Feature: What is Rai Music?

Library > Community Presentations

Presenter: Omar Abboud

Delivered: NYC on April 24, 2016

Raï, a North African music genre popular in the 1970s, symbolized cynicism and anti-authoritarianism. This afikra feature examines if Raï shapes or reflects popular sentiment and why it has outpaced other musical forms, like rap, in popularity.

Sources & Future References

• The “Middle East”? or … / Arabic Literature and the Postcolonial Predicament

• Liberating Songs: Palestine Put to Music - JSTOR

Note: All community presentations are prepared & presented by non-experts on the subject. They are sharing information in the hopes of spurring interest in that subject.

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About Afikra Community Presentations

Delivered and prepared by afikra Community members, the presentation’s goal is to showcase the presenter’s curiosity and research, and share some knowledge on a ‎topic related to the Arab world’s histories and cultures. The presentation is the ‎culmination of the afikra coaching process to help identify a topic, find research, and develop the ‎presentation. afikra presentations come in two forms, a long question-driven afikra Feature, and a short afikra FWD with the purpose of sharing something interesting.