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OPPrairie.com life & arts
the orland park prairie | August 8, 2019 | 27
Smiles, laughter and Fen
Event highlights
Middle Eastern
clothing, charity
and local artists
Yasmeen Sheikah
Freelance Reporter
On Saturday, Aug. 3,
more than 60 people gathered
in Anonymous Addictions
Boutique, 9500 W.
143rd St. in Orland Park,
for the annual Middle
Eastern Pulse event, Fen.
“Fen” — the Arabic term
for art — featured Middle
Eastern food, clothing, and
multiple performances by
young local artists in poetry,
song and artwork.
Middle Eastern Pulse is
a clothing brand of street
wear clothing that represents
all countries in the
Middle East, and raises
awareness for Middle
Eastern affairs by donating
10 percent of each sale to
a Middle Eastern charities.
The brand was created in
2017 by Manar Noubani,
who grew up in the Orland
Park area.
Noubani said she did not
have events like this when
she was growing up and
wanted to change that.
“There is a large Arab
population in Orland Park,
and most Arabs don’t really
focus on the creative
side of our culture,” Noubani
said. “We decided to
call the event Fen, because
it means art in Arabic, and
[we] wanted to focus on
art. This is the third annual
event, and I decided
to make it smaller and
more intimate by having
less people than the previous
years, which had over
100.”
Hours before Fen, a
pop-up shop was open
with discounted clothing
from the brand. Sales from
Poet Aysha Affaneh performs.
the pop-up were donated
to “School Supplies for
Syria.” Proceeds from Fen
went to the performers.
Performances in order
were: comedian Thad Skylark,
singer Tawfik Abdul
Dayem, artist Mohammed
Zweiy, rapper Skript, poet
Aysha Affaneh and singer
Amira Jazeera closing out
the event with original
songs.
Performer Ameer Saleh
[Skript], 19, Orland Park,
was anxious to get on stage
and perform three new
original raps. Saleh rapped
about chasing dreams and
his hobby of rapping being
a talent in which he has
grown confident.
“I feel so comfortable
performing in a venue like
this because of the art representation,”
Saleh said. “I
feel like everyone in this
room is my friend and that
we all connect in a different
way, even if we don’t
know each other. This is
a great place for artists to
network and connect. It invites
not judgement.”
Audience member Summer
Radwan, 17, of Orland
Park, was excited to
see the show.
“I am good friends with
a few of the performers tonight,
so I came out to support
them,” Radwan said.
“I love Middle Eastern
Pulse and have been to past
Fen events. As a Palestinian,
I feel very welcomed
here and feel a family vibe
from everyone.”
Other audience members
were supporting family
members, such as Jude
Alzweiy, who came from
Bridgeview to support her
brother, Mohammed.
“My brother is an artist,
and I came out here
tonight to see him share
his work,” Zweiy said. “I
have been to previous Fen
events, and I really like
this one because it is much
smaller. It is really nice to
see old friends and make
new friends.”
Fen is now a semiannual
event with a new lineup
each show, as well as a
different charity. Middle
Eastern representation
and artwork can be seen
on Middle Eastern Pulse’s
website, mepulse.com, and
Instagram page.
Singer Tawfik Abdul Dayem sings traditional Arabian folklore on Saturday, Aug. 3,
during the Middle Eastern Pulse event Fen at Anonymous Addictions Boutique in
Orland Park. Photos by Yasmeen Sheikah/22nd Century Media
Skript raps an original song, “Chasing Dreams,” while the crowd sings along.