“We are all born naked and the rest is drag,” American drag icon Rupaul Charles invariably responds when asked to explain the art form’s newfound mainstream appeal, but in the Middle East and North Africa, the opposite is just as true. Throughout the years, the region’s drag tradition has been stripped of its cultural, social, and political substance. The origins of cross-dressing and gender impersonation in the now Arab and Muslim world can be traced back to ancient times, but it wasn’t until the rise of Islamic civilization through expansion and conquests by successive caliphates and empires that drag began to take shape. Under Ottoman rule, gender bending became an art form through köçek dance, where male youths would perform in feminine attire, effecting what is traditionally considered feminine mannerisms. This tradition quickly spread to Egypt and other vassal states, becoming a popular form of entertainment in the 17th and 18th centuries with widespread appeal across the gender and sexual spectra. In the 1920s, male impersonation flourished among Egyptian women as an act of self-expression through fashion. In fact, it is said that legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum once performed…
Egypt’s Beloved Abla Fahita To Make Netflix Debut in 2020
World streaming giant, Netflix, will be collaborating with popular Egyptian figure ‘Abla Fahita’ on an original Egyptian series according to an official statement. The show, which is scheduled to be released in 2020, will mark the second original series from Egypt, following ‘Paranormal’ and will be produced by local Egyptian production companies OKWRD production, ASAP Productions with Amin El Masri as a producer. Abla Fahita is an Egyptian satirical puppet character extant in Egypt’s media scene since 2010; she is particularly well known for her social commentary and role as a gossipy widow with strong opinions on current trends and developments in Egypt. “I always say that Egyptian comedy is a great product for export after the Egyptian cotton. And it’s obvious how the world today is a sad place in dire need of laughter. and nothing beats the Egyptian Sense of humour to relieve the world of its misery,” the Muppet figure commented regarding the news. Her upcoming Netflix original, which Fahita claims will be released in more than 20 languages to an international audience in 190 countries, is meant to be a ‘social comedy drama’ as per the…
Egypt to Reopen Historic Jewish Synagogue Next January
The Egyptian Antiquities Ministry announced on Friday the reopening of the Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue next January, which is one of the largest in the Middle East and underwent restoration beginning in 2017. Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al-Anani went to Alexandria on the same day to tour and inspect the latest developments in restoring the Jewish synagogue and a number of other archaeological sites, including the Greco-Roman Museum, the Alexandria National Museum and jewelry museums. The statement added that the project of restoration of the Jewish synagogue and the Greco-Roman Museum comes within the interest of the Egyptian government to preserve all its monuments and heritage, whether it is Pharaonic or Jewish or Coptic or Islamic. It is also part of the cooperation protocol signed between the ministry of antiquities and the engineering authority of the armed forces in 2017, which aims to develop the Giza Pyramids area, and carry out the restoration of the Alexan Palace in Assiut. Eliyahu Hanavi remains one of two remaining synagogues in Alexandria, due to the decreasing number of Jews in Egypt. It was built in the 1850s and was later closed in 2012 due…
Saudi Court Sentences Eight Over Khashoggi Murder Case
Faithful to its promised prosecution of the murderers of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia’s public prosection has sentenced eight individuals, five to death and three to prison, as per Reuters. The verdicts, which were given on Monday by the Riyadh Criminal Court and which can be appealed, also saw the absolution of three others found innocent during the attentively-followed trial. A staunch critic of the Saudi government, Khashoggi was a journalist, writer and U.S resident who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 to get documents for his upcoming marriage to fiancée Hatice Cengiz. Turkish sources attributed his disappearance to murder – a claim that was initially contested by Saudi officials who asserted that he left the consulate afterwards. However, Saudi Arabia later confirmed that the 59-year-old Saudi journalist died during a fight in the consulate in Turkey. According to Reuters, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan said that “The investigation showed that the killing was not premeditated. The decision was taken at the spur of the moment.” This statement contrasts strongly with Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard’s UN report in which she highlights…
Anonymous, Scared and Proud: Experiences of an Egyptian Muslim Woman in the United States
