Inside The Middle East
SHOW #76
Hosted by Rima Maktabi from Amman, Jordan
"THE 99" - A NEW BREED OF SUPERHEROES
For the first time, superheroes "inspired by Islam" are fighting evil and taking on the world in the form of comic books and animation. The creator and publisher, Kuwaiti clinical psychologist turned entrepreneur Naif Al-Mutawa, was singled out by U.S. President Barack Obama at the March 26 Entrepreneurship Summit for "capturing the imagination of so many young people with superheroes that embody the tolerance and teachings of Islam." Schams Elwazer introduces us to the man and the concept on the eve of an announcement that a major U.S. distributor will air the animated series in the United States.
YOUR IME DIARY
We bring you highlights from events around the region in music and sports, from a Tom Jones concert to Lebanese politicians playing a friendly soccer match commemorating the anniversary of the civil war. In old Amman, we introduce you to artist Salam Kanaan. In Al-Ain, we feature the Tinariwen musical group, a collective of Touareq rebel fighters turned musicians who sing about conflict and exile, about community and the triumph of the human spirit. Tracey Holmes meets these Blues men of the Sahara at the WOMAD music festival.
CAMPUS FORUM
In a regular segment featuring discussions with the region's youth, Inside the Middle East goes on campus with students at Jordan University. Founded in 1962, it is the oldest university in the Kindgom and has the highest enrollment in the country with 36,000 students. We hold a roundtable discussion to address issues of education and employment oppportunities, censorship, and students' aspirations to help end poverty.
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