Photo: James Duncan Davidson
Dina El Wedidi is a traditional Egyptian singer — but with a global twist. While her powerful chant draws from Egyptian folk songs, her lyrics speak to a generation of young Egyptians estranged from their government and looking for connection. Meanwhile, her band members play the guitar, the accordion and even the Irish violin.
Photo: James Duncan Davidson
At TEDGlobal 2013, El Wedidi plays two songs. First, “Al-Haram” which El Wedidi translates as “The Forbidden.” She says, “[It’s about the] idea of prejudging, and the misuse of religion to forbid love, art and so on.”
Next, El Wedidi plays “Hozn El-Ganoub (The Sorrow of the South).” She explains, “The south of Egypt very important — it’s the source of the Nile and the source of life.”
El Wedidi has gained popularity in Egypt since the uprisings of 2011, thanks to her thoughtful lyrics that pack political punch and her call for self-realization. As she sings in “Al-Haram”:
“What’s forbidden is not to sing / What’s forbidden are words, half of which are lies.”
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“It’s about discarding assumptions about the Middle East, Latin America, and the way you think the world works,” Nassim Assefi described in an interview before we all got to Edinburgh for TEDGlobal 2013. This session, which she co-curated with fellow TED Fellow Gabriella Gomez-Mont, features a host of speakers who’ll be prompting us to think differently about global flows.
Here are the speakers who appeared in this session of TEDGlobal 2013. Click the speaker’s name for a full recap of their talk:
Architect and urbanist Teddy Cruz looks for clues to the “city of the future” in the emerging urban areas of today.
Holly Morris tells the stories of women around the world through documentary, television, print and the web.
Economic policy innovator Juan Pardinas works to increase prosperity in Mexico and Latin America by challenging conventional wisdom along with investors’ preconceptions.
Trita Parsi delves into Middle Eastern history and politics, uncovering fresh perspectives on Iranian, Israeli, and U.S. relations — and discovers potential solutions to brewing conflicts.
Singled out for the originality of her voice and style, Egyptian singer Dina El Wedidi has made her mark on her country’s music scene in just a few years.
With provocative actions that erase the lines between performance and politics, Tania Bruguera transforms passive audiences into engaged citizens.
“Accidental theologist” Lesley Hazleton is the author of The First Muslim, a new look at the life of Muhammad.
The Beirut Marathon is the largest running event in the Middle East. May El-Khalil founded it as an instrument of peace.
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