محمد الحمامصي

The 33rd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre will run from 1–8 September 2026 under the leadership of Samah Mehran. Its official competition features 16 productions, including 14 Arab and international works and two Egyptian productions, selected from hundreds of submissions. The festival will also stage three productions and workshop outcomes in its parallel programme, alongside a special “From Cairo to the World Stages” programme highlighting Egyptian directors Ahmed Al-Attar and Omar Ghayat through Egyptian-French and Egyptian-Swiss co-productions. Workshops, public discussions, an intellectual programme and related events aim to strengthen artistic exchange among Egyptian, Arab and international theatre practitioners.

The first Shadow Theater Festival opened at Bayt Al-Sinnari in Cairo, organized by Wamda Troupe under the theme “The Civilizational Model.” The program featured a retrospective exhibition of shadow puppets by Mohamed Rayek, a performance of the traditional “Crocodile” play, an opening seminar on imagination, and testimonies from Wamda’s puppeteers. The artists described the demanding, multidisciplinary role of the shadow puppeteer and emphasized teamwork, training and the art’s ability to connect Egyptian heritage with contemporary audiences. They also highlighted Wamda’s international performances, collaborations and educational workshops. Festival founder Nabil Bahgat argued that cultural renewal should begin with local heritage rather than imitation, framing shadow theater as both a vehicle for artistic creativity and a means of affirming Egyptian cultural identity.

The first Shadow Puppetry Festival at Bayt al‑Sinnari, organized by the Wamda troupe with support from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, highlights the cultural significance of Arab and Egyptian shadow theater through exhibitions, screenings, lectures and live performances. The two‑day event presents traditional and modern interpretations of the art form, showcases works by prominent practitioners, and emphasizes the role of heritage‑based performance in shaping contemporary cultural identity. The festival reinforces Wamda’s mission to revive traditional theatrical forms such as shadow puppetry, storytelling and the Aragoz within a modern artistic context.

تُبرز الرواية الصراع في دونباس من خلال متابعة حياة رجل بسيط يجد في خلايا النحل وطنًا بديلًا amid الخراب، بينما يكشف السرد عن عبثية الحرب وتحوّل البشر إلى كائنات ممزقة مقابل حكمة الطبيعة المنتظمة. يعرض كوركوف خلفيات الحرب الروسية على أوكرانيا وانعكاساتها على السكان، ويربط تجربته الشخصية بكتابة الرواية، موضحًا كيف تحولت المنطقة الرمادية إلى فضاء مهمل يعيش فيه قلة رفضت مغادرة منازلها رغم العنف. تتوسع الأحداث لتشمل رحلة البطل إلى القرم وما يواجهه من تضييق على تتار القرم، في إشارة إلى تغيّر المكان بعد الضم الروسي وخسارة معناه الأصلي، مع تأكيد على أمل انتهاء الصراع وعودة الحياة الطبيعية لسكان المنطقة.

The 47th issue of the Arab Theatre Magazine offers an integrated intellectual project examining the challenges facing Arab theatre amid digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and declining audiences. Its editorial frames these issues as ethical and cultural rather than technological, highlighting concerns such as authorship and the human role in creativity. The issue’s central section explores the crisis of audience engagement and the tension between imported critical concepts and locally grounded theatrical development, including debates on post‑dramatic theatre and renewed forms of realism. Additional studies address actor training, comedic character formation in Sudanese theatre, and the symbolic use of heritage in Iraqi theatre. Other sections analyze theatrical productions, document influential figures, and revisit key moments in Arab and global theatre history, presenting a comprehensive reflection on the future direction of Arab theatrical practice.

The novel explores the psychological and existential alienation of contemporary migrants amid the rise of the European far right, portraying Stockholm as an oppressive city that erodes identity and memory. Boumediene Belkbir frames the narrative as a deeper investigation into the human condition, highlighting the internal fragmentation of its protagonist and contrasting it with conventional depictions of migrant experiences. The work extends the author’s literary project, emphasizing the emotional and symbolic dimensions of displacement while positioning the city as an active force shaping personal trauma.

Jordan and the Arab Theater Authority signed an agreement to organize the seventeenth Arab Theater Festival in Amman under the patronage of King Abdullah II, marking the start of detailed preparations for the event. Participants emphasized the festival’s cultural significance, Jordan’s readiness to host it, and the strong partnership between Jordan’s artistic institutions and the Arab Theater Authority. Committees for oversight and execution were announced as preparations move toward delivering an exceptional edition that strengthens Arab theatrical cooperation.

Cairo hosts the eighth edition of the Cairo Literary Forum from June 6 to 11, bringing together writers and academics from several Arab and European countries under the theme “How do stories survive.” Events take place at historic venues including Qubbat Al-Ghouri and Bayt Al-Sitt Wasila, with extensive sponsorship from cultural institutions. The program features panels on myth reinterpretation, metanarrative studies, North African literature, migration and refugee narratives, and women's writing, reaffirming the forum’s role in promoting cultural exchange across the Mediterranean.

A study by Rebecca Johnson, translated into Arabic, reassesses the origins of the Arabic novel by highlighting the foundational role of translation, adaptation and rewriting throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It argues that translated and modified works shaped modern Arabic narrative form and that translators acted as early theorists of the novel. Through extensive archival research, the book reframes the history of the Arabic novel within global literary exchange and has received strong academic praise for redefining concepts of originality, influence and the relationship between translation and creativity.

Recent Israeli strikes on Beirut and Hezbollah positions have raised questions about whether Iran has shifted its approach to the group. Iran maintains political support but avoids direct military retaliation, reflecting strategic calculations aimed at avoiding a broader war that could endanger its own security. Limitations of the “unity of fronts” concept have emerged as Iran distinguishes between its core national interests and those of its allies. Logistical challenges, internal pressures, and fears of escalation shape Tehran’s restraint. Despite frustration among Hezbollah supporters, no clear indication suggests Iran has abandoned the group; rather, the relationship is being recalibrated within the constraints of state-level strategic priorities.

Argues that Western political leadership has become subordinated to global Zionist influence, undermining national independence and eroding moral legitimacy. Condemns Western support for Israel’s actions in Gaza as exposing hypocrisy surrounding democracy and human rights. Suggests that Western involvement in regional conflicts with Lebanon and Iran serves Zionist interests rather than national security. Criticizes Western backing of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and Africa as a means to preserve Israeli security. Notes growing youth opposition in Western universities but concludes that Western civilization is undergoing ethical and political decay under this alignment.

The exhibition 'Watercolors' by Abdullah Feteini at Atelier Jeddah highlights his fusion of refined Arabic calligraphy with transparent watercolor techniques to revive the visual memory of Mecca’s historic neighborhoods. Critics emphasize his ability to merge strict calligraphic rules with expressive artistic composition, reflecting both academic depth and emotional engagement. The article outlines his academic background, institutional roles, artistic contributions, and influence on Arabic calligraphy and visual arts in Saudi Arabia.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award launches a series of academic conferences across universities in Bologna, Venice, and Naples to mark its twentieth anniversary, focusing on classical and modern translation, literary cultures, and digital humanities. The events aim to strengthen Arab–Italian cultural dialogue and expand academic collaboration, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and book presentations by notable scholars and past award recipients. The partnership reinforces the UAE’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and supports the development of Arabic studies within major Italian institutions.

The text examines the autobiographical-historical book by historian Sayed Mostafa Salem, highlighting its documentation of Yemen’s social and political transformations and the author’s deep integration into Yemeni society over nearly five decades. It outlines the emotional and scholarly introductions written by his students and children, the book’s blend of personal narrative and historical testimony, and its detailed portrayal of Yemen during the 1970s, especially the period of Ibrahim al-Hamdi. The work is presented as a significant cultural record of Egyptian-Yemeni intellectual ties and the lived experiences of Arab academics during a period of regional change.

The interview explores Hussein Jalaad’s poetry collection 'Apocalypse Roses,' which transforms the devastation in Gaza into intimate human details rather than abstract statistics. Jalaad discusses his effort to preserve individual memories amid mass violence, avoid rhetorical excess, and use poetry as a means of resistance and testimony. He emphasizes the personal voice, the emotional burden of writing during ongoing conflict, and the power of poetry to convey depth beyond visual documentation. The dialogue highlights his belief in poetry’s role in safeguarding human essence during wartime and its capacity to confront erasure with beauty and precision.

