Got Khat?
Americans chew tobacco. Indians chew paan. Yemenis chew khat. Ethiopians, Somalis, and a host of other East African peoples also chew the leafy substance. But, Yemenis are the most hooked – two-thirds are said to be khat consumers. Khat is a mild stimulant stronger than caffeine but less potent than cocaine. Users feel a buzz […]
African Diaspora in the Holy Land
In a spacious, mellow room in Jeruaslem’s Old City, a crew of Arabic-speaking youngsters chats about football, oud, and Allah. Although these young Jerusalemites at the Qalawun Center consider themselves wholly Palestinian, there is something noteworthy that distinguishes most of the people in this community center from their coreligionists in East Jerusalem – African origin. […]