Egypt
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Egyptian novel "The Passerby"Gender and society in transition
In Ibrahim Abdel Meguid's novel "The Passerby", the philosophy student Lamia becomes Hamza. His transition runs parallel to another: that of Egypt, caught between the brief freedom of 2011 and the grip of the security state.
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"Postmuslim" by Youssef RakhaOne author, multiple selves
"Postmuslim" is an intimate new collection of essays in English by Youssef Rakha. The Egyptian author explores his complex relationship with the West while tracing his intellectual evolution over several decades.
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Egyptian photographer Roger Anis"The Nile is part of our collective consciousness"
Egyptian photographer Roger Anis has spent nearly a decade documenting the world's longest river. In 2024, he revived an ancient Nile procession with local fishermen, turning their boats into a moving celebration of the river and its communities.
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Egyptian film "Asad"Slave drama sparks debate on national identity
In Egypt, a historical film has sparked a present-day controversy, with critics accusing "Asad" of distorting the past and promoting Afrocentric narratives. Beneath the political rhetoric, however, lies a deeper cultural dispute.
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Tunisian gender scholar Amel Grami"Arab culture's flexibility distinguishes it from others"
Concepts of gender are shifting across the Arab world. Tunisian writer and academic Amel Grami reflects on emerging approaches to gender analysis in the region and examines how colonial legacies have shaped existing perceptions.
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Egypt's "World Press Photo" winner"If we as locals don’t tell these stories, who will?"
Photographer Mohamed Mahdy has documented life in Alexandria, where residents suffer from severe pollution from a cement factory. He explains how they are pushing back, why he looks for his stories close to home, and what he expects from international media.
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Palestinians in EgyptTime to return to Gaza?
In Egypt, Palestinians displaced by war in Gaza face a painful dilemma: return to their families and a devastated homeland or remain in limbo without residency. Medical needs, financial hardship and border fears make the decision fraught.
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New Arab cinemaA reality that calls for the surreal
Arab filmmakers have long adopted a social realist view of everday life. A new wave is now emerging, says Amin Farzanefar, marked by fantasy, uncanny symbols and repressed memories.
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Cairo's Ramadan lanternsMore than decoration
For lantern maker Mohamed Fawzi, the traditional Egyptian lantern, a familiar sight during Ramadan, is a key part of the country's cultural identity. But a flood of cheaper imports now threatens his craft.
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Egypt after the Arab Spring"We all live in the shadow of the revolution"
Fifteen years after Egypt's revolution, what remains of its demands? Four Gen Z activists reflect on how 2011 shaped their political consciousness and how resistance is being redefined today.
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Films on SudanStories from elsewhere
The war in Sudan has made displacement a fact of life for millions. Two new films, with Sudanese women at their core, reflect this reality through very different lenses. A review of "Aisha Can't Fly Away" and "Cotton Queen".
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Literature in YemenThe last bastion of beauty
Yemen's cultural scene has been hard hit by years of war, but not completely silenced. While many writers and intellectuals have left the country, the small literary club Alamaqah remains active, a testament to the resilience of Yemeni culture.
