Latest from Karim Zidan
In Egypt, Society’s Well-Being Is Reflected in the Mangoes
The mangoes were not as good as they usually were. One of my favorite varieties, the Alfons — a cousin of the Indian Alphonso — was bitter and inedible, while the reddish Naoumi carried a muted sweetness that left me craving a phantom taste. The Fas variety — the father of Egypt’s mango — was stained by sunburn. Something was wrong.
The Rise and Fall of Sawt el-Qahira, the Arab World’s First Record Label
From its roots as a passion project empowering Egyptian musicians, through its evolution into a tool for state propaganda, to its current role as a peddler of nostalgia and religious teachings, Sawt el-Qahira stands as a vivid reflection of successive visions for Egypt.
How Ramzan Kadyrov Uses MMA Fighting To Cement His Power
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov has begun positioning his sons not just as skilled fighters but as future politicians, and even trained soldiers, in an attempt to cement his dynastic lineage.
The Artist Who Captured a Bygone Cairo
Menhat Helmy was a pioneering printmaker and painter, and among the first Egyptian artists to create elaborate etchings that captured the intricacies and minutiae of life in Cairo during unprecedented socioeconomic changes that transformed the country under former president Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Chechnya’s Fight Club Joins Putin’s War
Chechnya’s pro-Putin leader Ramzan Kadyrov is weaponizing combat sports to remake Chechen society – and build himself loyal soldiers.