Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023: Tale of Mando “A circle of fate” #EP6

Ramadan Karim 😀

We continue our tale for this year, the tale of Mando.

Before we go to the sixth episode of our tale, I want to reveal something this year.

The English synopsis of this year’s episode that I add after the audio episode in Arabic is actually copyedited by Chat-GPT according to the style of Sir Richard Francis Burton’s translation of the One Thousand and one nights book. "I know that Burton was a piece of work, an embodiment of colonialism"

The result is more than impressive 

I am thinking of trying other styles in upcoming episodes.

Anyhow, let’s go to our episode tonight but first, refresh your mind with last night’s episode.

Now to the sixth episode of our tale or the 468th episode in Egyptian state radio’s One Thousand and One Nights show.

The Synopsis

Concealing his ire behind a veil of deference, the Vizier Shahlan hastens to pay court to the King upon learning that the Queen is with child, and thus his scheme of betrothing his daughter to the royal majesty has been dashed. Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope remains.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023: Tale of Mando “The Darvish” #EP5

Ramadan Karim 😀

In tonight's episode, we are presented for the first time to a character of Eunuch in the famous radio show.

Needless to say, when I read the “Eunuch of the court” now, the character of Varys in Game of Thrones jumps into my mind. 

Interestingly, I thought the practice of “Eunuch” slaves originated in the Middle East. It turned out that historically there are historical records from Ancient Egypt that show the practice was older than we think and it was used to humiliate enemies.

In fact, the word “Eunuch” may have an ancient Egyptian origin. The practice was also known in other parts of ancient worlds including China. After all, what worse humiliation of a man could suffer than that. Eunuch slaves are mostly depicted in a negative way just like in the case of Varys.

In tonight's episode, we are presented with another interesting character who is the Dervish.

I will only say Taher Abu Fasha sends very interesting messages in the show.

Anyhow enough of the talk and let’s go to our episode tonight.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023: Tale of Mando “The Prisoner” #EP4

Ramadan Karim.

And we continue our tale for this, the tale of Mando from the Audio One Thousand and One nights show.

It is not related to other Mando

But first just as I share with a great Egyptian state radio show, I must mention that Egyptian and Arab radio lost one of its radio icons a couple of days ago.

Egypt’s Legendary radio host Fadila Tawfik or as commonly known for generations as “Abla Fadila” or Miss Fadila.

Abla Fadila was the first woman to have a show dedicated to children’s tales on Egyptian state radio since the mid-1950s.

Fadila Tawfik passed away at the age of 96.

She died in Canada while staying with her daughter who is living there.

Born in 1929 to an Egyptian Nubian father and Turkish mother, Abla Fadila was the sister of renowned late Egyptian actress and leftist activist Mohsena Tawfik.

She was also the aunt of renowned Egyptian leftist activist Wael Khalil. She graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Law before joining the Egyptian Radio service.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023: Tale of Mando “The forbidden fruit” #EP3

Ramadan Karim,

We continue our tale for this year, the tale of Mando.

Before we go to the third episode of our tale, I want to remind you to pay attention to the references mentioned in the original work of Taher Abu Fasha.

Abu Fasha was the main writer of the One Thousand and one-night radio show in Egypt in case you forgot or are a newcomer.

“Mando’s tale” is not an original “One Thousand and one nights” story. Taher Abu Fasha once again uses his imagination to write yet another fantasy story from Arabian nights and beyond. “I won’t spoil it”

In tonight’s episode, Abu Fasha mentions the famous forbidden fruit aka apple.

If you remember in the first episode, he also spoke about the two cities “Gamore and Samore” that shared a similar fate to the infamous Sodom and Gomorrah.

There is also a mention of “Ahl El-Khutwa” of the Sufi Muslim saints who got supernatural powers.

It is a term common in Egypt. The Djinn, the usual guest star is mentioned in tonight’s episode too.

In a way, Abu Fasha followed the same path as those who wrote the original One Thousand and One Nights Book centuries ago.

Already in the original book, you will find all that and more.

Anyhow enough talk and we go to the third episode in our audio tale.

Kodak Agfa Presents : A Defiant Cairo's Ramadan Market in time of economic Crisis

The market was totally packed two weeks ago 

When I went to the popular market located behind the famous El-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine on the crowded El-Saad Street, I imagined I would see the impact of the economic crisis in action but I was totally wrong.

People, mostly families led by women came to buy Ramadan decorations and lanterns 

If any foreigner walked in that street and saw how crowded it was last week, he or she would think that Egypt does not suffer from one of its worst economic crises but looks can be deceivable.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023: Tale of Mando “A King, a vizier and a water whisper in a garden” #EP2

Ramadan Karim.

Last episode I did not speak much about the televised version of our radio tale, the tale of Mando.

For this year, I chose yet another story that the 1980s generation knew very well because it was presented on TV in 1986 and was a hit show.

It was presented as a Fawzeer Ramadan TV show starring none other than Sherihan, the diva and legendary TV director Fahmy Abdel-Hamid.

It was a mixed hit of Fawzeer Ramadan TV show and One Thousand- and One-Nights show.

For those who do not know, “Fawzeer Ramadan” was an Egyptian state TV show that ran from the 1960s till 2000.

Simply, it involves riddles or “Fawzeer” in a musical form episode and the winners take a prize at the end of the month.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2023 : The Tale of Mando “One sad Shahryar” EP.1

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

It is our time of the year to meet our dear Scheherazade and listen to her tales.

We are back to the One Thousand and One Nights radio show in Arabic created by Egyptian Radio legend Mahmoud Shaaban aka Papa Sharo.

Shaherezade and Shahayer by Gamal Qotb 

Based originally on the famous book “One Thousand and One Nights” aka “The Arabian Nights”, it was the longest-running show in the history of Egyptian State Radio.

Papa Sharo could not have created the show without the continuing work of Egyptian writer and folksiest Taher Abu Fasha.

Egyptian Legendary actress Zouzou Nabil as Scheherazade and Theatre legend Abdel Rahim El-Zarakany as Shahryar are back again.