What is a 'true Egyptian'?

What is a 'true Egyptian'?

There may be no easy answer, but identity has become an obsession, discovers Maria Golia, among a people in turmoil.

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NI 444 - The changing face of masculinity - July, 2011
A stitch in time saves... Illustration: Sarah John

A stitch in time saves...

Maria Golia’s tailor has the currency markets stitched up.

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NI 443 - The far right gets respectable - June, 2011
A rooftop view Illustration: Sarah John

A rooftop view

After the euphoria, reality is beginning to bite, says Maria Golia.

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NI 442 - Climate change denial - May, 2011
Bearing witness Illustration: Sarah John

Bearing witness

Maria Golia savours a moment of extraordinary clarity for Egypt.

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NI 441 - China - makers of the miracle - April, 2011
Cognac and horse sweat Illustration by Sarah John

Cognac and horse sweat

In the name of research, Maria Golia meets a man with an unusual mission.

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NI 437 - Humans vs. Nature - November, 2010
Letter from Cairo Illustration by Sarah John

Letter from Cairo

Maria Golia meets the man with the eyes of a caged god.

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NI 436 - A wake-up call for democracy - October, 2010
Handle with care

Handle with care

Returning to Cairo after some time away, Maria Golia is waylaid in the labyrinth of a cargo warehouse.

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NI 433 - Deported! What happened next? - June, 2010
The soaring call

The soaring call

Maria Golia recalls a transcendent moment amid the clamour of Cairo.

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NI 432 - Iraq - seven years later - May, 2010
A face for today

A face for today

Maria Golia feels she’s getting old, while the city around her is ‘getting new’.

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NI 431 - Bloody oil - shut down the tar sands! - April, 2010
The pampered paws ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH JOHN

The pampered paws

A trip to the pedicurist reveals the changing face of Egypt’s middle class to Maria Golia.

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NI 430 - Globalization on the rocks - March, 2010
Cairo 2010

Cairo 2010

The dawn of a new decade has Maria Golia pondering the past.

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NI 429 - Too many of us? The population panic. - January, 2010
Illustration by Sarah John

The return

An overseas trip lets Maria Golia see her hometown in a new light.

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NI 428 - Welcome to Copenhagen! - December, 2009
Losing the edge Illustration by Sarah John

Losing the edge

Perceptions of efficiency – and cleanliness – can differ, Maria Golia discovers.

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NI 427 - Terror takeover - November, 2009
Illustration by Sarah John

Permission denied

Maria Golia recalls why part of her Egyptian education involved learning how to break the rules.

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NI 426 - Islam in power - October, 2009
Wealth in abundance

Wealth in abundance

'Make do and mend' is a time-honoured Egyptian talent, discovers Maria Golia.

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NI 425 - Where have all the Bees gone? - September, 2009

Turning Japanese

Maria Golia recalls a moment of cultural confusion.

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NI 424 - Surviving change in the Arctic - July, 2009
Shake and sway

Shake and sway

Maria Golia ponders Egypt’s attitude towards sexuality.

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NI 423 - China in charge - June, 2009
Making room

Making room

Even when the odds are stacked against them, Maria Golia observes her neighbour’s family taking life as it comes.

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NI 421 - Put people first - April, 2009
Friday fracas

Friday fracas

Maria Golia goes into battle for the underdog – and then wonders just what she has done.

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NI 420 - Mothers who die - March, 2009
Illustration by Sarah John

No place like home

Cairo's poor show a peculiar brand of camaraderie.

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NI 419 - Climate justice - January, 2009

Articles in this category displayed as a table:

Article title From magazine Publication date
The changing face of masculinity July, 2011
The far right gets respectable June, 2011
Climate change denial May, 2011
China - makers of the miracle April, 2011
Humans vs. Nature November, 2010
A wake-up call for democracy October, 2010
Deported! What happened next? June, 2010
Iraq - seven years later May, 2010
Bloody oil - shut down the tar sands! April, 2010
Globalization on the rocks March, 2010
Too many of us? The population panic. January, 2010
Welcome to Copenhagen! December, 2009
Terror takeover November, 2009
Islam in power October, 2009
Where have all the Bees gone? September, 2009
Surviving change in the Arctic July, 2009
China in charge June, 2009
Put people first April, 2009
Mothers who die March, 2009
Climate justice January, 2009
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