Written by: Mia McCauley, Student Affairs Intern
Every March, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Heritage Month (MENAHM) is celebrated on campus. This year, the theme, “Roots and Routes: Tracing Homelands and Histories,” explores the traditions that have shaped the MENA region’s intersections and identities.
Throughout this month, the MENA community on campus sets out to unpack the connections and innovations that molded civilization.
“By uncovering overlooked stories, exploring how the past shapes the present, and highlighting the resilience and diversity of the MENA communities, we strive to create spaces where we can embrace our roots—making the diaspora feel at home, no matter where they are.” (UW MENAHM Planning Collective).
In 2024, watermarks were created for each heritage month to serve as a unifying element for campus-wide celebrations and promotions. Each watermark features unique icons designed by UW–Madison students who identify with the heritage being honored, along with fonts crafted by professional designers from the communities being celebrated, ensuring that the watermark used on campus reflects the cultural significance of each heritage month.
UW-Madison student Jumana Tanner set out to create five icons to be used alongside the MENA Heritage Month watermark, some of which were incorporated into the watermark’s design. Each icon aims to reflect cultural elements shared among the MENA region. They all demonstrate variability yet unity across the region.
“Whether it’s food, nature, music, traditions, it all varies a lot,” said Tanner. “Finding symbols that could be seen as staples across North Africa and the Middle East was something I spent a lot of time thinking about. I wanted to focus on elements that encompassed nature, the architecture—concepts that have been created by the societies there.”
The first icon Jumana created, the olive, speaks to the idea of tradition and interwoven intersectionality across the MENA region.
“The olive has been passed down from generations, for cultivation, for food, for medicinal purposes—it’s shared amongst families. This is something that can be seen across the entire region,” said Tanner.
In addition to the olive, Jumana wanted to include an architectural element, as demonstrated by her lantern design.
“Across the MENA region, we can see a very traditional and balanced type of architecture. It’s incredibly unique—these lamps and lights can be seen everywhere and have evolved depending on where you are. Each with a symmetrical and geometric style,” said Tanner.
All elements present in these designs reflect a different cultural staple: art, community, food, and nature.
“The palm trees present in my design hold a special significance. These leaves are part of the date tree, which can be seen across the entire region. Used for both religious and cultural purposes, these trees are an integral part of the design, and show the distinctive nature of the lands,” said Tanner.
Finally, the coffee pot showcases both a unique and fluid style. Its shape holds intricate detail, representing both tradition and intergenerational exchange.
“Adding the coffee pot symbolizes a huge cultural moment—it represents the idea that you’re sharing it with friends, family, or you’re just enjoying a cup of it yourself. It is also incredibly historical since the first sightings of coffee originated in the MENA region”
Overall, the rich culture of the MENA region is hard to symbolize in a couple of icons. Partially because nearly every aspect has evolved over time and travel. However, the symbols show that there are unifying patterns even at their simplest form that make MENA communities unique. No matter how intricate the architecture, the coffee pots, or the recipes get, they can all be traced back to core elements.
At the final MENAHM event, Qamaria, attendees can make their own full-color buttons out of the icons Jumana created.
Similarly to the thoughtful curation of each design component, every MENAHM event is crafted with the same intention.
From the MENA Heritage Month Keynote, An Evening with Emil Wakim, to the Qamaria: A Night of Timeless Tradition, this month is filled with beautiful moments inspiring cultural connection.
For more information on MENA Heritage Month, the MENAHM planning committee, and the rest of this month’s events.