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The National
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The National
Writings on Cairo's notorious communal taxis showcase Egyptian humour and religious piety
The writings on the back of Cairo's notorious communal taxis have long offered a rich insight into the humour Egyptians are renowned for along with their religious piety. Lately, they have also been shining a light on the mood of the city, a sprawling and chaotic metropolis of 25 million people. In some ways, the writings – which are either painted on or on stickers – are an unlikely window of free expression in a country long accustomed to rigid restrictions on free speech, where social media is about the only place where Egyptians can speak their minds with relative freedom. It is not that what is written on the back of these minibuses is inflammatory or particularly seditious – it is often simply the names of the driver's children or a short Quranic verse or a prayer – but that they offer a glimpse of the mood among the city's overwhelmingly poor majority. With so many minibuses in Cairo – at least 50,000 by one count – the messages they display are widely seen as they dart and weave through the streets at all hours of the day and night. In some cases, there is an image of Saddam Hussein, Che Guevara or Bob Marley. In other cases, there are words of deep gratitude to mothers. Very common too are supplications for the protection of the minibus from envy, such as: "Don't be vexed, it's God's will" or "God will keep it safe!". "It's like a thawab [reward] that will help me on Judgment Day," said Mohammed Hassan, whose minibus bears a sticker that says "Don't forget to say Allah out loud!" "I work the route between Abdel Moneim Riad Square and Maadi and I stop at so many lights, so you can imagine how many thawabs I earn every time someone reads the sticker," he said, referring to the roughly 17km distance between the central Cairo square and the leafy suburb to the south. Some of the writings on the minibuses – they are the most popular mode of transport in the city and are known in Egypt's Arabic vernacular as microbasat – speak of, but more often just hint at, the struggle of Cairo's poor majority as they deal with double-digit inflation, expanding taxes and higher utility bills. "I am neither a doctor nor an engineer, but I know something about car engines," says one that speaks of pride in what a minibus driver does for a living. "No gold or antiquities, just hard work night and day," says another, alluding to the vast wealth made by Egyptians involved in illegal gold mining or trafficking in ancient artefacts. "Oh, if only lady luck would smile on me," declares one that bemoans poverty. The humour, however, can sometimes be edgy or dark. Often, it seems to be in the same vein as the lyrics of Mahraganat music, a relatively new genre that emerged in the wake of the 2011 uprising that removed the 29-year regime of Hosni Mubarak and has since flourished in Cairo's poor districts. "Don't stare at it [the minibus] enviously, you moron!" goes the first part of an aggressive attempt at humour. "Be back in a second," says one that speaks to the delays sometimes caused when the driver stops for tea and a smoke at a nearby cafe. "They beat up on us so hard and we responded, but only with curse words," reads a self-effacing phrase on one minibus, echoing an often-repeated line from a 2000 Egyptian blockbuster movie, El Nazer Salahedldeen. "If you cannot make yourself happy, ruin the mood of everyone else," is the obnoxious counsel offered by another. "I would rather stick to prayers or verses from the Quran," said a minibus driver whose vehicle bears a sticker that reads: "Allah is the best protector". "It is the wisdom of an old man like me who has no formal education except for that from the school of life," he mused. Sometimes, the humour on the minibuses is somewhat risque, and, in some ways, speaks to the problems involved in dealing with some unruly drivers. "Not all women are ladies," declares one that professes an understanding of the human condition. Staying with the topic of women, another one uses the customary phrasing of job advertisements: "A hottie is wanted to stay with me through my shift." These kind of messages fit in with the widespread notoriety of minibus drivers. Cases of assault and sexual harassment are not uncommon on Cairo's communal taxis, prompting police in some cases to plaster flyers on the back of seats that list the names and mobile numbers of officers at local police should they be needed to report a crime. Lately, more serious messages have begun to appear on the minibuses. "God, please, make our brothers in Palestine victorious!" says one, superimposed on a map of Palestine in the green, red and black colours of the Palestinian flag. "Gaza is in our hearts," declares another. The writings on the minibuses have not always been innocuous. In the early 1980s, the government saw fit to ban them when some were deemed to betray sectarian undertones at a time of Muslim-Christian violence in Cairo. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," was a popular one used then by Christians on minibuses as well as private cars. Muslims countered with the use of the declaration of faith: "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Vermont Reggae Festival was big in the 1980s and '90s. It's returning this summer.
