WHOLE UMMAH CATALOG #3

DAY13: ANTI-COLONIALIST MERCHANDISER , HANI A JOINS US

The really beautiful thing about this 30day Substack project is how it’s created some connections I knew I needed during Ramadan. I am going to write on that in more depth in the next full post from me, but today we have the next iteration of my research-chainmail-artproject WHOLE UMMAH CATALOG. We are joined by someone I’ve never met or spoken to, who was introduced to me by my dear friend Abbas Zahedi, Hani Asfari.

As soon as we connected it was magic, being introduced to Hani’s work and mind has been joyful, not least his connections and enthusiasm for art, activism and connection. It’s the exact reason I started this project and I am so happy its bringing such fruits 🍓🍇🍉🍌🍋🍑🥭. Fasting and being disconnected from everything around you, but connecting with people, new people too, makes it so much more exciting. Almost everything in here was new to me, and I hope you enjoy diggin’ in as much as I have.

Thank you Hani <3

* Name, location, profession/what you do, social handle

Hani Asfari, London, projects guy, @wish.cards

* Tell us about your current or most recent project?

A web-store called Don’t Be A Colonizer, selling tees for Palestine

* What are your hopes and dreams?

To see an Arab world free from dictatorships, occupation and western imperialism.

*What does faith mean to you?

To know that god is within you

*What is one speech, interview or discussion you go back to often for energy and guidance?

Abbas Zahedi’s mixtape “In This Space We Leave” it articulates my anger while also reminding me of the beauty in all things

* The film that makes you cry uncontrollably or howl with laughter no matter how many times you watch it?

“Close Up by Abbas Kiarostami” - even thinking about the protagonist’s desire to be an artist makes me cry and the ending is too beautiful.

* What is one record you listen to over and over to pick you up when you need it most?

I tend to change my music obsessions quite a bit, but now I can’t stop listening to Two Star and the Dream Police by MK Gee

* If you could only read one book ever again, which would it be?

Heart of a Dog by Bulgakov, I love the tone, the dark humour, but it’s also short and im lazy!