“Have you heard the latest joke?” is a question many Egyptians use to greet their friends. In Egypt, jokes serve not only as a form of chitchat but also as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges and as a medium for political commentary. Particularly during times when freedom of expression is severely restricted, jokes become a subtle, witty way to release negative emotions and address taboos without significant consequences.

In Egypt, jokes can be categorized into two types: those spoken openly with anyone, and those that are forbidden due to explicit political or sexual content. There’s also a notable masculine-feminine duality in joke-telling; many adult-themed jokes are exchanged primarily in male gatherings rather than among women.

These jokes are a collective creation, with no single author, and over time, some become classics. Since the establishment of the republican regime in 1952, a subcategory of jokes targeting the president has emerged. The president is often out of touch with the public, and direct criticism is rare, except during the tenures of Sadat and Mubarak. While the press has played a role in political criticism, jokes have remained a primary outlet, maintaining their status as a form of street art.

Egyptians are known for their sharp, straightforward sense of humor. Even in everyday conversations, they naturally make fun of everything, a trait described as having “light” blood دمه خفيف
meaning a good sense of humor. Conversely, someone with “heavy” blood
دمه تقيل
lacks this trait. This humor, deeply ingrained in the Egyptian spirit, allows Egyptians to spot imposters in media portrayals that fail to capture their unique flair.

The tradition of using humor for social and political commentary is ancient. Our ancestors, the ancient Egyptians, used jokes in artistic expressions, such as drawings on papyrus scrolls and inscriptions in tombs and temples, to mock daily situations and social norms. They depicted lazy workers, drunk individuals, and other everyday scenarios humorously. The trope of the mouse and the cat, symbolizing various values, such as power and weakness, richness and poverty, justice and injustice, was also common in their satirical works.

During the Roman era, Egyptian humor even annoyed the Romans to the point of barring Egyptian lawyers from Alexandria’s courthouses, as they mocked Roman judges and their incompetence. Throughout history, Egyptians have used satire to defend the innocent against political oppression. They even had a Neter of jokes and comedy, the Neter Bes, depicted as a puffy-cheeked dwarf with a fan-like beard, who also served as the protector of the house.

In contemporary Egypt, there exists an art form similar to stand-up comedy, but primarily based on jokes. Performers sing short satirical songs on social topics, known as “monologs,” interspersed with a series of jokes. This blend of singing and joking creates a unique performance style. Two icons of this art are Ismail Yassin, a famous comedian in cinema and theatre, and Hamada Sultan, a monologist and performer.