TORONTO: The common saying in the Middle East, “al-qahwa da’wa,” or “coffee is an invitation,” is the premise behind London-based Qahwa Sessions, a daytime social concept that blends the brew, culture and sound.
Featuring music, brands, art and, of course, coffee, Qahwa Sessions is a series of pop-up events with bigger ambitions. The goal is to create a platform that showcases the best of Middle Eastern and North African culture, co-founder Ali, who prefers to go by his first name, told Arab News.
He and his siblings and cousins are passionate about music and culture. Raised in London with Iraqi roots, Ali grew up straddling two worlds — one steeped in traditional Arab gatherings at home, the other shaped by a distinctly Western upbringing.
Featuring music, brands, art and, of course, coffee, Qahwa Sessions is a series of pop-up events with bigger ambitions. (Supplied)
That duality left him and his cousins searching for a middle ground — not a cafe or club, but something in-between. Qahwa Sessions has its distinct offerings but remains alcohol-free, with each session ending before the night begins.
“We wanted to create a space that we felt was a good representation of how we grew up,” Ali said.
The first Qahwa session was held at The Orange Room in East London in November 2025. Since then, the organizers have held three more events, with the most recent in June. Staged at rotating venues, the sessions have sold out consistently.
Each roughly four-hour session pairs live music and DJ sets with coffee, artists and brands.
From brands to artists, every aspect of the experience is carefully curated, said Faida, Ali's cousin, who was also the DJ for the group’s third session.
Among the artists are qanun player Yasmina Mansour; Irish-Egyptian DJ, producer, artist and writer Shaefri Sadek; British-Turkish DJ Betulia; and oud player Tarek Elazhary. (Supplied)
DJs are asked to tailor their sets around a mix of Arab and Western influences — “a very literal way of mixing two worlds,” she added.
Among the artists are qanun player Yasmina Mansour; Irish-Egyptian DJ, producer, artist and writer Shaefri Sadek; British-Turkish DJ Betulia; and oud player Tarek Elazhary.
Featured brands also represent a shared vision or heritage.
For example, Social Enterprise Project, works with Palestinian and Syrian refugees and local artisans primarily based in Jordan’s Jerash Gaza Camp to create singular hand-embroidered pieces. Another, Draper, specializes in 100-percent Egyptian cotton apparel.
Political instability in the region has had a global impact and is something Qahwa Sessions is very conscious of, Ali said.
Each roughly four-hour session pairs live music and DJ sets with coffee, artists and brands. (Supplied)
He and the team debated whether to hold a session at the height of regional tensions, but decided their platform was a way to represent Middle Eastern culture globally and support causes back home.
They donated £5 ($7) from every ticket sold at the group’s third session to Medecins Sans Frontieres and contributed to the Lebanese Red Cross.
The venture currently runs at a loss, Ali said, with tickets priced at £15 to £30 pounds to cover costs rather than turn a profit. The organizers want to keep prices low — “not trying to profiteer off our customers” — with sponsorships and brand deals seen as a more sustainable path forward.
The team plans to grow beyond live events into an online platform featuring recorded DJ sets, artist studio visits, a magazine and merchandise, with hopes of eventually opening a permanent space and expanding beyond London.
As Faida put it, the events are about more than music. “It’s a safe space in a community for people that share our values, interests and morals.”
Although the events are at the forefront, they are “just the beginning — the front cover of Qahwa,” she added.
