A blind oud player from humble beginnings, Sheikh Imam’s destiny changed drastically when he met a dissident poet called Ahmed Fouad Negm, and they formed a duo. Together, they would go on start a new era in Egyptian popular music. Their songs would shake regimes, travel the world on cassette tapes, and transcend their own time to become part of the soundtrack to Egypt’s revolution decades later.

Today, the story of Sheikh Imam: the Egyptian singer who became an icon of dissent.

This episode was produced by Nadeen Shaker, Heba El-Sherif and Alex Atack, and edited by Dana Ballout. Fact checking was by Deena Sabry and sound design, music and mixing by Monzer El Hachem. Voice over by Eihab Seoudi, and translation help from Maha El Kady. Cover art by Ahmad Salhab.

The songs you heard on this episode were composed and performed by Sheikh Imam and written by Ahmed Fouad Negm and Zein Alabidin Fouad. Lyric translations were by Ahmed Hassan and Elliott Colla.

Fill out our listener survey here (it’ll only take 5 minutes!)

Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $2 a month.

You can find a transcript for this episode at our website, kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures.

A blind oud player from humble beginnings, Sheikh Imam&rsquo;s destiny changed drastically when he met a dissident poet called Ahmed Fouad Negm, and they formed a duo. Together, they would go on start a new era in Egyptian popular music. Their songs would shake regimes, travel the world on cassette tapes, and transcend their own time to become part of the soundtrack to Egypt&rsquo;s revolution decades later.
Today, the story of Sheikh Imam: the Egyptian singer who became an icon of dissent.
This episode was produced by Nadeen Shaker, Heba El-Sherif and Alex Atack, and edited by Dana Ballout. Fact checking was by Deena Sabry and sound design, music and mixing by Monzer El Hachem. Voice over by Eihab Seoudi, and translation help from Maha El Kady. Cover art by Ahmad Salhab.
The songs you heard on this episode were composed and performed by Sheikh Imam and written by Ahmed Fouad Negm and Zein Alabidin Fouad. Lyric translations were by Ahmed Hassan and Elliott Colla.
<a href="https://2ecvc26t60m.typeform.com/to/j5MXN1Z9">Fill out our listener survey here (it&rsquo;ll only take 5 minutes!)</a>
Support this podcast on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures">patreon.com/kerningcultures</a> for as little as $2 a month.
You can find a transcript for this episode at our website, <a href="http://kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures">kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures</a>.

Stories from the Middle East and North Africa, and the spaces in between. 

Kerning Cultures is produced by Kerning Cultures Network. Support this podcast on https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $2 a month.

Stories from the Middle East and North Africa, and the spaces in between.&nbsp;
Kerning Cultures is produced by Kerning Cultures Network. Support this podcast on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures">https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures</a> for as little as $2 a month.

Stories from the Middle East and North Africa and the spaces in between

Kerning Cultures

Stories from the Middle East and North Africa, and the spaces in between. 

Kerning Cultures is produced by Kerning Cultures Network. Support this podcast on https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

Stories from the Middle East and North Africa, and the spaces in between.&nbsp;
Kerning Cultures is produced by Kerning Cultures Network. Support this podcast on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures">https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures</a>&nbsp;for as little as $1 a month.

Sheikh Imam: Voice of Dissent

Since our series about 'Aizen' ended, many of you have been in touch asking for an update on his story. When we left you at the end of the last episode, he had arrived in Europe, three years after leaving his home in Kabul and travelling through a labyrinth of smuggler networks. He claimed asylum in the UK, but his case was in limbo... Now we have an update for you.

This episode was produced by Al Shaibani and edited by Alex Atack and Dana Ballout. Fact checking was by Deena Sabry, and sound design was by Paul Alouf. Artwork by Ahmad Salhab. Batoul Khalifeh is our operations manager. Our team also includes Zeina Dowidar, Nadeen Shaker and Finbar Anderson.

Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $2 a month.

