Culture and Customs of Egypt (Culture and Customs of Africa)


Product Description
Modern Egypt blends African history and geography with Arab culture and religion. With its position at the crossroads of Africa, its status as a major Islamic nation, and continuing interest in its ancient monuments, Egypt makes for fascinating study. This volume provides an accessible, up-to-date overview of a society that greatly evolved, yet retains traces of attitudes and behaviors from the days of the Pharaohs.
This volume's insights into everyday life, sociopolitical structures, and cultural institutions transcend ordinary guide books. Asante, a noted Africanist, authoritatively presents the richness of Egypt from the Nile to the Nubian influence, to Cairo congestion and carpet schools. Chapters describe the land, people, history, education, tourism, religion, art and architecture, food, social customs and lifestyles, literature, media, cinema, and performing arts. A chronology, glossary, and numerous photos enhance the text.
</p>Culture and Customs of Egypt (Culture and Customs of Africa) Review
Molefi Assante, the father of the Afrocentric movement, attempts to write a overview of modern Egypt. Molefi covers the customs and cultures that make up the modern Egyptian nation. Everything from modern religion to cusine is covered.Problem is most of the information to be expected from Molefi Assante is missing. He shows his ignorance in completely neglecting the customs and cultures of rural Egyptians. The largely neglected fellahin which most Cairene Egyptians desend from. Assante could have taken this oppotunity to connect the folk customs of the rural and poor baladi Egyptians to other Africans.
Although most Egyptians pratice Christianity and Islam, some folk customs survive and deserve attention. Other volumes of Cultures and Customs provide a great overiew of folk customs ..ie Culture and Customs of the Congo,Ghana and Nigeria.
The other faulty notion is that simply the Coptic or Nubians Egyptians preserve the ancestry of the ancient Egyptians. True, many modern Egyptians are hetrogenous including both Copts and Nubians but this does not negate that many Muslims also have ancient Egyptian ancestry.
Also neglected is certain ethnic grous such as the Hawwara,Ababda,and others who are hidden within the framework of Copts,Nubians and Muslim Egyptians.
One very positive aspect of this books is it shows many nice pictures of rural Egyptians and Nubians. Both demonstrate that African ancestry flows through the veins of modern Egyptians no matter how diluted from foreign incursions.
I recommend this book to anybody who anybody wanting a crash course in modern Egyptian life. This book is a very mainstream and westernized view. If you want to know more about how the everyday Egyptian lives and their folkculture then check out Baladi Women of Cairo Evelyn E Early,Coptic Saints and Pilgrimages Otto Meinardus,and Upper Egypt: Life along the Nile, Nicholas S Hopkins.
For resources on the Nubians check out Nubian Ceremonial Life edited by Joeseph Kennedy.
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