A few weeks ago, a Twitter conversation sparked by the influx of memes about electricity cuts led one user to quote writer Gilbert Sinoué’s statement, “The Egyptian is born with a papyrus in his heart written on it in gold letters: sarcasm is the savior from despair”. Another user responded suggesting that this very sarcasm might be the reason behind their suffering. The latter perspective is not commonly discussed in Egypt, as Egyptians take great pride in their unique sense of humor. Regardless of the subjectivity of humor, many would agree that Egyptians have a special way with it. In fact, they are renowned among the Arabs as awlād al-nukta (Sons of the Jokes) for “their ability to laugh [even] in the face of adversity,” as Cristina Dozio highlights in her 2021 book exploring the intricacies of Egyptian humor and how its influence extends beyond borders. This reputation for humor is so pervasive that in discussions about general Egyptian stereotypes on platforms like Reddit, humor is consistently mentioned as a defining characteristic of Egyptians. Throughout Egyptian history, humor and satire have emerged as potent tools for political and social criticism,…
The Laughter Dilemma: Is Excessive Joking Hindering Progress in Egypt?
August 2, 2023
