SING: Like an Egyptian

Nigm's irreverent poems are highly melodic and catchy, especially when sung to the ud by Shaykh Imam. The verses are steeped in earthy Egyptian Arabic and rooted in folk poetic traditions, challenging scholars and critics who confine his work to ‘high’ literature. The collection presents Nigm’s vernacular voice alongside affinities to poets from various time periods and regions, and introduces Ahmed Fu’ad Niqm as a fearless poet whose truth is delivered with force and beauty. Translated by Kamal Abdel-Malek.