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With "Egypt", Youssou N'Dour has recorded a deeply religious album. But this is nothing out of the ordinary, because, in West Africa, the relationship between pop music and Islam is quite close. By Max Annas and Dorothee Plass
Contemporary oud players are trying out completely new approaches to their instrument. While still relying on its tranquil tone, they do not hesitate to play with loud electronic amplification. Kersten Knipp offers an overview.
Islamic reform movements in Africa are booming, largely as a result of their commitment to social and educational issues. But in many places they have also taken on a political character and have adopted a rhetoric which rails against westernisation. By Roman Loimeier
Emmnuel Jal was forced to go to war as a child soldier in the Sudan People's Liberation Army. Now he is an up-and-coming star of the Sudanese and West African music scene with a political message for a worn-torn country. Max Annas reports
Operations to restore a woman's virginity are prohibited in Egypt, but are often performed all the same. They reflect a rejection of old concepts of morality which equate virtue with an intact hymen. Nelly Youssef reports