, writes Yousif Nur.

This year's line-up was more inclusive with representation from countries as far west as Canada, to as far east as South Korea.