Since our series about 'Aizen' ended, many of you have been in touch asking for an update on his story. When we left you at the end of the last episode, he had arrived in Europe, three years after leaving his home in Kabul and travelling through a labyrinth of smuggler networks. He claimed asylum in the UK, but his case was in limbo... Now we have an update for you.
This episode was produced by Al Shaibani and edited by Alex Atack and Dana Ballout. Fact checking was by Deena Sabry, and sound design was by Paul Alouf. Artwork by Ahmad Salhab. Batoul Khalifeh is our operations manager. Our team also includes Zeina Dowidar, Nadeen Shaker and Finbar Anderson.
Support this podcast on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures">patreon.com/kerningcultures</a> for as little as $2 a month.

Aizen – Epilogue

When Elaine Mokhtefi landed in newly independent Algeria in the early 1960s, she was only planning for a short visit. But she quickly found herself at the centre of a special period in the country’s history, as Algiers played host to liberation groups from across the world – earning a reputation as the “Mecca of revolution”.

In this unlikely setting, Elaine moved in the same circles as world famous radicals, rag tag political parties, spies and military leaders. And she became an unlikely sidekick to one of the most iconic liberation groups of our time, just as it was beginning to fall apart.

This episode was produced by Deena Sabry and Alex Atack, and edited by Dana Ballout. Fact checking by Eman Alsharif, sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, Paul Alouf and Alex Atack. Our team also includes Zeina Dowidar, Nadeen Shaker and Finbar Anderson.

Elaine’s book is Algiers: Third World Capital

Justin's book is Revolution or Death: The Life of Eldridge Cleaver

Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $2 a month.

Find a transcript for this episode at our website, kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures.

When Elaine Mokhtefi landed in newly independent Algeria in the early 1960s, she was only planning for a short visit. But she quickly found herself at the centre of a special period in the country’s history, as Algiers played host to liberation groups from across the world – earning a reputation as the “Mecca of revolution”.
In this unlikely setting, Elaine moved in the same circles as world famous radicals, rag tag political parties, spies and military leaders. And she became an unlikely sidekick to one of the most iconic liberation groups of our time, just as it was beginning to fall apart.
This episode was produced by Deena Sabry and Alex Atack, and edited by Dana Ballout. Fact checking by Eman Alsharif, sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, Paul Alouf and Alex Atack. Our team also includes Zeina Dowidar, Nadeen Shaker and Finbar Anderson.
Elaine’s book is <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/760-algiers-third-world-capital">Algiers: Third World Capital</a>
Justin's book is <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revolution-Death-Life-Eldridge-Cleaver/dp/1613739117">Revolution or Death: The Life of Eldridge Cleaver</a>
Support this podcast on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures">patreon.com/kerningcultures</a> for as little as $2 a month.
Find a transcript for this episode at our website, <a href="http://kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures">kerningcultures.com/kerningcultures</a>.

The Black Panthers in Algeria

Two stories about two streets, and the justices and injustices hidden in their names. Follow us to Tehran and Khartoum as we uncover two histories brought together by one common denominator. 

This episode originally aired in February 2021, and was produced by Zeina Dowidar with editing by Dana Ballout. Additional support from Nadeen Shaker, Alex Atack, Shraddha Joshi, and Abde Amr. Fact checking by Shraddha Joshi, sound design by Zeina Dowidar and Alex Atack, with mixing by Mohamed Khreizat.

Two stories about two streets, and the justices and injustices hidden in their names. Follow us to Tehran and Khartoum as we uncover two histories brought together by one common denominator. 
This episode originally aired in February 2021, and was produced by Zeina Dowidar with editing by Dana Ballout. Additional support from Nadeen Shaker, Alex Atack, Shraddha Joshi, and Abde Amr. Fact checking by Shraddha Joshi, sound design by Zeina Dowidar and Alex Atack, with mixing by Mohamed Khreizat.

Sheikh Imam: Voice of Dissent

In 1 playlist(s)

Kerning Cultures

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips