In this in-depth ethnography, Karin van Nieuwkerk takes the autobiographical narrative of Sayyid Henkish, a musician from a long family tradition of wedding performers in Cairo, as a lens through which to explore changing notions of masculinity in an Egyptian community over the course of a single lifetime. Central to Henkish's story is his own conception of manhood, which is closely tied to the notion of ibn al-balad, the 'authentically Egyptian' lower-middle class male, with all its associated values of nobility, integrity, and toughness. How to embody these communal ideals while providing for his family in the face of economic hardship and the perceived moral ambiguities associated with his work in the entertainment trade are key themes in his narrative. Van Nieuwkerk situates his account within a growing body of literature on gender that sees masculinity as a lived experience that is constructed and embodied in specific social and historical contexts. In doing so, she shows that the challenges faced by Henkish are not limited to the world of entertainment and that his story offers profound insights into socioeconomic and political changes taking place in Egypt at large and the ways in which these transformations impact and unsettle received notions of masculinity.

A unique biography of an Egyptian musician that sheds crucial light on notions of masculinity in Egypt

About the Author
Karin van Nieuwkerk is an anthropologist and professor of contemporary Islam in Europe and the Middle East at Radboud University, the Netherlands. She is the author of 'A Trade Like Any Other': Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt (1995) and Performing Piety: Singers and Actors in Egypt's Islamic Revival (2013). She is also co-editor of five volumes on Islam, performing arts, and popular culture, including Enjoying Religion: Pleasure and Fun in Established and New Religious Movements (2018).

Reviews

"With a title taken from neighborhood graffiti, this 'bio-ethnography' of sha'bi accordionist Sayyid Henkish illustrates the challenge of living out masculine norms on Muhammad Ali Street, a lower-middle-class enclave for Cairo's dancers, musicians and street performers throughout the 20th century."-AramcoWorld

"An extraordinary work of meticulous scholarship."-Midwest Book Review

"Unreservedly recommended for college and university library collections. "-Al Ahram

Book Information
ISBN 9789774168895
Author Karin van Nieuwkerk
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint The American University in Cairo Press
Publisher The American University in Cairo Press
Weight(grams) 456g