Egypt
Belly dancers add new spin to whirling dervish shows
The dizzying dance of whirling dervishes has its roots in traditional Sufi spirituality, yet recent representations of it seem to have lost part of their meaning. From Cairo to Istanbul, shows mingling the spinning skirts of dervishes with the bare flesh of belly-dancers attract tourists with an odd mix of religion and sensuality. Read more and watch the videos...
When non-violent teachers are deemed incompetent
A video that shows school children being abused by teachers has emerged on the Web. The compilation has sparked a debate across northern Africa – especially in Egypt – where the footage is thought to have been filmed. Read more and see the clip...
Amateur video: minutes after shooting of Coptic Christians
These amateur images were filmed just after a shooting which killed seven people, six of them Coptic Christians, in a town near Luxor, Upper Egypt. Watch the video...
Ministry takes up residence in Cairo synagogue
Working among Hebrew inscriptions and Stars of David, the staff of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the east of Cairo are, effectively, squatting in a disused synagogue. Read more and see the photos...
The most significant event of 2009?
Will you remember Barack Obama's inauguration in January or is it Michael Jackson's sudden death that's more likely to stick in your head in years to come? On the dawn of a new year, we ask our Observers what they think was the most significant event of 2009. Read more...
Demolition protest ends in fatality
One protestor was killed and dozens wounded on Tuesday when clashes broke out during a demonstration in the east of Cairo. Local residents had gathered simply to protest a forced demolition operation ordered by the local council. Read more and see the video...
Pre-match Khartoum heating up
Slogans and partisan chants rang out all night in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, ahead of Wednesday’s much anticipated World Cup qualification play-off between Egypt and Algeria. Watch the videos...
Irate fans vandalised Egyptian offices while “police stood by and watched”
After last weekend’s tense football game pitting Egypt’s Pharaohs against Algeria’s Fennecs (the Pharaohs won 2-0), irate Algerian football fans vandalised several Egyptian businesses in Algiers. Our Observer was there. Read more...
Algeria-Egypt turns violent
The Algerian team bus was attacked by stone-throwers last night as it made its way from Cairo airport to the hotel where the players are staying for Saturday's World Cup qualifier with the Egyptian Pharaohs. Five players were injured in the attack. Read more and see the videos...
Algeria vs Egypt – a bitter battle before it’s begun
Talk over Saturday's qualifier between Egypt and Algeria has long gone off topic. Football itself forgotten, web users have jumped at the chance to use the match as an excuse for a bitter quarrel, where no subject is off-limits. Read more...