In writing about cities and the characteristics of urban settings, urban sociologists have considered anonymity to be a defining attribute of urbanity. In a city, you will blend in the mosaic of differences. You won’t stand out, because who’s looking? Everyone is busy—unlike small towns and villages, where the streets are calmer, the faces are familiar, and the pace is slower. Without a hijab and an almost-perfect “American” accent, an anonymous Muslim is how I’ve been feeling since I arrived in the United States in 2016. Nothing about me makes people turn heads as I walk by or when I speak. The two places I have lived so far, and the places I’ve visited have been diverse—and so I go around undetected. This anonymity has been both relieving and empowering, because there was a time in the late nineties when I lived here when I was quite the opposite. My conspicuity as a hijab-wearing teenager starting high school in New York City, who spoke slow English with an accent brought about physical and verbal bullying, discomfort, discrimination, alienation, and too many questions about Islam that were too hard for me…
Murderers of 18-Year-Old Mahmoud El Banna Given Prison Sentences
In the latest developments of a highly controversial case, the Shebin El-Koum District Court has issued its verdict on the culprits behind the killing of Mahmoud Al Banna according to local news outlets. On Sunday, the court issued a maximum sentence for the main ‘juvenile’ perpetrator, 17-year old Mohamed Rajeh, who was accused of killing 18-year-old student Mahmoud Al Banna for defending a young woman from assault and harassment in Mounfeya. The crime which specifically relates to the stabbing of Al Banna to death in the city of Tala seemed to have been ruled as intended manslaughter; it was also done in cooperation with three others: Islam Ismail, Mohamed Mustafa and Islam Atef. Two of these accomplices will also be handed a 15-year sentence while the third accomplice will be expected to only serve a 5-year sentence. According to videos of the trial court on social media, Al Banna’s father reacted with dismay to the sentence, decrying the injustice of only a ‘15 year-sentence’. On the other hand, Sada El Balad reported an emotional reaction from the accused. The case has sparked outrage on social media, with many expressing shock…
Cabinet Reshuffle Introduces 10 New Ministers
The Egyptian Government announced on Sunday morning that a cabinet reshuffle has taken place, introducing 10 new ministers in different roles while shaking up a number of ministries. The new ministers are: Khaled Al-Anani – Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Al-Anani graduated from the faculty of tourism at Helwan University. He obtained a PhD in ancient Egyptian archeology, and worked as a professor of Egyptology and Tourism at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University since 2011. Al-Anani was previously appointed as the Minister of Antiquities since 2016. Omar Marwan – Minister of Justice Marawan graduated from the faculty of law, Ain Shams University and was appointed as an assistant to the public prosecutor in 1989. In 2017, he became Minister of State for Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs. Hala Al-Saeed – Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Helmy Al-Saeed has been the Dean of Faculty of Economics and Political Science of Cairo University from September 2011. She served as a Non Executive Director of Arab African International Bank since March 31, 2014 and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Anti Money…
6 Places to Have Christmas Dinner in Cairo This Year
Cairo isn’t famous for its Christmas vibes. Every year, the festive season goes uncelebrated by many due to the city’s perpetually congested traffic, its monochromatic grey landscape, and its polarized and contentious sociopolitics when it comes to such major Christian holidays. Even though most Copts celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January, the more secular segments of Egyptian society, as well as the country’s Catholics, Evangelicals, and other Christian denominations and religious groups still commemorate the 25th of December. So whether you are a faithful believer or a Christmas cheer enthusiast, Cairo will make room for you. Eish & Malh Arguably Downtown Cairo’s most popular restaurant, Eish & Malh is famed for its urban take on Mediterranean staples, with an array of Italian dishes on offer. The restaurant is also a pillar of the district’s community, hosting regular cultural and social events. For Christmas Eve, the restaurant will hold an evening of live music, complete with a Christmas dinner menu and à la carte Christmas specials, as well as their regular menu. Villa Belle Époque One of Cairo’s best boutique hotels, this gem is located in the heart of Maadi….
Palestine’s Archbishop Hanna Poisoned by Gas Following Calls for Christians to Defend Palestine
The Palestinian Archbishop of Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church, Atallah Hanna, was reportedly hospitalized last Tuesday for inhaling poisonous gas after gas canisters were thrown into his church in Jerusalem, Al Quds TV reports. The Archbishop suffered from temporary paralysis, though he is now in a stable condition. A week earlier, speaking at the First Global Conference on Israeli Apartheid, Hanna stressed on the increasing policies enforcing apartheid in the holy city and in the rest of Palestine, stating, “The occupation in Jerusalem is treating us as if we are guests and foreigners in our own city. This is the embodiment of apartheid policies and practices against our people in Jerusalem specifically.” He also called for Christians around the world to stand against the occupation of Palestine, noting, “In a few days, Christians will be celebrating Christmas all over the world. I would like to remind all Christians all around the world: there is no point in celebrating Christmas if you do not pay attention to what is happening in Palestine as it is the birthplace of Christ and where Christianity originated and spread its message throughout the world.” “The nativity…