Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere

Omar Offendum is a Los Angeles-based Syrian-American rapper/poet. A Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow for 2018-2019 known for his unique blend of Hip-Hop and Arabic poetry, Omar’s albums and solos (SyrianamericanA, Eye Know Faces, and Close My Eyes) sensitively explore the meanings around cultural identity, immigration, political struggles in the Middle East and the US, and love, life, and loss. A graduate of the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, Omar has been featured on prominent world news outlets, lectured at a number of academic institutions, collaborated with major museums and cultural organizations, and helped raise millions of dollars for various humanitarian relief groups.

Sponsored by the Center for Global Islamic Studies, the UF International Center, Diversity Liaison Office, Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere (Rothman Endowment), Department of Religion, Department of Anthropology, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.