Divan
The original divan was not a bed but an Arabic word for an account book. The first known use of divan dates from the reign of ‘Umar I (586-644) and lists the pensions due to Arab soldiers. Later divan came to mean an accounts office, court or custom-house. The French douane (customs) comes from the same word. Eventually the benches around the walls of the divan were themselves called divans. The benches were covered with mattresses and cushions, which led to the modern meaning – a bed without a headboard or footboard.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
