Mohamed Baraka looks at how the legendary Abdel-Halim Hafez is remembered in music, film and television
For millions of people in this region he was the voice of an era, the man who immortalised in song the dreams and passion of the 1950s and 1960s. (...)
Mohamed Baraka reads the possible scenarios for the upcoming drama on the life of singer Laila Murad
The darling of the black and white screen is now a bone of contention. Laila Murad, the diva with the memorable love songs, was due to have her life (...)
Mohamed Baraka reviews the tale of the legendary singer
What propelled her to fame? It was everything about her. Her voice was out of this world, and few women of her time were more alluring. However, it was her enigmatic death that ensured her (...)
Mohamed Baraka evaluates the influence of Turkish drama on the Egyptian psyche
Most Egyptians and Arabs have mixed feelings about Turkey, if only because the Ottomans once subdued the Arab world and brought down the caliphate. Today's Turkey is (...)
Mohamed Baraka reviews the experimental transmission of Egypt's latest independent TV channel
A little girl, who appears to be in a dark storage area, takes a few confident steps towards a giant door. Firmly, she opens it. Suddenly light floods the (...)
How easy is it to become an Arab writer? Mohamed Baraka reviews the possibilities
A writer in Egypt can be among the world's most miserable creatures. Say you have completed your manuscript. Say it is as perfect as it will ever be: your bookish (...)