Latest news with #TikToks
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Gnaoua Festival Kicks Off with a Parade Full of Color, Rhythm, and Soul
Essaouira – Today marked the spectacular kickoff of the 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, and Essaouira rose to the occasion with a heartbeat all its own. The medina transformed into an open-air stage as the Gnawi parade 'à la marocaine' spilled into the streets, drawing locals, tourists, and lovers of music into a living, breathing celebration of culture and spirit. The Gnaoua artists presence alone could command silence — if not for the hypnotic pulse of the krakebs and guembri that followed him. Dressed in a deep navy tunic embroidered with gold, El Kasri led with a quiet authority and timeless energy that stirred even the most jaded smartphone holders into real-time reverence. And then came the voice. Gliding into the rhythm with grace and power was Moroccan songstress Abir El Abed, adding a celestial layer to the deeply grounded Gnaoua beats. Draped in jewel-toned silks that fluttered with every step, she moved through the procession like poetry — equal parts fire and water. Her voice, soft and sharp in all the right ways, floated above the percussion like a blessing. They weren't alone. Troupes of maalems — each representing a different city, lineage, or school of Gnaoua — marched alongside, radiating individuality through their traditional attire. From flamboyant purples to desert ochres and seafoam greens, the color palette was as diverse as the rhythms. Some wore cowrie-covered hats, others clutched talismans passed down generations. One moment you were clapping to the beat; the next, you were caught in a trance. The crowd? An eclectic blend of generations and geographies. Elderly men in djellabas nodded with recognition at ancestral songs. Gen-Z fashionistas filmed TikToks with krakebs in hand. French, Spanish, and American tourists clapped to beats they didn't know but felt deep in their bones. It wasn't just a parade. It was a pulse. And Morocco World News was right there in the middle of it all, gathering all of the moments. Whether you're on your couch in Casablanca or tuning in from Tangier, consider us your front-row pass to everything this weekend has to offer. Expect exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes peeks, and style deep-dives. The maalems are the soul of this festival — so if you've ever wondered how it feels to carry a musical legacy through centuries, or how Gnaoua mixes with jazz and soul, you'll want to stay tuned for our conversations with them. . So comment away. Want spiritual insight? Want to know what everyone's wearing? Dying for a soundbite from backstage? You dream it, we'll chase it. The Gnaoua and World Music Festival is officially in full swing — and trust us, you don't want to miss a beat. Tags: Gnaoua Festival 2025
CairoScene
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Meet the TikToker Bringing Arab Dance-Offs to Pre-Party Rituals
Rama Nazha's viral videos turn bathroom dance-offs into masterclasses, introducing her friends, and the world, to the irresistible sounds of Arab music. When Rama Nazha's TikToks first appeared on my For You page, it felt like an algorithmic stroke of luck. At the time, I was caught in a kind of cultural limbo - missing the pace and familiarity of London while basking in the warmth and rhythm of the Arab world. Her videos seemed to fuse the two worlds effortlessly: London edge with unmistakable Arab flair. I knew I had to reach out and chat to her about her newfound fame, teaching the world not only about Arab music, but how to dance to it. With energy so inviting, you can binge watch her videos, with a pre-drink in hand, and just by watching it you feel a part of girls night. You've probably seen her videos. A brightly lit bathroom, a killer Arab track, and a group of girls getting ready like they're about to headline Coachella. But behind the camera? A cultural mixtape - Syria, Lebanon, and London all in perfect sync, and has already hooked 80,000 listeners. Nazha was born in Syria and moved to Lebanon in 2011, at the height of the war. Her path then took her to the University of Surrey, and eventually to London - 'Hampshire wasn't the vibe,' she laughed. She studied media and communications, which, looking at her page now, feels almost prophetic. While her mother plugged her into niche Arab sounds from day one, it wasn't until Nazha landed in London, almost 20 years later, that she started to dance. It's what keeps her videos both grounded and global: 'They're this hybrid of Arab-coded, London-coded vibe which so many people can relate to part of it, but then they also want to know the other part.' It's like she's crafted a cultural remix that feels familiar enough to pull you in, but fresh enough to make you want to stick around and learn more moves. Long before the title 'Arab-pop ambassador of TikTok', there was just a girl, a mirror, and a great playlist. 'I used to post a lot with Arab music. People kept commenting, 'your music taste is wild,' or 'what even is this, I need more.' So one day, my friend was getting ready in my bathroom, I put on a playlist, and I thought - let's just film it.' That spontaneous video? It exploded. Since then, Nazha's account has become a safe space for Arabic music lovers and curious ears alike. She didn't set out to be a cultural conduit, but that's exactly what's happened. 'People from the US, Canada, and South America are DMing me, 'I don't understand the lyrics, but I need this playlist.' Or asking me to write song names in English letters.' And Arab artists are noticing too. Saint Levant, Eliana, and others have already shown love. She confessed all too casually that, 'Saint Levant loves the videos, he is so sweet, an angel'. I asked her what the next iteration might look like - kitchen dance-offs, maybe even some balcony serenades. She didn't hesitate, 'Absolutely,' she grins. 'I've already dragged the girls to an Arab night here in London. We had the coin belts out, my friend was cooking - it was a whole thing.' The point is clear: you don't need to be in a traditional Arab setting to move to the music. Culture, for Rama, isn't confined to geography or decor. It lives just as loudly in a Hackney flat with tea brewing in the kettle as it does at a wedding in Beirut. Music is the one language that knows no borders, and Rama's the stamp that proves it. What was once a personal ritual, like the Henna nights she watched growing up in Syria, is now a universal one. 'Those nights were everything. All the aunties, the music, the dancing, the getting ready. I wanted that here, but I didn't have a big group of Arab girlfriends.' So, she made her own community. Her friends may not speak Arabic, but they dance like they do. With playlists called 'Introducing my bestie to my fave Arabic songs' and 'THE Arabic playlist,' which feature artists from Eliana to Umm Kulthum and have over 13,000 likes, it's clear Rama isn't just curating music - she's curating a movement. Upon my eventual return to London, I'm at peace now I know that an Arab night is right around the corner - because thanks to people like Rama, diaspora isn't a distance, it's a playlist.
Refinery29
11 hours ago
- Health
- Refinery29
There's A Bigger Problem With The Viral ‘Propaganda I'm Not Falling For' Trend
TW: This article discusses disordered eating. Videos with the text 'Propaganda I'm not falling for' and a list that might include diet culture, something about the rise of conservatism and alternative milk choices — to name a few — have been dominating our social feeds of late. The videos seem to suggest that if you can spot a "trend" or the 'problem', then you can choose whether to participate in it or not. But in a world where we seem to be at the behest of the algorithm, and with social media increasingly becoming an avenue for mental health support, how much agency do we have in choosing whether or not we participate? Let's start with the algorithm, which, despite what we're sometimes led to believe, is not inherently evil. It can actually be great, showing us content and advertisements that we find engaging based on specific signals, such as what posts we like, comment on, and share, how much time we spend viewing a post, and what similarities we have with users we interact with. However, when social media platforms use them to further their cause, algorithms can lead us to content we didn't necessarily choose. For example, in 2018, Facebook saw a decline in engagement and reconfigured its recommendation algorithms. A 2021 study says that the reconfiguration increased the virality of outrageous and sensationalised content. And no, this was not just a coincidence, Facebook's internal documents stated that "Misinformation, toxicity, and violent content are inordinately prevalent among reshares.' Similarly, a 2020 study found YouTube recommendations can lead people to more extremist content. The bigger issue is that even if a user decides to step away from polarising content, a New York Times article reported that viewing 20 widely-shared TikToks sowing doubt about election systems will push more 'election disinformation, polarising content, far-right extremism, QAnon conspiracy theories and false Covid-19 narratives' despite using neutral search terms. In this case, while we click or scroll away, it becomes clear that the algorithm can encroach on our autonomy. Besides misinformation and polarising content, we can't talk about social media algorithms without discussing thinness culture or 'thinspo.' What once existed on Tumblr sites, thinness culture, also known as 'pro-ana' type content, has now made its way to TikTok, claiming its niche as ' SkinnyTok.' This side of TikTok is filled with low-calorie recipe videos, What I Eat In A Days, exercise routines and more which glorify thinness culture and disordered eating, veiled as a "healthy" lifestyle. In June, TikTok "blocked search results for #skinnytok since it has become linked to unhealthy weight loss content." However, how much impact does this have when our algorithms deliver us this content regardless of needing to search for it? Users who are currently diagnosed with an eating disorder are 4137% more likely to have the next video delivered by the TikTok algorithm to be eating disorder-related. Similarly, for those struggling with disordered eating, it is 322% more likely that the next video will be diet-orientated. The recent Butterfly Body Kind Youth survey also found that 57.2% of young people (aged 12-18) report that social media makes them feel dissatisfied with their bodies. At the same time, 73% of young people use social media for mental health support. However, the number of young people using social media for support rather than the mental health care system is worrying when, in June 2025, an investigation by The Guardian found that over half of the top 100 mental health TikToks contain misinformation. From suggesting that everyday experiences are symptoms of borderline personality disorder to misusing therapeutic language, social media has increasingly seen users self-diagnosing based on a 10-second sound bite. As someone who could not access mental health support for a couple of years for an eating disorder, I've experienced the pipeline of content where helpful tips for recovering turn into glorifying low-calorie, high-protein diets and strength training in the name of "health". But as a 16-year-old, it was impossible not to fall for this, and even now, at 22, it can be a battle on worse days, and I have to delete the apps altogether. While we like to think we have full control over what we do or do not 'fall for', our algorithms clearly also have a say in that. But the long-term answer to extremist or thinspo content is not to delete or ban social media. We should all be cautious of what we see on the internet, perhaps take things with a pinch of salt, and do our research, of course — but social media platforms and governments have a role to play in safeguarding us from risks. We need more than just a hashtag ban; we need social media platforms to stop pushing content that leads us down this path in the first place. We need our government to regulate content such as deepfakes and misinformation and, instead of banning social media, implement education on how to use and be safe on it. Funding the mental health system so that fewer people turn to social media for help would also be a great place to start.
Elle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Horny Girl Summer - Why It's The Sexiest Time To Be Single
Single ladies, there's a new member of the coven. Cool, funny, and complete with a famous fringe, Dakota Johnson has reportedly recently broken up with her longtime partner Chris Martin. And according to an interview on the podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, she might be gearing up for a hot girl summer. When asked by the Saturday Night Live alum how she psychs herself up to do sex scenes, Johnson replied, 'Amy, I don't have to. I'm, like, always psyched up for sex.' The famously acerbic actress might've only been teasing, and who knows what's really going on with her and Martin. But regardless, her words speak to a universal truth, one so ubiquitous and well understood that for several years it has spawned countless songs, memes, and TikToks – there are more than half a million posts under the hashtag #hotgirlsummer on the platform. Why? Because deep down, all of us know that if there's one time of year to be psyched up for sex and newly single, it's summer. Officially the warmest, funnest, and most debaucherous season, summer brings with it a sense of silliness, excitement, and unabashed horniness. People are going out more and wearing less. They're happier, healthier, and high on vitamin D. There's a lingering sense of opportunity and anticipation permeating pub gardens, setting the scene for a romcom-worthy vibe that, however delusional, has you thinking your next great relationship is just one half pint away. It's thrilling, as if suddenly everything has erotic potential. Even sitting on a crowded train, sweat knocking between people's knees, can feel strangely seductive, particularly if you catch eyes with someone on the other side of the carriage. A smile here, a shy giggle there. You never know what could happen! All of which is to say that there really is no better time to be fresh out the gate of a relationship than right now. Ideally, the breakup happened sometime around April. This gives you a few months to pull yourself together, and go through at least one round of the usual post-split psychological cycle: cry, block, delete, cry again, unblock, send angry and regrettable DM, block again, cry, throw phone at wall, self-reflection, haircut, last minute trip abroad, small cry, find peace. Generally, this is repeated until you're left with the peace part. By the time June rolls around, the idea is that you've processed things enough to feel ready to start putting yourself out there again. Even if you're still emotionally grieving, at the very least, you'll probably want to try having sex with someone new. After all, it's summer! I'll admit that I'm speaking with a bit of experience here, having broken up with my last boyfriend in April 2022. I wouldn't advise doing what I did to cope, which involved running away to northern California, getting a highly questionable fringe, and pursuing romantic relationships with just about any single straight man who knew my name. Don't do any of that. But what you should do is enjoy your newfound freedom by saying yes to just about every opportunity that comes your way, surrounding yourself with friends, family, and ideally also going to as many festivals as you and your circadian rhythm can handle. I did as much of this as I could, making the most of every BBQ and birthday garden party. It's not that I was actually looking for someone new, although that's how it felt at the time. It was more that I felt like I could throw myself into a set of fun, footloose, and fancy-free outdoor plans that nourished my sense of self in a way I hadn't realised I'd been neglecting while in my relationship. I forged new friendships, tended old ones, and felt more like myself than I had in years. Don't get me wrong, breakups are rough. And there are obviously always going to be inevitable low moments that even the sunniest climes won't appease. Think panic attacks in my tent at Glastonbury Festival at 7am and neverending lists of messages I never sent to my ex filling up my Notes app. Obviously, the pain, shame, and sense of loss doesn't go away when it's a hot day. But it does feel a lot easier to work through when you're only ever a few phone calls away from lying on the grass in a park with a few pals, surrounded by the sounds of other people's picnics, and feeling the sun on your face. If there's an option between that and breaking up with someone on the precipice of the festive season, when it's so much easier to slip into goblin mode and hibernate from the cold by staying underneath your duvet for weeks on end, well, I know which one I'd rather choose. The trouble is breakups don't work that way; we can't just book them like dentist appointments. That said, if, like Johnson, the timing happens to be in your favour and you find yourself reading this a newly single woman, well, consider yourself fortunate and don't be afraid to dive right in. The water's lovely – trust me. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- Climate
- North Wales Live
American TikToker on the 'hard life' in North Wales and two things she loves about here
Since moving to North Wales two years, an American TikToker has detailed the idiosyncracies of life in a rural county. In a series of viral TikToks, Jessica Hanson has opined on everything from sky-high prices to the country's 'national speed limit' of 20mph and the weather. It's either too cold or too hot, on account of the lack of air conditioning, she says. Living in North Wales means food delivery is either too slow or non-existent, while the region's narrow country lanes involves a constant 'game of chicken' with other vehicles The list goes on, from old money to bathroom plugs. 'Living in the UK is hard!' she said on a TikTok. 'I count down the days until I can go back to my comforts every time I am here.' As the owner of a shipping company in Florida, the 42-year-old married a British man in 2023. Shortly afterwards, they bought a home in North Wales with so they could divide their time between the UK and US. Jessica thought it would be easy because, to an extent, both countries share a common language. But having found everyday life tougher than expected, she launched a new series on TikTok, 'Why Life Is Harder in the UK'. It's understood that she lives in Conwy county and she's no great fan of the weather here: 'Blue skies in Wales!" she declares with heavy sarcasm. "It's crazy, I don't know what to do." As she is originally from the Sunshine State, the weather was always going to be different in her adopted North Wales. Jessica told MailOnline it's cold and windy for 'two thirds of the year' and practically 'grey all the time'. 'Where I live, specifically, there seems to be a 75% chance on any given day that it's going to be cold and misty. It gets to me, mentally. I get lethargic and sad when I'm over there because I don't want to go outside. I miss just being able to go outside in a T-shirt and shorts and walk around comfortably.' Even in summer, the weather is disagreeable. Clutching a glass of wine, Jessica pointed out the lack of air conditioning in Britain's homes. Instead, the only way of controlling inside temperatures is via radiators - in her home she has thermostats on each, creating what she described as 'tiny climate control time zones.' 'This is air conditioning,' she says, pointing to an open window. 'In the whole country, there's no air conditioning!' The UK's historically mild summers meant that cooling systems were never seen as a necessity. Jessica was actually referring to the ease of interior climate controls in the US, where HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems enable temperatures to be altered up or down with the press of a button. "If you're Amercan, please, dear God, do not ever take for granted your HVAC system,' she said. '(The) air con guys say the house isn't built with enough room to put the ducting in between the floors. Probably cause my house is older than America.' Less contentiously, UK prices are also a bone of contention. 'My December heating bill nearly sent me into heart attack. The energy rates here are insane.' Brits can cope without air con but no one likes the high cost of UK living. In contrast with Florida, 'where children 'run in and out of houses' and everyone waves or stops for a chat, people in North Wales are not as outgoing and often just 'shrug. 'This could be because of the weather,' suggests Jessica. She's also been left aghast by a so-called 'nanny state' mentality in Wales. Driving is a particular case in point. 'The nanny state mentality creeps me out. They lowered the speeding limit in my entire county to 20mph recently. That is bananas to me. 'It feels a little dystopian. CCTV and speed cameras are omnipresent. 50mph (speed limits) on the freeway. Why?' Not everything is bad in Wales, Jessica said – she likes the local dairy products and the countryside is simply stunning. 'I actually pulled over and cried once, it was so gorgeous,' she told Newsweek. Even though her comments are slightly tongue in cheek, uttered with a knowing smile, they've sparked an online backlash. A Llandudno Junction woman said: 'If she doesn't like it, she can always return home to the Sunshine State.' Another, from Llandudno, added: 'Remember an American visitor calling in to the National Trust where I worked and asking, 'why did they build the castle so close to the road?' Simply no words....' According to a Conwy resident, Jessica's views aren't commonplace amongst US visitors. 'I take hundreds of American visitors around Conwy every year,' she said. 'Every single one of them love it! The whole point of it is to get attention - and look… it's worked.' Online, Jessica has also been praised for being 'unabashedly honest'. Some people have explained why they quit North Wales. On the other hand, some American emigrants say the love Britain ('just because it's different doesn't make it worse'). Even Jessica admits she has some misgivings about Trump's America. 'My country is nuts,' she admitted. The first of Jessica's TikToks generated 87,700 views, 3,062 likes and 1,102 comments, encouraging her to make more. Partly her motivation is to encourage Brits not to accept the status quo but to demand better. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox On her Facebook page, she said: 'I made a silly TikTok …. which ended up going viral And then The Daily Mail made an article about it. The comments crack me up. Apparently British people think all Americans live in daily fear of being shot.' Find out what's happening near you
