Orfalea Podcast Episode: Egypt's Unique Sound

"Egypt's Unique Sound: The Political Economy of Mahragant Dance Music"

A conversation between Omar Mansour and Dalia Ibraheem

"Thanks to the Security In Context Network and the Carnegie Corporation for their support in this podcast series

This episode touches on the origins of Egyptian mahraganat music, a popular electro-street music, as well as discusses song production, media technologies, political dimensions, and distribution, both local and transnational. This episode will also look at the importance of Egyptian ashwaiyyat, or informal neighborhoods, as a formative environment for its artists.
Mahraganat music is a wholly unique Egyptian popular street music that has increasingly gained in popularity over the last decade or so, not just in Egypt but within the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the entire world. However, this music and its artists have faced heavy state censorship and crackdowns. This podcast will appeal to fans of electronic alternative music, hip hop, or people concerned with issues related to state security, respectability politics, and political economy. Surrounding this will be discussions on the political economy of this music, including its production and dissemination, both local and transnational, as well as the environment from which this music emerged. Ashwaiyyat, so-called slums, or informal neighborhoods of Egypt, are the birthplace of Mahraganat, but they are not merely the birthplace of this music and its artists. Rather, they are an integral part of the music's political economy and a formative place for its artists."