1920s Cairo - singers were pressing hit records, dramatic troupes were springing up, and cabarets were packed - a counterculture was on the rise. In bars, hash-dens and music halls, people of all backgrounds came together as a passionate group of artists captivated Egyptian society. Of these performers, Cairo's biggest stars were female, and they asserted themselves on the stage like never before. Two of the most famous troupes were run by women - Badia Masabni's dancehall became the hottest nightspot in town. Pioneer of Egyptian cinema Aziza Amir made her stage debut, and legendary singer Oum Kalthoum first rose to fame. They exploited the opportunities offered by this new era, while weathering its many prejudices, and they held the keys to this raucous, cosmopolitan city's secrets. We are introduced to an eccentric cast of characters and the book brings to life a world of revolutionary ideas and provocative art which laid the foundations of Arab popular culture today. It truly is a spectacular parade of the extraordinary, bold and brash and a tremendous act of historical discovery as Cormack has unearthed the regal figures and buried treasures of Cairo's Golden Age. He also deftly outlines the shifts of political mood and popular tastes. Hardback also available code 94993. 342pp, illustrated paperback.
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