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النسخة العربية
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  • Arabic music

Cover of the book "Umm Kulthum and the Turks"

New book captures Turkish adoration of Umm Kulthum

The legendary Egyptian singer's voice soared over the airwaves at a time when Atatürk was trying to ban Eastern music in favour of Western imports. The love was long-lasting, as a new book explains.

Abdul Rahman Mazhar Halloush 02 April 2025
Lina Jaradat

How Umm Kulthum changed the landscape of Arabic music

The Egyptian diva's collaboration with Mohamed el-Qasabgi was a game-changer. Between them, they gently rewrote the rules around structure and performance, paving the way for the next generation.

Fadi El-Abdallah 03 February 2025
Iraqi composer and oud player Naseer Shamma AFP

Naseer Shamma: The oud is a mirror that reflects the player's emotions

The Iraqi composer and musician is known for his mastery of the oud and the schools he has set up around the Middle East to pass on his knowledge and love of the instrument.

Lorca Sbeity 30 June 2024
September 15 marks the centenary of the death of the legendary Egyptian musician Sayed Darwish, who revolutionised Arab music. Al Majalla explores his time in Aleppo and how it shaped his music. Eduardo Ramon

How Aleppo's music scene influenced Sayed Darwish

September 15 marks the centenary of the death of the legendary Egyptian musician Sayed Darwish, who revolutionised Arab music. Al Majalla explores his time in Aleppo and how it shaped his music.

Taissier Khalaf 15 September 2023
Assi al-Rahbani changed the face of Lebanese and Arab music with his brother Mansour and the legendary singer Fairuz. On what would have been his 100th birthday, Al Majalla looks at their life stories. Andrei Cojocaru

Centennial of Assi al-Rahbani shines light on his cherished musical legacy

Assi al-Rahbani changed the face of Arab music along with his brother Mansour and the legendary singer Fairuz. On what would have been his 100th birthday, Al Majalla looks at their life stories

Mohamed abi Samra 04 May 2023
Egyptian Jazz Projekt band performing at the American University in Cairo’s Cultural Center.  Credit: Salwa Samir

Band Revives 1950s Egyptian Songs in Jazzy Way

The London-based Egyptian Jazz Projekt band founded by Ahmed Harfoush has recently held a concert in downtown Cairo. Majalla attended the event and interviewed Harfoush about his band’s mission. …

Salwa Samir 02 September 2022
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Al Majalla
Politics

Lebanon-Israel talks: diplomacy under bombs

20 May 2026

Beyond Israel's immediate security aims lies a much larger struggle over Lebanon's future—one that will unfold over years, in multiple stages, and cannot be reduced to a simple question of force.

Michael Horowitz
Lamine Yamal raises the Palestinian flag during Barcelona's celebrations of their Spanish League title in Barcelona, ​​2026. AP
Culture & Social Affairs

How Gaza pushed Israel out of Europe’s moral order

18 May 2026

Football star Lamine Yamal's hoisting of Palestine's flag, and the Eurovision audience's booing of Israel's contestant, show how Israel has lost its PR edge

Shadi Alaa Aldin
Axel Rangel Garcia
Politics

Why the US clings to a failed siege strategy in Cuba

15 May 2026

Crippling US sanctions on Havana were designed to force regime change, but six decades of crippling embargo have only cemented it

Stefanie Butendieck Hijerra
A gas facility off the Suez Desert Road outside Cairo, Egypt, on 1 September 2020.
 Reuters
Business & Economy

Egypt repays energy firms with an eye on self sufficiency

19 May 2026

Cairo hopes to gain the trust of partners through its regular payments to energy firms, so that they will be more inclined to invest in gas exploration activities

Sharif Mohammad
Mark Smith
Politics

The philosopher king of Palantir: Alex Karp says the quiet part out loud on X

18 May 2026

The tech CEO's manifesto, where he champions US military dominance and the use of AI weapons, has been described by some as the 'ramblings of a supervillain'

Bryn Haworth

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OPINIONS

How much is Donald Trump costing America’s economy? 

The Economist
The Economist

Cracks in the RSF front

Al Majalla - London
Al Majalla - London

RSF defections: a turning point in Sudan's war?

Areig Elhag
Areig Elhag

Vanishing horizon: why Sudan’s civil war is getting harder to solve

Shawgi Abdelazim
Shawgi Abdelazim
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