Medina Tenour Whiteman

My name is Medina Tenour Whiteman and it is as much a mix of cultures and places and tongues as I am. Medina Tenour (or Medinat An-Nur) means the ’City of Divine Light’ in Arabic, after the Holy City in Saudi Arabia. Whiteman refers to my English Dad. What you don’t read in my name is my US nationality, courtesy of my American Mum, or my Spanish birthplace (Granada in Andalusia). I was raised a Muslim but I’m also a Westerner, which must make me living proof that the two can coexist harmoniously.

I’m currently based in the South of Spain, near Granada, and am dedicating a heck of a lot of time to raising two year old hurricane called Shamsie and preparing for the imminent arrival of another, rather smaller typhoon – a storm in a teacup, perhaps. However, when I do get the chance to work, it generally comes from elsewhere via the Internet, or simply by word of mouth. I work freelance as a writer, both journalism and creative writing, as well as translator, language tutor and researcher. I’ll happily do other things too, such as playing music, making websites, teaching or painting on any project that seems interesting.

EDUCATION

2001-05 BA (hons) African Language and Culture, 1st class degree, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK. I specialised in Swahili language and culture, which meant I spent a year of my degree abroad in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

2001 Online TEFL certificate with i-to-i. Finished with Merit.

1997-00 A levels in French, Government & Politics, Psychology and General studies at Saffron Walden County High 6th Form, Essex, UK. Four ’A’ grades.

1993-7 10 GCSEs at Saffron Walden County High School. 7 ’A’ grades and 3 ’A*’ grades.

WORK EXPERIENCE

February 2010: Article on Lateefa Spiker for emel magazine

This job has involved interviewing the artist, researching her work and writing up an article about her forthcoming solo exhibition, 'Unravelling'. See also her website.

September 2009: Subtitling, interview for a documentary

Translating and subtitling an interview which will form part of one volume of Travelling Light, a series of documentaries about the Ihya’ al-’Ulum ad-Din by al-Ghazali, produced by Mishkat Media.

May 2009: Translation, private commission

Translating and abridging two biographical pieces on the little-known Andalusian Sufi saints Sidi Bono and Ibn Ja’far al-Qunji, to be used in a forthcoming guidebook to the historical sites of Moorish Spain.

Sept – Dec 2008: Website, Tom Fraser Design

Designing, creating and maintaining a carpentry and geometry web portfolio for designer, carpenter and furniture maker Tom Fraser. See www.tomfraserdesign.com.

Jul – Nov 08: Writer, Huma Press

Consultation and writing a funding proposal for new fiction publishing house Huma Press.

Jul 2008: Researcher, Turath Publishing

Researching and creating multiple choice questions about inventions from the Medieval Muslim World.

Jul 2006 – Mar 2008: Sub-editor for Leica Magazine (LFI)

Sub-editing monthly photography magazine, translated from German. Grammatical and stylistic work, as well as writing article headlines, proofing text for their website, newsletters etc.

Sept 2005 – present: Freelance Sub-editor

Proofreading academic texts for publication with Turath Publishing (The Adhkar of Imam an-Nawawi and Madrasah Life), Archetype Books (Al-Ghazali the Mystic by Margaret Smith) and Sandala (Pearls of the Faith by Edwin Arnold). Also PhD thesis for Justin Thomas at the University of Liverpool, website for Finca Gardens and Systems and website, and funding proposals and letters for Adam Williamson.

Sept 2005 – present: Freelance Journalist & Creative Writer

Writing articles on commission and out of my own interest on subjects such as, among others, Andalusia’s cultural heritage (in French, for Sézame Magazine, Morocco), The Sufi Stonecarver (emel, UK) and an interview with Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger (emel). Also short stories, such as ’An Opportunity Lost’, published in US independent journal The Means, 2006. Click here to read it on my Stories page.

Oct 2006 – present: Freelance Translator

I have worked on a number of translation jobs from Spanish and French into English, including a bio on Malagasy musician Kilema for his album publicity and a website for engineering business group Comeya Ltd.

June 2006 – Oct 2006: Freelance English Tutor

Tutoring adults individually and in pairs in Granada, Spain. Classes featured specific business vocabulary.

Dec 2005 – June 2006: Web design development and writing for New Andalus Productions, Órgiva, Spain

Writing sleeve notes for Al-Ghazali audio lecture series and contributed to development of interactive timeline of AfroEurAsian history. Also writing exhibition review and diary of visit to Ibn Khaldun exhibition in the Alcázar of Seville.

May 2005 – Jun 2005: Exam invigilator, Birkbeck College, University of London

Required excellent timekeeping, group management and organisational skills.

Dec 2004 – May 2005: Freelance Swahili tutor

Swahili language and literature tutor with three students of SOAS, helping them prepare for exams, write essays and improve their understanding of Swahili grammar.

Dec 2003 - Mar 2004: Researcher for British High Commission, Tanzania

Researching and writing a 5,000 word commission on Islam in Tanzania, which involved conducting and translating interviews from Swahili to English.

Sept 2001 – May 2002: ArRum, Clerkenwell

Receptionist and Office Assistant for a busy social club and restaurant. Duties varied from answering telephones and taking bookings to typesetting menus, hostessing events, DJing and waitressing.

Jun 2001 – Jul 2001: Film Coordinator’s Assistant at Zanzibar International Film Festival

Involved scheduling screenings, editing and typesetting promotional material, and ensuring delivery of films for each screen.

March 2001: English Teacher at Tom Mboya Primary School, Mombasa, Kenya

Teaching English as a volunteer for a class of about 30 boys.

Between these jobs and projects I also had a number of jobs working in cafés, shops and at events in Cambridge, London and Granada.

OTHER SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES

Extensive travel experience in Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey, India, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Andalusia and North America

Fluent in Spanish, French and Swahili, plus some knowledge of Arabic and Portuguese

Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, ImageReady, InDesign and GoLive

Fifteen years’ experience playing guitar, singing, song-writing and performing

Making clothes and accessories, especially using recycled materials

Writing fiction and poetry

REFERENCES ON REQUEST

Website design and content