And just like that, it’s 2024. In honor of our collective tour around the sun, we have decided to reflect on the past 12 months, embracing the memories, taking note of the lessons learned, and appreciating the growth that each day brought.
In line with all the recaps and yearly wraps taking over our social media feeds, it’s only fair for us to jump on the bandwagon before it’s too late by bringing you a comprehensive roundup of the articles that caught your attention in 2023. As we documented all of the fashion, art, music, culture, and news that came out of our region this year, now is the perfect moment to present to you, our dear readers, the 20 most-read articles on MILLE last year.
The Major Football Clubs Owned by Arabs
Earlier this year, English football club Manchester United (Man United) could have been on track to being owned by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the current emir of Qatar. Although the move remains to be confirmed, we compiled the ultimate list of all football clubs that are Arab-owned.
Turns Out, Bella and Gigi Hadid Are Actual Descendants of Palestinian Royalty
We always thought that real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid was just being an overly dramatic and extra doting father with his Instagram captions hyping up his daughters and hailing Bella Hadid as the “Princess of Nazareth,” but nope, turns out the Hadid sisters are literal Palestinian royalty.
Meet G-SALIH: The Bona Fide, Introspective Sudanese-American Rapper
Today, it’s within the hidden depths of our diasporas where you’ll find hidden gems waiting to unleash their undisputed and raw talent to the world. It’s in the heart of each diaspora where you’ll find an artist like Sudanese-American lyricist Gihad Salih, AKA G-SALIH.
Evocative Palestinian Artworks Reflecting Life Under Occupation
As you discover some of the evocative installations, paintings, sculptures, and photographs that reflect life under occupation, it’s crucial not to endorse the existence of this oppressive regime, no matter how beautiful some artists may interpret its meaning.
5 Facts About Jameel Thermiotis, Princess Iman of Jordan’s Fiancé
Known for their discretion and penchant for privacy, Princess Iman and her fiancé, Jameel Thermiotis, have kept their personal lives away from the public eye, staying off of social media, and avoiding media attention. In honor their wedding day, which took place on March 12, 2023, we compiled five facts to know about the new prince.
13 Muslim Actors You Need to Know
Whether it’s the world’s biggest rappers or Oscar-winning actors, religious affiliations are no longer something that is willfully obscured. Not only are a number of artists proudly openly Muslim, but Muslim actors are becoming more and more visible on screen– and no, they aren’t exclusively reduced to playing terrorists or taxi drivers.
What Happened to Lofi Girl? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Either her endless hours of studying have finally paid off and the Internet’s favorite study buddy is gearing up for graduation, or we should seriously be worried as the icon of Gen-Z’s go-to YouTube channel went MIA for some days before reappearing with a new friend.
What the Taliban’s Beauty Salon Ban Means for Afghan Women
Earlier this year, the Taliban announced that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must close. The move is likely the most devastating economically and socially for Afghan women since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan nearly two-years ago.
5 Facts About American-Moroccan Comedian and Actor Mekki Leeper
On a steady rise, Mekki Leeper has been making waves across the Atlantic. On the brink of making it into the mainstream, by our standards at least, we decided to zero in on the life and career of the latest addition to the growing list of famed North Africans making a name for themselves in Hollywood.
From Kehlani to Jenna Ortega— Celebrities Are Showing Solidarity with Palestine in a Major Way
It’s been nearly three-months since Israel began its deadly onslaught on Gaza, killing more than 8,000 people, including nearly 3,000 children, according to Palestinian officials. It’s not the first time that Palestinians are the target of relentless airstrikes, but this time, the world refuses to be silent, with some of the world’s biggest celebrities showing their solidarity with the Palestinians when the vast majority of the people in the industry don’t have the courage to speak out.
Why Are So Many White Boys Saying ‘Wallahi’?
British slang has origins in many of London’s immigrant cultures. Because of the unmatched diversity in the UK, everyday street words tend to pull from the West Indian and Somali communities. For example, words such as “man dem,” meaning a group of men, and “ting” come from Patois. Meanwhile, terms like “wallahi,” meaning “I swear,” and “akhi,” which means brother, have Arabic origins. English rapper Krept encapsulated this lexical occurrence best in the song ‘Ask Flipz’ where he states “Not my brudda, stop calling me akhi; I eat plantain, you eat batty.”
From Rural Egypt to the World: In Conversation With Cairo-Based Rapper Ziad Zaza
Adamantly part of the next crop of up-and-coming MENA rappers, Ziad Zaza is widely considered one of Egypt’s best representatives inside a recording booth, as the microphone champion has been making serious waves over the years thanks to his hard-hitting flow, punchy lyrics, and impetuous stage presence. But the journey was far from easy, as the 23-year-old is carving his own sound and vernacular in a place where it is not so common.
We Need To Talk About Arab Girl Guilt
Put a finger down if your entire being becomes consumed by an immense wave of guilt for just simply thinking about moving out and getting your own place, traveling the world with your friends, or, gasp! going out for two consecutive days. Put another finger down if you consistently second-guess life choices that are made purely from your heart. If you’ve never made a selfish decision for your own life because you’re always prioritizing the needs and feelings of your family, put another finger down. If you put all three fingers down, congratulations (not), you may suffer from Arab, or Muslim, girl guilt.
We Asked Young Arabs What They Really Think About Marriage
Staff writer Zeina Saleh asked some of her fellow Gen Z comrades how they felt about marriage as well as contemplating a life with a partner. And after gathering just some opinions on said topic, it is hard to box in a simple Gen Z mentality on marriage…. Here’s why.
The Quarter-Life Crisis Is Real and It Hits Hard
As our staff writer Yassine is getting closer to the daunting age of 25, every day that passes feels like it’s adding another wrinkle to his body, another responsibility to take care of, and increases this strange sense of emptiness and confusion all of his peers are currently feeling as well. Welcome to the story of a whole generation torn between what they are and what they should be.
Rising Egyptian-Palestinian Artist Ma-Beyn Answers 8 Rapid Fire Questions Over Whatsapp
It’s difficult to describe Ma-Beyn as simply a rapper. The Egyptian-Palestinian musician is an embodiment of the word “artist,” living between multiple creative realms. For the occasion, we sat down with the up-and-coming lyricist and asked her some rapid-fire questions over a series of voice notes on Whatsapp to get to know her a bit better.
Shaeri Is the Curly Hair Brand That Wants To Liberate You From European Beauty Standards
French-Moroccan Meryem Benomar decided to launch Shaeri, an organic haircare label that caters to curls, in 2018. The range of silicone and sulfate-free shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, and sprays aims to help women liberate themselves from European beauty standards and embrace their natural curls, all while promoting the founder’s North African roots and culture.
How ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Was an Indirect Consequence of 9/11
Osama bin Laden and Fifty Shades of Grey: What could a violent militant possibly have to do with an erotic novel about BDSM? Well, his heinous act 22-years-ago may have indirectly served as inspiration for it in an unhinged series of events.
Kiss Facility Is the Emirati Artist Injecting Raw Human Emotion Into Music
“It’s my escape when it gets hard, and it’s the friend that’s always there when I am lonely,” Mayah Alkhateri tells MILLE over a series of emails about her intimate relationship with music. The Emirati-Egyptian artist is one half of indie band Kiss Facility, alongside Salvador Navarrette, who is responsible for the production.
‘Hummus Tastes Like Dirt’ And Other Controversial Arab Food Opinions
We asked our Twitter followers for their most wild food takes— Here’s some of our favorites.