An exhibition at Galerie Di Al-Zamalek brings together artists Hassan Ghanem and Randa Ismail in a visual dialogue blending ancient Egyptian heritage with contemporary artistic expression. Ismail’s works explore emotional and existential themes through architectural forms inspired by oases and Nubian environments, while Ghanem’s pieces reinterpret historical motifs from Beni Hassan with modern graphic and painterly techniques. The dual exhibition highlights the vitality of contemporary Egyptian art and its capacity to merge tradition with modern perspectives.

The text argues that the United States and Israel are engaged in a desperate and reckless final struggle for survival driven by aggressive military actions in the Middle East, contributing to global instability and eroding their moral legitimacy. It warns that growing public anger worldwide will undermine their long‑term power despite any short‑term military gains. As Western influence declines, China is positioned to fill the emerging vacuum, though it is viewed with suspicion across the Arab and Muslim world. The region is portrayed as trapped between collapsing Western dominance and an ascendant but untrusted China, lacking an independent project to safeguard its own interests amid escalating global conflict.

The text explores Elijah Wald’s book on the history and evolution of blues music, presenting the genre as a cultural and emotional expression rooted in African American experiences in the American South. It traces blues development from field hollers and spirituals to urban classical blues, Delta blues, and electrically amplified Chicago blues, highlighting key musicians who shaped each era. The narrative emphasizes the blues’ influence on jazz, country, rock, and hip-hop, portraying it as a living tradition that continues to power contemporary musical expression. The Arabic translation aims to introduce readers to the genre’s cultural depth and enduring global relevance.

The text analyzes Maryam Al Zarouni’s novel The Years of Maghar as a narrative exploring identity loss and displacement through the character Ghareeb, whose lack of official documentation shapes a life marked by silence, family betrayal and existential uncertainty. The review highlights the novel’s symbolic use of objects, places and red soil, its portrayal of Gulf social history and its depiction of characters who mirror themes of estrangement. It emphasizes the tension between material success and the erosion of belonging, showing how bureaucracy, shifting social norms and fractured family ties deepen the protagonist’s internal rupture.

The text highlights two decades of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s cultural impact, emphasizing its role in supporting Arabic literature, promoting translation, and strengthening the publishing sector. During a commemorative event at the Cairo International Book Fair, several notable authors and publishers praised the award’s transparency, institutional maturity, and contribution to elevating Arabic culture globally. Speakers noted its support for young talents, its influence on international cultural exchange, and its recognition of broader cultural projects beyond individual books. The discussion underscored the award’s role in enhancing the visibility of Arabic literature and reinforcing the cultural identity linked to the Arabic language.

Rising reading awareness in the Arab world has coincided with severe economic and logistical pressures on the publishing sector, including soaring paper prices, dependence on imported production materials, and weak intellectual property protection. Major publishers such as Jarir, Obeikan, and Nahdet Misr have responded through digital transformation and institutional expansion, while smaller publishers struggle with missing data, limited legal safeguards, and duplicated efforts in manuscript publication. Digital reading and social‑media‑driven book marketing continue to grow, supported by national cultural initiatives in countries like Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan and Algeria. A comprehensive study by the Arab Publishers Association highlights both the upward trend in new titles and the structural challenges threatening sustainability, emphasizing the need for full digital integration, stronger industry standards, and modern institutional frameworks to secure the future of Arab publishing.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s novel 'Wizard of the Crow' is presented as a major African literary epic that uses satire, magical realism, and folklore to expose the logic of dictatorship, post‑colonial power, and institutional corruption. The article highlights the novel’s depiction of a fictional African regime collapsing under its own repression, the symbolic rise of the character known as the Wizard of the Crow, and the interplay of humor, myth, and political critique. Translator Osama Gad discusses the linguistic and cultural challenges of bringing the work into Arabic and underscores its relevance as a tool for understanding tyranny and reclaiming cultural identity.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s participation in the 2026 Cairo International Book Fair showcases a broad cultural and digital strategy through literary sessions, artistic programs, professional discussions, and partnerships, including initiatives with Amazon and Arabookverse to advance digital publishing. A range of academic and creative events highlight future-oriented themes, cultural identity, and support for emerging writers, alongside celebrations of major literary awards. The program emphasizes the centre’s mission to strengthen Arabic language presence globally and expand collaboration within the regional and international publishing landscape.