The Vermont Reggae Festival was a big event in the 1980s and '90s before fading away. It's returning in 2025. The festival that had taken place in Burlington and Hardwick will come back to Burlington for a one-day event Saturday, Aug. 23 at Switchback Brewing on Flynn Avenue. The schedule, released May 6, includes Barrington Levy, John Brown's Body, Lambsbread, The Skatalites and the Channel 2 Dub Band. A separate, earlier family show on Aug. 23 has Rock and Roll Playhouse performing the songs of Bob Marley. Lambsbread was Vermont's top reggae act during the heyday of the Vermont Reggae Festival. The group's members included Bobby Hackney Sr., who in 2023 published a book titled 'Vermont Reggae Fest: The Power of Music,' detailing the event's first five years. Hackney founded the festival and later became known for his previous work with the proto-punk band Death, which led his sons to establish the Burlington rock band Rough Francis. Hackney is serving as 'ambassador' for the revived festival, which is being presented by the Burlington cannabis company True 802 and by Ed Maier of the concert-promotion company ElmThree in association with The Reggae Takeover. Maier, who recently served as managing partner at the Burlington music venue Nectar's, said 1,500 tickets are available for the festival. WHAT: Vermont Reggae Fest: A Tribute to Our Roots WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 23; noon, family show with Rock and Roll Playhouse performing the songs of Bob Marley; 2 p.m., performances by Barrington Levy, John Brown's Body, Lambsbread, The Skatalites and Channel 2 Dub Band WHERE: Switchback Brewing, Burlington INFORMATION: $20 for family show; $75 in advance, $85 day of show, $150 VIP tickets for full festival; admission for the family show is included for adults who buy a full-day ticket. Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@ This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Reggae Fest, long dormant, to return to Burlington this summer
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
THE ORIGINAL WAILERS Feat. Al Anderson Announce November 2025 Auckland Show – Performing LEGEND In Full
Jamaica's, The Original Wailers Return to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Legend – The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers Album BOB MARLEY's music transcends time, and his impact on global culture remains unmatched. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the most iconic album in reggae history, Legend – The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers, THE ORIGINAL WAILERS will take the stage for a special tour, performing the beloved hits from this album. Legend is a compilation of Marley's greatest songs, capturing the soul of reggae and delivering messages of love, freedom, and unity. It holds the distinction of being the highest-selling reggae album of all time, a testament to the power and enduring appeal of Marley's music. The Legend album features Bob Marley's most classic and influential tracks. From the hopeful 'Is This Love' and the uplifting 'Three Little Birds' to the powerful social message of 'Buffalo Soldier' and 'I Shot the Sheriff,' the compilation exemplifies the spirit of reggae and the revolutionary message of Marley's music. Timeless anthems such as 'Could You Be Loved,' 'No Woman, No Cry,' 'Get Up, Stand Up,' 'Jamming,' and 'Redemption Song' continue to inspire audiences worldwide. These songs speak to the heart of humanity, bringing people together with their messages of peace, resistance, and love. As Reggae Royalty, The Original Wailers, hit the stage to perform these unforgettable classics live, the audience will be immersed in the joy and energy that only reggae music can provide. The groove, the melodies and the unmistakable spirit of Marley's legacy will fill the air, creating a surreal, serene yet festive atmosphere. 'One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain' – Bob Marley
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
THE ORIGINAL WAILERS Feat. Al Anderson Announce November 2025 Auckland Show - Performing LEGEND In Full
Jamaica's, The Original Wailers Return to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Legend – The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers Album BOB MARLEY's music transcends time, and his impact on global culture remains unmatched. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the most iconic album in reggae history, Legend – The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers, THE ORIGINAL WAILERS will take the stage for a special tour, performing the beloved hits from this album. Legend is a compilation of Marley's greatest songs, capturing the soul of reggae and delivering messages of love, freedom, and unity. It holds the distinction of being the highest-selling reggae album of all time, a testament to the power and enduring appeal of Marley's music. The Legend album features Bob Marley's most classic and influential tracks. From the hopeful 'Is This Love' and the uplifting 'Three Little Birds' to the powerful social message of 'Buffalo Soldier' and 'I Shot the Sheriff,' the compilation exemplifies the spirit of reggae and the revolutionary message of Marley's music. Timeless anthems such as 'Could You Be Loved,' 'No Woman, No Cry,' 'Get Up, Stand Up,' 'Jamming,' and 'Redemption Song' continue to inspire audiences worldwide. These songs speak to the heart of humanity, bringing people together with their messages of peace, resistance, and love. As Reggae Royalty, The Original Wailers, hit the stage to perform these unforgettable classics live, the audience will be immersed in the joy and energy that only reggae music can provide. The groove, the melodies and the unmistakable spirit of Marley's legacy will fill the air, creating a surreal, serene yet festive atmosphere. 'One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain' – Bob Marley
Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Bob Marley dies
Today is Sunday, May 11, the 131st day of 2025. There are 234 days left in the year. Today in history: On May 11, 1981, reggae artist Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital at age 36 of acral lentiginous melanoma. Also on this date: In 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was created as one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. In 1946, the first CARE packages, sent by a consortium of American charities to provide relief to the hungry of postwar Europe, arrived at Le Havre, France. In 1953, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Texas history devastated the city of Waco, killing 114 people and injuring nearly 600. In 1960, Israeli agents captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1973, the espionage trial of Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo in the 'Pentagon Papers' case came to an end as Judge William M. Byrne dismissed all charges, citing government misconduct. In 1984, Claus Barbie, the Nazi Gestapo chief known as the 'Butcher of Lyon,' went on trial in Lyon for crimes against humanity after being extradited from Bolivia, where he lived for over 30 years after World War II. (Barbie would be found guilty and would die in prison four years later.) In 1996, an Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board. In 1997, the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeated chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the final game of a six-game match in New York, winning 3 ½-2 ½ and marking the first time a computer won a match against a reigning world champion. Today's Birthdays: Rock singer Eric Burdon is 84. Actor Frances Fisher is 73. Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn is 66. Olympic boxing gold medalist Mark Breland is 62. Actor Tim Blake Nelson is 61. Basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson is 44. Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton is 36. Latin pop singer Prince Royce is 36. Actor Lana Condor is 28. Singer-actor Sabrina Carpenter is 26.
