Andrew Simon
@simongandrew.bsky.social
Historian of media, pop culture, and the Middle East; senior lecturer @dartmouth; author of "Media of the Masses: Cassette Culture in Modern Egypt"; founder of “Ideas to Ink”; andrewgsimon.com
Pinned
The Making and Mourning of Ahmad Adawiya, a Musical Legend
The singer was banned from the airwaves, but the humble cassette allowed him to circumvent the rules and sell directly to his audience
newlinesmag.com
I never had the chance to meet Ahmad Adawiya, but I felt like I lost a friend when the artist recently passed. In this essay, I reflect on what he meant to me and many others. I hope it serves as a small testament to his immense impact and the obstacles he overcame. newlinesmag.com/essays/the-m...
Reposted by Andrew Simon
Well this was a surreal start to 2026. I was watching Belal Fadl, a prominent Egyptian writer, discuss the books he enjoyed most during 2025 only to discover that mine was one of them! Thank you! May "Media of the Masses" inspire others to dive more deeply into Egyptian popular culture and its past.
January 1, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Well this was a surreal start to 2026. I was watching Belal Fadl, a prominent Egyptian writer, discuss the books he enjoyed most during 2025 only to discover that mine was one of them! Thank you! May "Media of the Masses" inspire others to dive more deeply into Egyptian popular culture and its past.
Well this was a surreal start to 2026. I was watching Belal Fadl, a prominent Egyptian writer, discuss the books he enjoyed most during 2025 only to discover that mine was one of them! Thank you! May "Media of the Masses" inspire others to dive more deeply into Egyptian popular culture and its past.
January 1, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Well this was a surreal start to 2026. I was watching Belal Fadl, a prominent Egyptian writer, discuss the books he enjoyed most during 2025 only to discover that mine was one of them! Thank you! May "Media of the Masses" inspire others to dive more deeply into Egyptian popular culture and its past.
Some of the books I can’t wait to read in 2026. 📚
January 1, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Some of the books I can’t wait to read in 2026. 📚
These end of the year book recommendations, which are popping up in all of my social media feeds, are filling my heart.
December 31, 2025 at 10:58 PM
These end of the year book recommendations, which are popping up in all of my social media feeds, are filling my heart.
To have your book recommended by someone in Egypt who read over 40 books this year is truly an honor. Thank you, Ghadeer!
December 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
To have your book recommended by someone in Egypt who read over 40 books this year is truly an honor. Thank you, Ghadeer!
Reposted by Andrew Simon
1 year ago, today, a legendary Egyptian performer passed away. Although I never met Ahmad Adawiya, I felt like I knew him. In this essay for New Lines Magazine, which later appeared in Arabic in Egypt, I reflect upon the challenges Adawiya faced, and why his music meant so much to so many.
December 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
1 year ago, today, a legendary Egyptian performer passed away. Although I never met Ahmad Adawiya, I felt like I knew him. In this essay for New Lines Magazine, which later appeared in Arabic in Egypt, I reflect upon the challenges Adawiya faced, and why his music meant so much to so many.
1 year ago, today, a legendary Egyptian performer passed away. Although I never met Ahmad Adawiya, I felt like I knew him. In this essay for New Lines Magazine, which later appeared in Arabic in Egypt, I reflect upon the challenges Adawiya faced, and why his music meant so much to so many.
December 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
1 year ago, today, a legendary Egyptian performer passed away. Although I never met Ahmad Adawiya, I felt like I knew him. In this essay for New Lines Magazine, which later appeared in Arabic in Egypt, I reflect upon the challenges Adawiya faced, and why his music meant so much to so many.
A wonderful note to end 2025 on.
December 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A wonderful note to end 2025 on.
The first Sufi festival I attended in person.
December 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The first Sufi festival I attended in person.
To share the stage in Cairo with the translator of “Media of the Masses,” after corresponding with them for over two years online, was an honor. www.shorouknews.com/mobile/news/...
December 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
To share the stage in Cairo with the translator of “Media of the Masses,” after corresponding with them for over two years online, was an honor. www.shorouknews.com/mobile/news/...
Reposted by Andrew Simon
Batman bil-Arabi.
December 27, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Batman bil-Arabi.
Batman bil-Arabi.
December 27, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Batman bil-Arabi.
Cairo at midnight.
December 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Cairo at midnight.
Arabic comic books at the Sur al-Ezbekiyya paper market in Cairo.
December 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Arabic comic books at the Sur al-Ezbekiyya paper market in Cairo.
Cassettes cover the ground during a Saturday market in Cairo.
December 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Cassettes cover the ground during a Saturday market in Cairo.
One of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received. A book of children’s songs and games, including musical scores, published in Cairo in 1967.
December 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
One of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received. A book of children’s songs and games, including musical scores, published in Cairo in 1967.
Issues of “Superman” in Arabic that were published in Beirut and circulated in Cairo.
December 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Issues of “Superman” in Arabic that were published in Beirut and circulated in Cairo.
Musical instruments found within King Tut’s tomb.
December 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Musical instruments found within King Tut’s tomb.
A mummified crocodile from a temple in Kom Ombo at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
December 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A mummified crocodile from a temple in Kom Ombo at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
With the end of the year approaching, this news made my month. “Media of the Masses” is a bestseller in Egypt : )
December 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
With the end of the year approaching, this news made my month. “Media of the Masses” is a bestseller in Egypt : )
Old newspapers in the new Sur al-Ezbekiyya paper market in Cairo.
December 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Old newspapers in the new Sur al-Ezbekiyya paper market in Cairo.
Today’s prized find in Cairo: One of Ahmad Adawiya’s early records featuring “Salametha Umm Hassan.”
December 21, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Today’s prized find in Cairo: One of Ahmad Adawiya’s early records featuring “Salametha Umm Hassan.”
A library on the go in Cairo.
December 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
A library on the go in Cairo.
Reposted by Andrew Simon
Yesterday, I had the chance to discuss the Arabic edition of “Media of the Masses” at a signing party in Cairo, where I met the incredible translator behind the book, Badr El Refai, who experienced Egypt’s cassette culture up close. It was an experience I’ll treasure forever.
December 19, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Yesterday, I had the chance to discuss the Arabic edition of “Media of the Masses” at a signing party in Cairo, where I met the incredible translator behind the book, Badr El Refai, who experienced Egypt’s cassette culture up close. It was an experience I’ll treasure forever.