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Open Book: Book of Rajab

Program type
Activations

17 May 2025

05:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Western Hajj Terminal - Jeddah - Auditorium - Public Programs Building

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Age Group Adults

Free

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About the event

This session marks the launch of Book of Rajab, Khunfus Publishing's first publication. Told through the voice of a Bougainvillea flower, the book reimagines eight folk stories set across a single day in an alternative Jeddah, on the first of Rajab, a date that marks both the midpoint of the Hijri calendar and the unofficial birthday of many Saudis born before the Civil Affairs Office.
Through layered visuals and whimsical narration, the stories reflect on what it means to hold on to generational heirlooms in a city shaped by constant change, exploring themes of memory, grief, craft, food, and migration.

Language: English and Arabic

What will you learn?
Participants will explore the behind-the-scenes process of creating "The Book of Rajab".

Who is it for?
This talk is for readers interested in the themes of artistry, food, and migration.

Led By

Khunfus Publishing

Khunfus is a publishing house based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It produces print books that bend form and genre through...

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Haya Bakhashab

Co-founder and Creative Director, Khunfus Publishing

Bakhashab is the co-founder and creative director of Khunfus Publishing. Outside of Khunfus, Haya is a Marketing Manager (Content) at...

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Lama Alem

Co-founder, Khunfus Publishing

Lama Alem is co-founder of Khunfus Publishing and author of "The Book of Rajab". Lama holds a BA in Literature...

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Maria Alem

Khunfus Co-founder and General Manager

Alem is a researcher and writer interweaving environmental and urban histories with mythology and fiction. In 2021, she co-founded Khunfus,...

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Nader Sharaf

Illustrator

Nader Sharaf is the illustrator behind Khunfus’s inaugural title Book of Rajab. Nader’s illustrations blend surreal imagery with realistic details,...

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