Raoef Moesad Basta
(1937, Sudan) is a journalist, a playwright, a novelist and writes children's books. In 2004 Basta, together with other Arab writers not living in the Arab world, started a small publishing house, Muhajiroun, to give Arab writers the possibility to publish their work without the problems they experiernce in the Arab world. The book The Ostrich Egg, the Dutch translation appeared in 2001, got him the title 'Egyptian author of the year'. This autobiographical book relates about his journeys to Sudan and Egypt and about his prison years, owing to his involvement in leftwing student resistance. Basta's love of women forms the leitmotiv of the story. He worked as a journalist in Egypt and Lebanon and as s director for Iraqi television. He was director of the publishing house Dar Shondi in Cairo. Since 1990 Basta has been living in the Netherlands, working for Radio Nederland.
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Archive available for: Raoef Moesad Basta
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Humour in anxious days
In the media we often get to see angry muslims from the Arab world. You would almost think that they have nothing to laugh about and that we in the West have a bigger sense of humour. A programme hosted by Raoul Heertje on subjects and taboos concerning humour in the Arab and western worlds. Provocative cabaret artist André Manuel opens the debate with a column. Other participants are imam Abdulwahid van Bommel, Egyptian writer Ra'oef Moes'ad Basta, who lives in the Netherlands, and Kees van Kooten. With live jokes from the East and the West. In Dutch.
