BYU Arab Student Association invites community to experience Arab culture firsthand

The BYU Arab Student Association partnered with the BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures on April 6 to host an Arab-themed family home evening event.

The event invited students and community members to experience Arab cultures through interactive activities, performances and food.

Guests participated in henna art, tatreez a traditional Palestinian embroidery and dabke, a line dance common across parts of the Arab world.

Museum artifacts were also available for exploration, offering additional historical context.

Food was provided, including triangular pieces of naan, halvah and more.

Sama Salah, a BYU senior and co-founder of the Arab Student Association, said the event reflects the clubs mission to represent the diversity within Arab identities.

We wanted to show that were not a monolith, Salah said. There are so many different cultures within one culture. Egyptian culture is different from Moroccan culture and from Palestinian culture. But its all united under the umbrella of Arab.

The Arab world spans about 22 countries, reflecting a wide range of cultures and traditions.

Salah said the association was founded nearly four years ago by herself, her sister Noureen Salah and Tala Alnasser, inspired by other cultural showcases on campus.

We were really inspired by seeing all of our friends from different cultures have showcases, Salah said. We thought, We should have something that shows our culture in a similar way, even though there arent as many of us.

She added that hosting the event at the museum helped deepen that experience.

It shows the different moving parts of a culture, Salah said. Were thankful to the museum for allowing us to showcase our culture in this way.

Noureen Salah, co-vice president of the association, said the club also aims to challenge perceptions.

Were a small population on campus and in Utah, she said. So we want to flip the narrative at least on campus, and showcase our wonderful culture.

Attendees emphasized the importance of experiential learning in fostering understanding.

Renee Memmott, a Provo resident who attended with her children, said the event provided a meaningful way to connect.

I brought my children, because its a way for them to interact in a hands-on way with Arabic culture, Memmott said.

She added, You know, you can see things, you can hear things, but, when you actually are (participating in the) stitching, the food, the dancing and the henna, all these activities are something that I feel my kids will actually remember, and then when they see that and see people, they'll feel more connected to them.

Students from other cultural organizations also attended in support. Kayla Pereira, a member of the South Asian Student Association, said she came after hearing about the event from friends.

I feel like we're doing a lot more things to celebrate the culture, which I really appreciate," she said.

Zaina Al-Sahili, secretary of the BYU Arab Student Association, said sharing culture helps build connections.

Its really great to be able to share our culture and also learn about other peoples cultures, she said.

She added, Coming to study abroad has been an amazing experience. I get to learn a lot about people from the U.S. and other countries. I think it's super cool to know about other people because it makes you connect with them more.

Salma Al-Shuqairat, another BYU student involved in the event, explained the significance of tatreez.

Its traditional Palestinian embroidery, Al-Shuqairat said. Often used to decorate garments and gowns. And it consists of the basics of cross stitching, but people use it to create really intricate designs.

She added that curiosity and conversation are key to building unity.

We appreciate when people ask questions with a desire to learn, Al-Shuqairat said. Experiences like these are foundational for humanity and make our communities a better place.

Sama said events like this gathering highlight the role of cultural exchange in peacemaking by encouraging understanding through authentic representation.

The most authentic way to show a culture is by having people of that culture share it, Sama Salah said. If you want to learn about our culture, learn about it authentically.