Culture in (Post) Colonial Egypt

Abstract

The debate on the future of culture in Egypt was occasioned by a postcolonial moment. That moment, however, did not signal a genuine quest for an alternative paradigm, and the dominant liberal intellectual trend showed a commitment to a Eurocentric cultural model in all walks of life, including government, education, administration and legislation. The most remarkable voice that championed the liberal camp was Taha Husayn (1889--1973), and his outlook is often seen as more revolutionary and rebellious than that of most of his contemporaries. Following Ella Shohat, this essay argues that formal independence has rarely meant the end of First World cultural hegemony, since Egypt's formal independence did not prevent colonial domination of the role of culture