Page 235 - Religion, Media, and the Public Sphere

22. Sakr (2001, 116–117) notes that, in satellite television advertising, a substantial
proportion of the ads are for American- or European-owned companies. This also seems
to be the case, in most instances, for advertisements in this terrestrial broadcast.
The full sequence of the tape, from Fazzura to Fazzura, is this:
1. Karikatir (“Beans Are My Friend” riddle)
2. Su¤ song, 9:00
3. Adhan, 11:30
4. Family planning ads, 16.56
5. Bank Faysal al-Islami, 18:26
6. Wedding dresses (Abudi), 19:26
7. Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 19:57
8. Crystal. 2:25
9. Chicken bouillon 20:56
10. al-Ahram locks, 21:25
11. Toshiba, 21:55
12. Riri baby formula, 22:25
13. Samna, 22:55
14. Pasta, 23:26
15. Abnuri window blinds, 23:54
16. Tatou tomato paste, 24:22
17. Kubi tomato paste/sauce, 24:43
18. Fil¤la, 25:14
19. Meatland, 25:43
20. Juice concentrate (sharbat), 26:42
21. Dura corn oil, 27:01
22. Smokers toothpaste, 27:31
23. Adel Abu Hemila wedding dresses, 28:01
24. Crystal Asfour (gives Ramadan greetings), 28:49
25. Juhayna Yogurt, 29:19
26. Perfume (woman going out on a “date”), 29:49
27. Sa"d cars, 30:20
28. Announcer for Fawazir Ramadan, 30:50
29. Radio and TV logo, 31:30
30. Noritake ad, 31:40
31. Back to ERTU introduction, 32:09
32. Fawazir, 32:38; end of Fawazir introduction, 38:27; end of Fawazir story,
51:05; end of Fawazir program, 54:37.
23. Although the types of programs available on television have increased dramati-
cally, still the most prominent form of Egyptian Ramadan television, in local terms and
in terms of academic writing, is the musalsal—a dramatic narrative broadcast in ¤fteen
to thirty episodes. For more on narrative television, and also for an examination of a
non-narrative Ramadan program, see Abu-Lughod 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004; Armbrust
1996, 11–36; Diase 1996; Seymour 1999; and Gordon 1998.
24. Bayram al-Tunsi, another prominent vernacular poet, may also have been in-
volved in these broadcast fawazir. He published a collection of riddles under the title
Fawazir Ramadan (al-Tunsi 1962).
25. In its initial migration to television, Fawazir Ramadan was performed by the

224 Walter Armbrust