Arab music
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Abderrahmane Abdelli's "Songs of Exile"
Yearning for home
As current events continue to remind us, people all over the world are constantly being forced into exile. "Songs of Exile", created by Algerian Berber exile Abderrahmane Abdelli, captures the plight of these people and expresses some of their hopes and fears through music. By Richard Marcus
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Filming Lebanon’s all-women metal band "Slave to Sirens"
Heavy metal combats the Beirut blues
U.S. filmmaker Rita Baghdadi’s film following an all-female Lebanese metal band is well worth a watch. It’s the story of five fascinating young women embarking on their careers as their country falls apart. By Rene Wildangel
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Palestinian-Israeli rappers
Dugri duo for dialogue
"We have had enough of hate and violence": when the situation between Hamas and Israel escalated again in May last year, a Jewish and an Arab Israeli sought an artistic and stirring response. They call themselves "Dugri" – straight talking for a better future. By Sarah Judith Hofmann
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Lebanon
Beirut nightlife grinds to a halt
A pandemic, civil strife and an economic meltdown have conspired to bring Beirut's vibrant club scene to its knees. Yet the city needs parties more than ever. Kate Martyr reports
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Ziad Fahmy's "Street Sounds"
Egypt, and the "great clamour" of urban life
In "Street Sounds", Ziad Fahmy offers the first historical examination of the changing soundscapes of urban Egypt, highlighting the mundane sounds of street life, while "listening" to the voices of ordinary people as they struggle with state authorities for ownership of the streets. In interview he explains his motivations and the value of such analysis
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Interview with Raphael Cormack, author of "Midnight in Cairo"
From dust to glory – the divas of Egypt’s roaring 20s
Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum continuous to be an icon, almost 100 years after she published her first record. But what about the other famous women of the 1920s? In his new book, historian Raphael Cormack tracks down the female founding figures of Egypt’s modern entertainment industry. Interview by Anna-Theresa Bachmann
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Syrian composer and pianist Malek Jandali
"Music has the magical power to transcend all barriers"
Over the course of the Syrian revolution, Malek Jandali has devoted much of his musical energies to supporting the people of Syria – and especially children – in their struggle for freedom. His latest album is part of his mission to save and express the rich musical heritage of his homeland. Exclusive interview for Qantara.de by Susannah Tarbush
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Music in the Middle East
Attuned to a different classical
Many in the West equate Middle Eastern music with the folklore of "A Thousand and One Nights". Tayfun Guttstadt demonstrates just how erroneous this is
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Album review: Emel Mathlouthi's "The Tunis Diaries"
Beauty born of lockdown
The coronavirus lockdown has hit performing artists especially hard, with the cancellation of live concerts denying them their major source of income and promotional opportunities. Emel Mathlouthi was one artist who took to recording a solo project. By Richard Marcus
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Lebanese singer Fairuz
The "grande dame" of Arab music turns 85
Revered as "Mother of the Lebanese Nation" and "Harp of the Orient", Fairuz is a legend all over the Arab World. Now she is celebrating her 85th birthday. By Suzanne Cords
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Shamstep, dabke and the Palestinian cause
47Soul – a band without borders
While Palestinian political concerns are largely ignored these days, Palestinian band of the moment 47Soul is taking the Middle East's music scene by storm. By Daniel Bax
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On the death of Matthias Wagner, founder of the Oriental Summer Academy
Mecca of Arab music in south-western Germany
Musicians from Morocco to Iraq have been crossing paths at the Oriental Summer Academy in south-western Germany for ten years. Matthias Wagner, who founded and directed the academy, recently passed away after a brief serious illness at the age of 68. An obituary by Stefan Franzen