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Arab News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Hunna mentorship program hits right notes for women in MENA
RIYADH: The women-led music initiative, Hunna, has launched its 2025 mentorship program and workshop series. Now in its third year, the program connects women across the region with mentors, resources and networks to help them grow professionally. It has more than 120 members from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere. This year's program began in July, with six participants paired with professionals from various musical disciplines. They will each receive monthly one-on-one mentorship and tailored development plans as well as access to Hunna's wider programming. The culmination of their hard work will be a showcase at this year's XP Music Futures in December. Mentorship program manager Nadia Khan, who also founded the nongovernmental organization Women in Ctrl, said: 'This year's mentor-mentee pairings reflect the diversity of talent in the region and the global reach of the women guiding them. 'Having such inspirational and accomplished mentors means our mentees aren't just receiving guidance, they're learning directly from women who have carved their own paths in music, broken barriers and proven that it's possible to thrive while staying true to your vision.' This year's pairings are: Tunisia-based Chaima Soudani with Celine Hitti, head of artist services MENA at Believe; singer Nadine Lingawi (Fulana) with Emmy-nominated composer and BBC Radio 3 presenter Hannah Peel; Egyptian multi-instrumentalist and producer Martina Ashraf with Montreal-based experimental electronic artist Liliane Chlela; Saudi composer and pianist Nora Aljebrin with Nadin Al-Khalidi, lead vocalist of Tarabband; DJ and producer Lena Chercaoui with Saudi DJ and producer Cosmicat; and Palestinian-Jordanian vocalist Lina Sleibi with singer-songwriter and visual creative Lina Makoul. The pairings were chosen through an anonymized selection process led by Hunna committee members and former participants. 'Hunna is about creating a space of solidarity and community where women can grow in every part of the music industry,' Hitti said. Al-Khalidi said: 'I joined the Hunna mentorship program to share my journey and inspire others to tell their own stories through music.' Workshops are a core part of the program. The first, 'Introduction to Music Production,' will be held on Aug. 20 at Beast House in Riyadh. Monthly sessions through November will cover production, live performance, artist strategy and global positioning. They will be accessible to all members of the Hunna community. Tanya Awad, head of music and experience at XP Music Futures and MDLBeast Foundation, which leads the Hunna initiative, said: 'Our vision is clear: to see MENA women in every facet of the music industry.'
Hype Malaysia
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Actress Sofia Jane Questions GSC's Inconvenient Screening Time For 'Mencari Ramlee'
Director and author of 'Gantung: Musketeer Code', Nadia Khan, recently criticised Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) and TGV Cinemas after learning that the former would be pulling the film from cinemas, reportedly due to low audience turnout. She argued that the premiere date and screening times were poorly scheduled, making it difficult for Malaysian audiences to attend. GSC has yet to provide an explanation, and it appears they may need to offer another soon. An actress recently took to social media to question the company after learning that a film she starred in would also be pulled from cinemas. Here's what happened: Earlier this week, actress Sofia Jane took to both Instagram and Twitter to speak about 'Mencari Ramlee', the film in which she stars alongside Tony Eusoff and Mimi Lana, and GSC's screening schedule. She revealed that she and the rest of the team involved in the project had been informed that the film would be withdrawn from GSC outlets due to low audience turnout. However, she questioned the reasoning behind the chosen screening times and called for an explanation. 'My question is, why are the time selections that make it impossible for some to catch it? If you decide to just have one time slot, why can't you dedicate a decent time that you know can be accessible? Till today, after years in this industry, I still can't get a decent answer,' she wrote in her posts. She added that, while she understands how business works, she struggled to make sense of the decision, particularly if GSC genuinely wants local cinema to thrive. 'I'm not asking for 'Mencari Ramlee' alone, but for all the others that are coming your way. We both know why the industry is slow in filling bums in seats. But it doesn't help having a time slot that makes it hard for the few who want to watch it,' the 53-year-old elaborated. Shortly after her post went viral, filmmaker Nadia Khan responded, stating that she is still awaiting a reply from GSC regarding her own enquiries about the screening of her film 'Gantung: Musketeer Code'. Both public figures concluded that cinemas, particularly when it comes to local films, may no longer be what they once were. Netizens remain divided, with some criticising GSC for failing to prioritise local productions, while others argue that the cinema chain should not bear all the blame, pointing instead to the film's lack of promotion. What are your thoughts on this issue? Is GSC truly to be blamed for the lack of views, or is this a case of a lack of promotion from the film's marketing team? Read Sofia Jane's full IG post below: Sources: Instagram, Twitter What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Hype Malaysia
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Only One Week Of Screening? Fans Demand Extended Cinema Run For 'Gantung: Musketeer Code'
When a new film is released in cinemas, moviegoers typically have a few weeks, sometimes up to a month, to catch it on the big screen. This window not only gives fans time to watch, but also allows the production company a chance to turn a profit. But what happens when a film's cinema run is cut short? What if it doesn't make enough money? And what about fans who were eager to watch, only to find it's no longer showing at their nearest cinema? Malaysian fans have expressed disappointment after discovering that the latest local film, 'Gantung: Musketeer Code', is no longer available in cinemas. Here's the story: Earlier this week, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) announced that Wednesday (11th June) would be the final day to catch 'Gantung: Musketeer Code' on the big screen, after just seven days in cinemas. This prompted netizens to plead with the company to extend the film's run, as many were occupied with Hari Raya Haji celebrations when the film first premiered. The film's director, Nadia Mohammad Hatta, also known as Nadia Khan, even took to Twitter to appeal to GSC and TGV Cinemas not to halt the screening. She argued that the film should remain in cinemas for at least two weeks, as it is protected under the 'Skim Wajib Tayang' policy. Much to her disappointment, GSC simply replied: 'Hi, this is the last day, okay?'. For those unfamiliar, 'Skim Wajib Tayang' requires that a film be screened in cinemas for a minimum of two weeks. However, screenings may be moved from a larger hall to a smaller one for various reasons, such as low audience turnout or viewership. Cinema operators are also permitted to withdraw an approved film entirely if the number of viewers falls below 15%. But even if GSC was legally within its rights to stop screening the film, many fans remain upset with the decision. Some criticised the cinema company's dismissive response to the director, while others pointed out that the film's inconvenient release date, coinciding with Hari Raya Haji, was not taken into account. Fans also accused GSC of hypocrisy, pointing out that while the company has often encouraged Malaysians to support local films, it refused to extend the cinema run of 'Gantung: Musketeer Code.' At the time of writing, GSC has yet to respond to demands. Meanwhile, TGV is still screening the film in two outlets, which are at Strand Kota Damansara and Wangsa Walk. Although very limited, at least fans will still have this chance to watch it in cinemas before it's too late! Here's the trailer for the film: Sources: Twitter (1)(2), Finas What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
IOL News
06-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Residents of Lower Illovo to protest against homeless shelter development
Residents of Lower Illovo and surrounding areas are opposing the eThekwini Municipality's plans to build a homeless shelter. Image: Nadia Khan RESIDENTS of Lower Illovo and neighbouring communities on the south of Durban will take to the streets on Saturday (tomorrow), as their pleas to the eThekwini Municipality to halt the building of a homeless shelter in their community have fallen on deaf ears over the past year. The walk will start from the R603 (opposite Engen Garage) to the development site in Walsh Place at 7:30am. Participants are encouraged to wear white to show unity. The residents said while they are not opposed to shelters being built for those in need, the community at large was consulted prior to it being approved. In addition, they have raised various concerns including safety, high unemployment and poor infrastructure in the community. According to reports, the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter will be a 400-bed facility. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The development site for the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter. Image: Nadia Khan Kimeshen Raman, a representative for the concerned residents of Illovo, wrote to the city mayor councillor Cyril Xaba, calling for an urgent response to clarify how the project aligned with the Safer Cities mandate. 'As the head of the Safer Cities Programme, the mayor's role is pivotal in ensuring that urban developments, particularly those intended to support vulnerable populations are designed, implemented, and managed in a manner that enhances public safety, promotes social inclusion, and strengthens communities. 'However, the project currently underway in Illovo appears to contradict the core principles of the Safer Cities initiative, which emphasises that community engagement is essential to fostering ownership and trust. But there was zero community consultation. Illovo residents were not informed or consulted before the construction of a 400-person shelter, a complete departure from participatory planning ideals. 