"I know, I am surprised I made it on time, too. I was almost late, because I am Arab and we had to prepare a meal for twenty people because one family friend said she might come by and say hello,"
"That's how my people roll. Like, literally roll, because we overfeed each other to show respect,"
"Over the past few years, performance has emerged as a meaningful vehicle for female empowerment and social critique in parts of the Arab world,"
"Humorous plays have a long history in the Middle East and are a rich part of our culture,"
Mia Almas is a fictional Palestinian-origin comedian whose opening joke reflects Arab social customs around hospitality. The debut novel What Will People Think? highlights the rise of Arab women in stand-up across the Middle East. Female performers are increasingly visible at smaller events while remaining underrepresented at major festivals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amman and Riyadh. In September 2025, three women performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival compared with 47 male comedians. Experts note that performance has become a vehicle for female empowerment and social critique. Humorous plays and slapstick have long roots in regional entertainment.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]