The afikra Podcast The MENA's Pop Culture Landscape | With Editor-In-Chief of Dazed MENA Ahmad Swaid
Previously Editor-in-Chief for GQ Middle East and currently for Dazed MENA, Ahmed Swaid has had an extensive career in media. He joins us to talk about his multicultural upbringing, from the UK, Syria and Lebanon, to Sierra Leone, and explores how his diverse background helps shape his unique vantage points in the media landscape. We discuss the challenges and insights of working in different media settings, the importance of representing various voices in the region, and Swaid's personal journey in creative industries. With engaging anecdotes and thoughtful reflections, this episode dives into the intricacies of cultural perspectives, identity, and the evolving content game in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Swaid's Multicultural Background
03:58 Early Influences and Pop Culture
09:08 Career Beginnings and Media Journey
12:02 Content Creation in Different Regions
16:53 Challenges in Media and Storytelling
24:11 Creativity in the Age of Chaos
31:43 Exploring the Meaning of "Dazed"
32:26 Cultural Significance and Global Reach
36:10 Casting and Featuring Diverse Talent
39:00 Challenges and Strategies in Media Representation
45:12 Pop Culture in the Arab World
52:56 Rapid Fire Questions
Ahmad Swaid is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Dazed MENA and previously EIC of GQ Middle East. He has led content for Dazed, AnOther Magazine, and Nowness, championing underrepresented voices and regional talent. Raised across London, Beirut, Freetown, and Aleppo, he brings a global perspective to his work, focusing on authentic storytelling from the Middle East and North Africa. He co-founded Creatives for Lebanon to support artists after the 2020 Beirut explosion and mentors young designers through the QASIMI RISING Talent Incubator.
Connect with Swaid π https://www.instagram.com/ahmadaswaid/?hl=en
Explore Dazed MENA π https://www.instagram.com/dazedmiddleeast/
Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna π https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani π https://spoti.fi/47I59ns
Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna π https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
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ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | ΨΉΩΩΨ±Ψ© is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region β past, present and future β through conversations driven by curiosity.
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