Off-Screen
"From Egypt" attempts to draw a cultural map of Egypt and the Arab world by profiling the artistic, literary, and political issues that affect the region via on-the-ground coverage of current events, publications, and the fight for freedom of expression.

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Hamdy El-Gazzar is an Egyptian writer and one of the 39 young Arab writers included in the Beirut 39 Project. His first novel, Sihr Aswad (Dar Merit, 2005) won the prestigious Sawaris Award, and was subsequently translated by Humphrey Davies (Black Magic, AUC Press, 2007). His second novel, Ladhdhat Sirriyya (Secret Pleasures) was published by Dar al-Dar in 2008. He is currently working on a third novel.
  • The Belly Dance

    In this week’s From Egypt column, writer Hamdy el Gazzar discusses the use of belly dancing as a form of propaganda by politicians desperate to regain power.

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  • Egyptian Revolution
    Revolution Egypt

    Egyptian writer Hamdy El-Gazzar introduces From Egypt, a new Sampsonia Way column with which the author will attempt to draw a cultural map of Egypt and the Arab world by profiling the artistic, literary, and political issues that affect the region.

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