Artists discuss how music becomes a powerful tool for articulating identity, highlighting cultural influences and personal narratives in contemporary sound.
Panellists: yasiin bey, Jara, Oddisee, Nemahsis,
Moderated by Mikey Muhanna from afikra | عفكرة
Panellists: yasiin bey, Jara, Oddisee, Nemahsis,
Moderated by Mikey Muhanna from afikra | عفكرة
yasiin bey is a Brooklyn, New York-born multi-media artist of international acclaim who has produced significant works in various mediums within an ongoing career that spans nearly 40 years to date. He strives to continually refine, evolve and expand his practice across disciplines. This is his first visit to Qatar.
Jara is a pioneering Saudi rapper from Jeddah, widely recognised as Saudi Arabia’s first female rapper. Her work blends personal story, identity and a drive for impact, pairing sharp lyricism with modesty, creativity and resilience. On stage and on record, she challenges stereotypes and expands what it means to be a Saudi woman in hip-hop. Rooted in her community yet outward-looking, Jara’s voice carries from Jeddah to the world.
Oddisee (Amir Mohamed el Khalifa) is a Sudanese-American rapper, producer, and composer from Washington, D.C., known for his sharp lyricism, soulful production, and socially conscious perspective. Blending boom-bap with jazz, funk, and live instrumentation, he bridges underground hip-hop with global appeal. Rising with Diamond District, his solo work, ‘People Hear What They See’, ‘The Good Fight’, ‘The Iceberg’, has earned acclaim for its honesty and depth. A consistent, respected voice, Oddisee turns reflection into rhythm.
Nemahsis is a Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and deeply personal lyrics exploring identity and belonging as a hijabi Muslim woman. Her 2024 debut album ‘Verbathim’ earned critical acclaim and praise from artists like Stevie Wonder and Lorde. In 2025, she launched a sold-out North American tour and won two JUNO Awards, including Alternative Album and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Recently named Women In Music’s Artist of the Year, Nemahsis is redefining independent artistry.
Mikey Muhanna is the Founder and Executive Director of afikra | عفكرة (afikra.com), a global movement reframing narratives about the Arab world through community events, academy courses, podcasts and its magazine ‘Daftar’. Muhanna advises and serves as a trustee for institutions across the Middle East. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley and PwC in New York, led the MENA-based Muhanna Group, is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, and holds a BS (2007) from Duke University in Economics and Jazz Piano.
Jara is a pioneering Saudi rapper from Jeddah, widely recognised as Saudi Arabia’s first female rapper. Her work blends personal story, identity and a drive for impact, pairing sharp lyricism with modesty, creativity and resilience. On stage and on record, she challenges stereotypes and expands what it means to be a Saudi woman in hip-hop. Rooted in her community yet outward-looking, Jara’s voice carries from Jeddah to the world.
Oddisee (Amir Mohamed el Khalifa) is a Sudanese-American rapper, producer, and composer from Washington, D.C., known for his sharp lyricism, soulful production, and socially conscious perspective. Blending boom-bap with jazz, funk, and live instrumentation, he bridges underground hip-hop with global appeal. Rising with Diamond District, his solo work, ‘People Hear What They See’, ‘The Good Fight’, ‘The Iceberg’, has earned acclaim for its honesty and depth. A consistent, respected voice, Oddisee turns reflection into rhythm.
Nemahsis is a Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and deeply personal lyrics exploring identity and belonging as a hijabi Muslim woman. Her 2024 debut album ‘Verbathim’ earned critical acclaim and praise from artists like Stevie Wonder and Lorde. In 2025, she launched a sold-out North American tour and won two JUNO Awards, including Alternative Album and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Recently named Women In Music’s Artist of the Year, Nemahsis is redefining independent artistry.
Mikey Muhanna is the Founder and Executive Director of afikra | عفكرة (afikra.com), a global movement reframing narratives about the Arab world through community events, academy courses, podcasts and its magazine ‘Daftar’. Muhanna advises and serves as a trustee for institutions across the Middle East. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley and PwC in New York, led the MENA-based Muhanna Group, is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, and holds a BS (2007) from Duke University in Economics and Jazz Piano.
