The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics

Today's podcast briefly discusses the transition of the Qur'an from an oral message into a closed codex through political decisions of the community leaders after Muhammad's death. The episode also quickly highlights the difficulties that face modern historians who are trying to make sense of the history of the formation of the Qur'an. Sources and Recommended Readings: The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide by Farid Esack Major Themes of the Qur'an by Fazlur Rahman The Koran: a Very Short Introduction by Michael Cook The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an by Jane McAuliffe (editor) The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an by Christopher Buck (editor) The Qur'an: a New Translation by Tarif Khalidi The Qur'an: an Introduction by Abdullah Saeed The Qur'an in its Historical Setting by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor) Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations by Michael Sells La Pensée Arabe by Mohammed Arkoun

Today's podcast briefly discusses the transition of the Qur'an from an oral message into a closed codex through political decisions of the community leaders after Muhammad's death. The episode also quickly highlights the difficulties that face modern historians who are trying to make sense of the history of the formation of the Qur'an.  Sources and Recommended Readings: The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide   by Farid Esack Major Themes of the Qur'an   by Fazlur Rahman The Koran: a Very Short Introduction    by Michael Cook The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an    by Jane McAuliffe (editor) The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an    by Christopher Buck (editor) The Qur'an: a New Translation   by Tarif Khalidi The Qur'an: an Introduction   by Abdullah Saeed The Qur'an in its Historical Setting    by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor) Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations   by Michael Sells La Pensée Arabe        by Mohammed Arkoun 

Today's podcast provides an English translation of part of a conversation with the late professor Mohammed Arkoun (d. 2010) on Belgian TV*.  For most of his prestigious academic career, Mohammed Arkoun was professor of the history of Islamic thought at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He also held teaching positions at a number of universities around the world. The following is a stimulating discussion about a variety of topics, having to do with religion, politics, and culture. *The video of the whole interview in French can be found at http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_noms-de-dieux?id=602121

Today's podcast provides an English translation of part of a conversation with the late professor Mohammed Arkoun (d. 2010) on Belgian TV*.  For most of his prestigious academic career, Mohammed Arkoun was professor of the history of Islamic thought at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He also held teaching positions at a number of universities around the world. The following is a stimulating discussion about a variety of topics, having to do with religion, politics, and culture. *The video of the whole interview in French can be found at http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_noms-de-dieux?id=602121

Today's podcast provides an English translation of part of a conversation with the late professor Mohammed Arkoun (d. 2010) on Belgian TV*.  For most of his prestigious academic career, Mohammed Arkoun was professor of the history of Islamic thought at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He also held teaching positions at a number of universities around the world. The following is a stimulating discussion about a variety of topics, having to do with religion, politics, and culture. *The video of the whole interview in French can be found at http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_noms-de-dieux?id=602121

This episode takes a look at the history of Rai music outside Oran and its region. We pay particular attention to the Moroccan and French Rai musical scenes. The episode contains musical excerpts from Chebba Maria, Cheb Akil, Mohamed Lamine, Cheb Hassen, Reda Taliani, Cheb Mimoun, Rachid Berrieh, Cheb Kamal, Bouchnak Brothers, Talbi One, Cheb Kader, Faudel, Rachid Taha, and Cheb Hasni. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

This episode takes a look at the history of Rai music outside Oran and its region. We pay particular attention to the Moroccan and French Rai musical scenes. The episode contains musical excerpts from Chebba Maria, Cheb Akil, Mohamed Lamine, Cheb Hassen, Reda Taliani, Cheb Mimoun, Rachid Berrieh, Cheb Kamal, Bouchnak Brothers, Talbi One, Cheb Kader, Faudel, Rachid Taha, and Cheb Hasni. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

This episode presents some of the major Rai singers of the 1990's. We encounter Cheb Mami, Cheb Sahraoui, Chebba Fadela, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Nasro, and Cheb Bilal. We pay particular attention to Cheb Hasni who was considered the King of Love Rai and who was assassinated in Oran during the Civil War of the 1990's. The episode contains musical excerpts from the singers above in addition to short selections from Cheb El Hindi and Cheb Abbes. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

This episode presents some of the major Rai singers of the 1990's. We encounter Cheb Mami, Cheb Sahraoui, Chebba Fadela, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Nasro, and Cheb Bilal. We pay particular attention to Cheb Hasni who was considered the King of Love Rai and who was assassinated in Oran during the Civil War of the 1990's. The episode contains musical excerpts from the singers above in addition to short selections from Cheb El Hindi and Cheb Abbes. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue looking at Rai Music. This episode presents the career of Khaled Hadj Brahim as emblematic in the way Pop-Rai develops from the 1970's to today. Cheb Khaled is arguably the best Rai singer of his generation. His impact on the direction and the success of this musical style cannot be underestimated. He is known as the King of Rai. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue looking at Rai Music. This episode presents the career of Khaled Hadj Brahim as emblematic in the way Pop-Rai develops from the 1970's to today. Cheb Khaled is arguably the best Rai singer of his generation. His impact on the direction and the success of this musical style cannot be underestimated. He is known as the King of Rai. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue discussing the story of Rai Music. Among the topics of this episode are the influence of Algerian independence on the development of Rai, the rise of Pop-Rai in Wahrane in the 1970's, and the clash between the Islamist vision and the Rai scene during the civil war of the 1990's. The episode includes musical excerpts from Cheb Kader, Cheikha Remitti, Bouteldja Belkacem, Chebba Fadela, Cheikh Fethi, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Cheb Hasni, Cheb Zahouani, Cheb Bilal, and Cheikh Boutaiba Sghir. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue discussing the story of Rai Music. Among the topics of this episode are the influence of Algerian independence on the development of Rai, the rise of Pop-Rai in Wahrane in the 1970's, and the clash between the Islamist vision and the Rai scene during the civil war of the 1990's. The episode includes musical excerpts from Cheb Kader, Cheikha Remitti, Bouteldja Belkacem, Chebba Fadela, Cheikh Fethi, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Cheb Hasni, Cheb Zahouani, Cheb Bilal, and Cheikh Boutaiba Sghir. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue our journey through the history of Rai Music. After considering the streams of music from which modern Rai music emerges in a previous episode, we take a brief look at less direct, yet significant musical influences on modern Rai like Andalusian Jewish music and modern French Chansons. The episode also highlights the impact of French colonialism on the Algerian environment in which Rai would eventually develop. Included are excerpts of songs by Cheb Hasni, Cheb Khaled, Reinette L’Oranaise, Edith Piaf, and Raina Rai. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale

We continue our journey through the history of Rai Music. After considering the streams of music from which modern Rai music emerges in a previous episode, we take a brief look at less direct, yet significant musical influences on modern Rai like Andalusian Jewish music and modern French Chansons. The episode also highlights the impact of French colonialism on the Algerian environment in which Rai would eventually develop. Included are excerpts of songs by Cheb Hasni, Cheb Khaled, Reinette L’Oranaise, Edith Piaf, and Raina Rai. Sources and further reading: Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale