The Cairo Urban Initiatives Platform (CUIP) is a new arts-and-culture platform that gives information about literary and other activities going on in Cairo.
Egypt 
How Long Can Egypt’s Latest Culture Minister Stay on the Job?
Artists, writers, publishers, actors, filmmakers, and ministry employees have rallied against Egypt’s sixth post-Jan. 25 culture minister, appointed May 6. Alaa Abdel-Aziz — who’s sparked several protests since taking office last week, including the egging of his car — struck back on Wednesday with a Facebook announcement that he was going to “fight corruption” in the ministry.
If You’re in Cairo: What Are Opposition Cartoonists Up To?
Blogger, editor, cartoonist and Fulbright fellow Jonathan Guyer(@mideastXmidwest) will be talking cartoons at Helwan University on May 14.
Cairo Translation Showdown Re-scheduled
Cairo’s first-ever translation slam, originally set for Dec. 7, 2012, is now back on the schedule. According to a British Council mailing, it will be on Tuesday May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Council building in Agouza.
If You’re in Cairo, If You’re in NYC: May 11 is Egyptian Graphic Novel Day
On May 11, if you’re one of the 28 million who live — collectively — in Cairo or New York City, then get yourself to one of these events celebrating and exploring the Egyptian graphic novel.
Graphic Novelist Magdy El Shafee Released on Bail
Graphic novelist Magdy El Shafee, who was arrested along with 39 others — including 14 minors, a Syrian, and an American — was remanded with the others to Tora Prison for four days while an “investigation” proceeds, according to writers… Read More ›
Graphic Novelist Magdy El Shafee Arrested Near Clashes
According to multiple sources, Magdy El Shafee was one of 39 arrested yesterday at Abdel Moneim Riyadh Square: Youm7 reported that El Shafee — godfather of the Egyptian graphic novel, who faced trials and other hurdles for his ground-breaking Metro –… Read More ›
In D.C. May 2-3: Midans of the Self, Sonallah Ibrahim
If you can get to D.C. May 2 and 3, you’ll find “Midans of the Self,” featuring talks about Sonallah Ibrahim and his work by eminent scholars and translators (Richard Jacquemond, Samia Mehrez, Hosam Aboul-ela, Margaret Litvin, Robyn Creswell, Elliott Colla, Christopher Stone, Sabry Hafez, more!), a staging of Ibrahim’s “February 11″ and more.
Who Should Save Egypt’s…Literary Legacy?
When news surfaced about a Qatari offer to buy the home of prominent Egyptian poet, translator, and scholar Abbas al-Aqqad (1889-1964), there was reason to be skeptical: After all, it followed popular chatter about Qatar wanting to rent the pyramids… Read More ›
If You’re in Cairo: Barbara Harlow to Speak on ‘Representations of Identity in Literature’
Barbara Harlow, who once taught at the American University in Cairo, will be returning to the AUC for the keynote address of “Representations of Identity in Literature” on April 9.
Reading ‘Writing Egypt,’ Free
Writing Egypt, edited by long-time AUC Press employee Aleya Serour, was published last fall. I’ve only just noticed that it’s available for free, as a PDF download from the AUCP website. The collection includes a number of works of literature and criticism, including stories and excerpts by giants such as Taha Hussein, Tawfiq al-Hakim, Yusuf Idris, Naguib Mafhouz; criticism by Samia Mehrez and Ferial Ghazoul; and works by younger authors, such as Hamdi Abu Golayyel and Ahmed Alaidy.
Farouk Mustafa’s Experience with Literary Translation and Contemporary Egyptian Literature
In his tribute to translator and teacher Farouk Mustafa, who died Wednesday, Franklin Lewis noted that Mustafa’s “wit, erudition, eloquence, stentorian voice and impish sense of humor were well known to all who heard his presentations for the Arabic Circle ( الندوة العربية ), an institution which he lovingly nurtured for nearly 40 years at the University of Chicago, the sessions of which have in recent years fortunately been captured and preserved on the web. One of them was “My Experience with Literary Translation.”
