music

The melody of healing: music’s journey from art to therapy

While the science is still catching up in many areas, music therapy is known to have a range of psychological and physiological benefits.

Mohammed Mansour 04 October 2025

Al Majalla/Axel Rangel Garcia

How music helps bring hope and healing to Gaza's war-torn

Palestinians have always clung to their traditions. Music is one of them. Amid the death and destruction, Gaza's displaced find solace in songs of resistance and steadfastness.

Houssam Marouf 23 January 2025

K-pop girl group New Jeans perform during “2024 Korea On Stage — New Generation," held at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on May 21, 2024.

Anthony WALLACE / AFP

Why South Korean pop culture rocks and North Korea’s does not

Dictatorship stifles creativity and joyrn

The Economist 04 June 2024

The fanfare surrounding Qabbani's musical at the Chicago World's Fair boosted its popularity among the American art and theatre elite and made a star out of performer Malaka Surur.

The oldest Arabic music recording sits in Harvard's Peabody museum

Cut 130 years ago, these records demonstrate the early interaction between Arab art and American audiences which left a lasting impact on both worlds.

Taissier Khalaf 03 March 2024

People attend the Soundstorm music festival, organized by MDLBEAST, in Banban on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 16, 2021.

AFP

Music in Saudi Arabia tunes into a new and modernised future

A new generation of young people is finding training and work in a refreshed and revitalised cultural scene, making their presence felt while also staying true to important heritage

Nawwar Jabbour 29 June 2023

Despite mention of Umm Kulthum, the Rolling Stone list reveals cultural shortcomings of a title craving influence.

Eduardo Ramon

Arab culture still unseen by the West despite Umm Kulthum’s recognition by Rolling Stone

Despite mention of Umm Kulthum, the Rolling Stone list reveals cultural shortcomings of a title craving influence

Shadi Alaa Aldin 04 February 2023

Egyptian Jazz Projekt band performing at the American University in Cairo’s Cultural Center. Credit: Salwa Samir

Band Revives 1950s Egyptian Songs in Jazzy Way

The London-based Egyptian Jazz Projekt band founded by Ahmed Harfoush has recently held a concert in downtown Cairo. Majalla attended the event and interviewed Harfoush about his band’s mission. …

Salwa Samir 02 September 2022

Noha Gamal teaching Zumba to a number of young people. (Photo Courtesy of Noha Gamal)

Dancing to the Tunes of Willpower

Although she is now 25, Noha Gamal has experienced many painful lessons in life that taught her a lot. Gamal is the first blind Zumba instructor in Egypt. Her story can be an inspiration to many. …

Salwa Samir 19 March 2022

“Of Lovers”

On the premises of one of the most enchanting Mamluk Palaces, songs of Star of the Orient Om Kulthoum, intertwined with pearls of wisdom from Al Imam Ibn Hazm Al Andalusi (7 November 994 – 15 August…

Amira el Noshokaty 13 August 2021

The group of rappers who spoke to The Diplomat. Left to right: Arif Farooq, Ahmer Javaid, Tufail Nazir, Syed Arslan, and SXR. (TNS)

The Sound of ‘Conscious’ Rap

They may look like any other group of young men chilling out on a river bank. But these young men in a huddle are scripting the revival of rap music in Indian-administered Kashmir. The narrow park…

Muheet Ul Islam 05 June 2021

Popular
Editor's Pick

A municipal worker fixes a sign in Sharm el-Sheikh, as the Egyptian resort town gets ready to host a US-brokered Gaza peace summit, on October 12, 2025.

Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Politics

Gaza ceasefire takes off, but expect turbulence ahead

11 October 2025

Al Majalla lays out four key hurdles to clear to ensure the truce sticks this time around

Brian Katulis

US President Donald Trump greets Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025.

Evan Vucci / AFP

Politics

Can Palestinians trust Donald Trump?

14 October 2025

Only US pressure will ensure that Israel honours the Gaza ceasefire

Omar H. Rahman

Nesma Moharam

Politics

Two years after October 7

06 October 2025

Al Majalla examines the repercussions of Hamas's attack on Israel, which set into motion a series of significant changes and power shifts in the Middle East

Al Majalla - London

Malagasy Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the CAPSAT military unit, reads out a statement in front of the presidential palace, where he announces the army is taking power in Antananarivo on October 14, 2025.

Luis TATO / AFP

Politics

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

14 October 2025

A rapid chain of events led to the president fleeing for his life following deadly clashes with citizens. But what happened is not uncommon for Africa. Al Majalla explains why.

Sergey Eledinov

Iraqi painter and sculptor Dia al-Azzawi

Culture & Social Affairs

Dia Azzawi’s latest murals mourn the ruin of Arab cities

09 October 2025

Iraqi sculptor's epic wall-mounted installations evoke the destruction of Aleppo and Mosul, displayed in Beirut in the shadow of ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Mohamed abi Samra

Sections

Regions

More

LATEST ISSUE

The melody of healing: music’s journey from art to therapy

How music helps bring hope and healing to Gaza's war-torn

Why South Korean pop culture rocks and North Korea’s does not

The oldest Arabic music recording sits in Harvard's Peabody museum

Music in Saudi Arabia tunes into a new and modernised future

Arab culture still unseen by the West despite Umm Kulthum’s recognition by Rolling Stone

Band Revives 1950s Egyptian Songs in Jazzy Way

Dancing to the Tunes of Willpower

“Of Lovers”

The Sound of ‘Conscious’ Rap

Gaza ceasefire takes off, but expect turbulence ahead

Can Palestinians trust Donald Trump?

Two years after October 7

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

Dia Azzawi’s latest murals mourn the ruin of Arab cities

OPINIONS

Israel's war on Gaza nearly isolated America

Al Majalla’s Book Watch

After Gaza: what now for the Palestinian national movement?

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

music

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter