Issue 001 | Roots & Routes

Ever since I announced HABAYTAT, I’ve been asked a lot about its meaning and pronunciation. It’s pronounced HA-BAYT-AT, combining the English “Habitat” and the Arabic “Bayt,” which means home. The concept for this platform actually began around 2017 with a different focus, but both then and now, the core idea has been about building better spaces. For a while, I went back and forth on what I wanted this platform to offer and how to cater to those who are curious about their environment and the way it shapes their taste and lifestyles.

For the past couple of years, there’s been much discussion about how the internet homogenises taste, but the reality is that our preferences have always been shaped by a curation of influences, whether from the digital world, our peers, or our surroundings. What I think the internet sometimes takes away from is the joy of building taste—experimenting, interacting with the world, and allowing our choices to evolve over time. Often, we’re so focused on the destination that we consume without intention. I’m guilty of it too, as are most of us.

To cut the fluff, this platform exists to encourage reflection on the spaces we inhabit and how they influence our lifestyle and sense of self. Whether it’s a gallery visit or a meal in a small-town restaurant, these experiences subtly shape how we dress, design our interiors, and think about the world. This also applies to how we view our wellness, approach travel, and consciously create better habits for ourselves and our community

With HABAYTAT, I hope the blend of subjective and objective views—from myself, contributors, and creators—offers something meaningful to you. In our launch issue, we feature Dubai-based creative Jullz as she shares her favourite spots in her hometown of Almaty. We also sit down with the founders of Bootleg Griot, a mobile library spotlighting African media and literature, to discuss the importance of creating cultural spaces that serve the Black community in Dubai.

Happy reading, and hope you stick around.

Rand Al Hadethi

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Jullz Bek, a Kazakh creative working in fashion, art, and culture between Dubai and Central Asia, is known for her signature ever-changing mid-length bob in bold colours. Her eye for the unique and experimental defines not only her wardrobe but also her approach to travel and design. As of now, she’s designing a capsule collection set to debut soon.

This is a taste of her hometown, Almaty, and a glimpse into what inspires her:

• A perfect day in Almaty:

No two days are the same when I’m in Almaty. I would say the perfect day is choosing a new spot to try out for breakfast, then going for a walk around older neighbourhoods, geeking out over the different architecture, maybe checking out a museum or a pop-up, and then having home-cooked Kazakh food with the family. And drinking tea nonstop. 

• Top 3 cultural fixes:

Dunie Design - Dunie is a female run Almaty based design studio. They work on everything: art direction / design / production / retail. They are my Roman Empire.

Dom36 - which translates to ‘Home 36,’ is a cultural centre that holds various activities and workshops throughout the year, it’s also where my favourite coffee shop ‘Flask’ is located. :) 

Furmanov Street - this street is always filled with people of all ages, performing or just chilling. There are also many cafes in this area. It's a great spot to people watch. 

• Top 3 spots for local shopping:

Green Bazaar - they have various fresh produce of everything: fruits, veggies, you name it.

Beepl Space - a super cute concept store that houses a lot of neo-Kazakh designers.

Dom36 -  they have different pop-ups and stores around the vicinity. 

• An experience unique to the city:

• Almaty-based creatives that people should know about:

Alina Aitzhanova. She’s the designer behind Al Basty. I had the pleasure of visiting her showroom this year and I’m absolutely in love with her craft. I think she deserves to be seen on a global level. 

• Where do you find inspiration in the city?

I love to walk, listen to music, and wander around - Almaty is perfect for that. I find inspiration when I see people interacting with each other, their clothes, people interacting with the environment, with nature. I love to people-watch, my favorite thing to do is sit at a cafe and do that.

• Top architectural spots:

Arasan Wellness Center - an iconic bathhouse located in the heart of the city. It was built in 1982, and so many elements have remained untouched. The concrete curves really make it stand out for me.

Hotel Kazakhstan - another gem, built in 1977, that stands out beautifully in the centre. I like how the top looks like a tiara.

HABAYTAT speaks to the team behind the public library project and their approach to modern cultural spaces.

By Rand Al-Hadethi

As you step into Bootleg Griot's current space at Efie Gallery in Dubai's Al Quoz district, you're met with an interior that feels more like a house setting than a traditional library. Of course, the current setting at the gallery adds a layer of polished sophistication compared to previous locations, where cosier couches and varied bookshelves created a more laid-back atmosphere. As of now, it features stylised displays that arrange the chairs and books with a sense of curated elegance while maintaining comfort. This intentional shift away from conventional academic settings is at the heart of Bootleg Griot's ethos: creating spaces that relax rather than restrict. "Familiarity is a key feature in all our installations," says Fawaz Abdulazeez, one of Bootleg Griot's founders. "We always want to bring the familiarity of a home setting or a space that isn't kicking you out. Some spaces invite you in, but you can't be there for more than five minutes once you're in. With our library, it's the opposite. Even if we're in an outside setting, we always make sure that you can be in this space for as long as you need to."

Founded by Abdulazeez and Osemudiamen Ekore in 2021, with Nini Oki joining in 2024, Bootleg Griot is a roving library dedicated to amplifying African narratives and easing access to African literature and media. The concept was initially sparked during Abdulazeez and Ekore's thrift-shopping trips between Sharjah and Ajman, where they found themselves sifting through stacks of books gathering dust. "We were collecting a sizeable amount and thought it would be cool if people could borrow these books, creating a sort of library and playing with the idea of an institution," Abdulazeez recalls. "That's when we had the idea of a pop-up library."

Their first installation debuted at Jameel Arts Centre in November 2022 during the Down To Earth festival. In 2023, they collaborated with The Africa Institute and Efie Gallery to host "Lost in Translation: Exploring Language & Culture," an open conversation on oral storytelling and music in West African literature as part of Alserkal Avenue's Ramadan Program. In the same year, they participated in the BRED Abu Dhabi festival, and hosted multiple sessions at the Emirates Literature Festival in 2024. The library also organises engaging activities like games nights inspired by Nigerian childhood games and workshops exploring intersectional themes, such as their upcoming session on traditional Emirati craftsmanship and sculpting.

What sets Bootleg Griot apart is its diligent yet playful approach to knowledge-sharing, moving beyond conventional academia. "Positioning ourselves as an academic institution automatically feeds into the othering of anyone who doesn't fit that mould. It's counterproductive," says Oki. “Our approach to academia is less concerned with traditional structures of information and more about communicating what we're housing through our programmes and installations."

The name itself encapsulates the project's spirit—a playful yet pointed reimagining of what a library can be. "Bootleg" hints at subverting conventional academic norms, favouring the fluidity and accessibility of oral histories. "Griot" honours the revered West African storytellers who served as living archives and keepers of collective memory. In the absence of written records, griots safeguarded their communities' histories, relationships, and legacies, preserving and passing them down through generations. It was often said that the loss of a griot was like losing an entire library. Bootleg Griot is a project built out of necessity and sustained by ethnic tradition. Libraries have long been celebrated as seemingly impartial physical manifestations of knowledge and curiosity. However, beneath the veneer of neutrality lies a critical question: who are these spaces for?

Much like academia, libraries have traditionally upheld codes of conduct that serve a privileged, predominantly white audience, reflecting societal structures that elevate certain narratives over others. “Developing a project like this requires us to constantly reflect on the inherent anti-blackness that exists in the western model for educational institutions,” Ekore reflects. “We’ve all been educated and socialised in these spaces, so it’s important that we think of what we’re trying to do vs how to go about things in a way that doesn’t feed into the same issues that caused up to start the project in the first place.”

Even within MENA communities, Western literature and storytelling often take precedence, sometimes at the expense of regional narratives. While Dubai's public libraries offer diverse reading options and trendy library cafés present a stylised approach to reading, there remains a need for spaces that promote a richer cultural dialogue among the city's diverse communities. That said, Bootleg Griot is still trying to overcome the hurdles in fulfilling its mission while remaining accessible to the Black community in the UAE. For example, those working long hours may find it difficult to engage with the project despite its efforts to be inclusive. One way to reduce barriers is the library's design, which prioritises mobility and free access, regardless of its location. It's also worth noting and building discernment on why some individuals visit the library: is it to engage and learn, to investigate reasons of existence and validity, or to superficially align themselves with the library’s ethos? As Ekore states, “it's not lost on us that we're the only dedicated Black library in the country run by black people.”

While welcoming various communities and hosting intersectional programs, Bootleg Griot remains steadfast in its core mission: to ensure that knowledge is shared in a circular manner and that the Black community is served as a top priority. Despite being inclusive to a broad audience, the project must prioritise the needs and experiences of its primary audience. "Keeping in mind that our collection, projects and programmes reference topics and ideas specific to our cultures, it’s important that we continue to figure out methods of community engagement that transcend socioeconomic barriers so that the project is accessible to the wider black community around us," concludes Ekore.

*Click the image to go to the booking’s link

Newsletter Design: Desirée Barreto

Editorial Coordinator: Hajir Zaidan