'While the Safer Cities framework speaks of technology, good governance, participatory design, and a holistic approach, what is currently unfolding in Illovo feels imposed, reactive, and poorly coordinated,' he said. Raman said while the residents were not opposed to helping the homeless, they supported 'well-managed, transparent, and properly resourced solutions' that protect everyone's dignity and safety. 'We are now requesting a public consultation meeting with Illovo residents, school representatives, and relevant stakeholders. 'We also ask that there be a pause on construction until a proper impact assessment and engagement process is completed and for a review of the shelter location to determine its suitability in light of these serious risks,' he said. Raman said while his email has been acknowledged, he has yet to receive feedback. The POST also spoke to residents, who have been protesting at the development site since early last week, demanding that the construction be halted until they received their answers. Gugu Sisilana, the city's spokesperson, said the ward councillor was informed of the project, and he consulted the ward committee. 'Public participation happens within the ward through the councillor, as part of community meetings. If issues raised require further explanation, municipal officials are invited to provide responses.' Sisilana said the primary recipients will be homeless individuals within the municipality who have been identified as vulnerable and in need of shelter. She said the facility was not a 'night shelter'. 'The facility is intended to provide temporary accommodation for homeless individuals while ensuring they receive the necessary support services. These include medical treatment, psychological care, and access to developmental programmes aimed at rehabilitation, social reintegration, and long-term pathways out of homelessness. 'The individuals accommodated will not reside at the facility permanently. They will be reintegrated into society or reunited with their families, based on assessments and recommendations made by qualified social workers,' she said. Sisilana said that phase two of the shelter restoration project is currently underway. She added that at this stage, the city was focused on completing the current restoration project, and that there were no immediate plans to upgrade the infrastructure to accommodate more people. THE POST
IOL News
18-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Private adoption process
In private practice the adoption process - until the granting of the order - in a best case scenario can take between nine months and a year. Jeevie Pillay, an adoption specialist social worker spoke to POST reporter, Nadia Khan, about private adoptions. Q: What is a private adoption? A: It is undertaken by an accredited adoption specialist social worker in private practice. Adoption is a specialist's area of expertise. Q: What are the requirements for a private adoption? A: The prospective applicants need to first be screened to check if they are suitable to make an application. The biological parents need to consent to the proposed adoption. If a child is over 10 years old, they can consent to their adoption, provided they understand the nature of such a consent. Q: Is there a vetting process? A: Part of the screening process includes obtaining police clearance, checking the National Register for Sex Offenders, character references, individual interviews with applicants and extended family members, home visits, and completing psychosocial assessments. Q: What does it cost for a private adoption? A: It is difficult to provide a ballpark figure since each adoption is different. There are related and non-related adoptions. Not all adoptions are straightforward. It does come with complications. However, family adoptions are not as expensive as non-related. Q: How long does the process often take? A: In private practice the adoption process - until the granting of the order - in a best case scenario can take between nine months and a year. Adoption is a permanent decision and it is life-changing. Therefore, the social worker processing an adoption has to convince the court through thorough investigations that the adoption is in the child's best interest. These investigations take time depending on prevailing circumstances. Q: What are some of the challenges that prospective adoptive parents face? A: There can be delays in the social development process or same-race match, among other factors. Q: On average, how many people approach you a month? A: I receive between 10 and 17 enquiries. However, it does not necessarily translate into adoption cases. Q: What are the demands? A: There is a high demand of the same race, particularly Indian or white adoptions. However, transracial adoptions are mostly what we are processing in private practice, as well as foster care leading to adoption. Q: What is your advice to people that want to adopt? A: A prospective applicant needs to ensure they engage an accredited service provider. There are non-governmental organisations and private social workers, who are accredited to render adoption services. It is a personal choice to seek a public or private service. In addition, infertility is a real and great issue with childless couples. Therefore, they need to work on their feelings before exploring their readiness to adopt. Both applicants must be ready to engage with the process. Lastly, adoption is a bitter-sweet journey as it can be smooth-sailing or like a rollercoaster-ride. But whatever the journey is, the end result is a happy family and a securely-attached child.
