Voice of the Arabs
Encyclopedia
Voice of the Arabs (621 AM
), was one of the first and most prominent Egyptian transnational Arabic-language radio services. Based in Cairo
, the service became known as the main medium through which former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
spread his messages on Arab unity and revolutions across the Arab world. Despite its unmatched popularity in most of the 1950s and 1960s, the service no longer commands a large audience and does not play a significant role either in domestic Egyptian politics or in regional politics.
, one of the coup leaders at the time and later Egypt's president, was the main driving force behind the project. The idea of the service however, is said to have come from Dr. Mohammaed Abdel-Kader Hatem, who would later hold the post of Minister of Information. Up until 1967 the service was headed and managed by director and chief announcer, Ahmad Sa'id.
Unlike the press, which was not under the control of the new government until 1960, the government had a monopoly over the radio decided to use this to their advantage. Recognizing the immense potential of radio, Nasser devoted "considerable financial resources to the expansion of public broadcasting." Voice of the Arabs was first aired one year after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 as a half hour radio programme on Cairo Radio. Quickly, the show developed into its own radio station broadcasting across the Arab world
. A year after its initial broadcast, the service's transmission time was tripled. By 1962 the service expanded to broadcasting 15 hours a day. This expansion subsequently made Egypt the "dominant broadcaster in the Middle East and a major international broadcaster" during the 1950s and 1960s. The following decade, the service had expanded to 24 hours a day broadcasting.
, an Anti-imperialist
tone and the legendary voice of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Voice of the Arabs also called for the liberation of Palestine
and galvanized Arabs in North Africa, Iraq
and Yemen
to rise up against colonial and monarchical rule.
During what came to be known as the "Ahmad Said Era" (1953–1967), programming consisted of news, commentary on political topics, speeches by public officials including Nasser, talks by and interviews with various Arab political figures and dramas with political themes. Additionally, nationalistic songs by popular musicians, like Abdel Wahab
and Umm Kulthum, praising Nasser and his accomplishments and promoting Pan-Arabism
, were also a regular feature on the service. Music was utilized not only as a propaganda tool but also to attract listeners to "serious programs schedule adjacent to the musical programs." Frequently, Nasser's speeches would be broadcast immediately after a musical performance by Umm Kulthum.
While the audience for the service was broadly the whole Arab-speaking world, changing social and political conditions influenced the programming and the subjects for discussion. Targeted programs were designed for the Arab states of the Persian Gulf
, Lebanon
, Syria
and Yemen
.
views; it played a key role in propelling him to the leadership of the Arab Nationalist Movement
. The service was filled with declarations on Arab unity and statements which highlighted Egypt's and Nasser's roles as leaders of this movement. In 1954 it was declared on air that "the Voice of the Arabs speaks for the Arabs, struggles for the them and expresses their unity."
For the first three years of its broadcasts the service focused its attention on the political struggles taking place in North Africa. The service supported the causes of French-exiled Sultan Mohammed V in Morocco and Habib Bourguiba
's Neo-Destour Party in Tunisia
. As an expression of Nasser's anti-colonial stance, the service enabled and encouraged exiled Algerians to update Algerian followers on their activities. Voice of the Arabs supported Algerian revolutionaries not only by allowing them to utilize the services and facilities of the station but also by explicitly advocating in favor of the FLN's struggle against the French and broadcasting Anti-French propaganda.
The service then turned its attention eastward; Iraq and Jordan became the next targets of Nasser's anti-colonial rhetoric and broadcast. In an effort rid the Arab world from any Western influence, Voice of the Arabs launched a propaganda war against Iraq's then Prime Minister Nuri as-Said
, criticizing Iraq's participation in the Baghdad Pact. Voice of the Arabs also appealed directly to Jordanian citizens calling them to campaign against Jordan's potential participation in the Baghdad Pact. This continued until the Iraqi Revolution in 1958 when the Iraqi Monarchy was overthrown and Iraq subsequently withdrew its participation from the organization.
The nationalization of the Suez Canal
in 1956 by Nasser and the removal of British Forces from Egypt was also broadcast widely, contributing to the popularity of the service and the heightened level of concern amongst Western powers regarding the service. Combined with attacks on British and French allies in the region, this series of events led to an increased monitoring of Egyptian broadcast by Britain and France. Subsequent violent and non-violent efforts to silence the radio failed and contributed further to the radio's and Nasser's prestige and popularity.
Between 1956 and into the 1960s, Voice of the Arabs also gave expression to anti-British sentiments vis-a-vis its broadcast in North Yemen
. The service provoked action against the British presence in Aden (Southern Yemen), a move that was countered with Saudi-Arabian supported pro-British radio broadcasts from Aden. The Voice then took a more aggressive stance against Saudi-Arabia [to be continued]
Following the union with Syria in 1958 and the expansion of Egypt's transmitter power, the service was also used to promote liberation struggles in African countries south of the Sahara.
The decline in popularity was consolidated with the transmission of false reports during the 1967 war
. From the start of the war, the Egyptian military relayed updates from front to the service, yet not all reports had been true. Despite the defeat of the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian forces on every front by Israel, Voice of the Arabs' chief announcer and general manager, Ahmad Sa'id reported great victories. Days after the war had begun and Israeli forces had captured and the Gaza Strip
from the Egyptians, East Jerusalem
and the West Bank
from the Jordanians and the Golan Heights from Syrians, the Voice continued to report an Arab victory. Sa'id's initial claims that Egypt was winning the war were broadcast across the whole Arab world by other radio stations as well and contributed to the build-up of hope that victory was near. This made the eventual let down even bigger and cost the station its credibility. Sa'id was thereafter dismissed from his position, although the decisions behind the false broadcasting were not made by him but by Nasser. The Voice and Ahmad Sa'id later became known as symbols of Egypt's self-deception and the Voice could not regain its former reach or impact.
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
), was one of the first and most prominent Egyptian transnational Arabic-language radio services. Based in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, the service became known as the main medium through which former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
spread his messages on Arab unity and revolutions across the Arab world. Despite its unmatched popularity in most of the 1950s and 1960s, the service no longer commands a large audience and does not play a significant role either in domestic Egyptian politics or in regional politics.
The founding of Voice of the Arabs
Although there is some disagreement about who initiated the service, most media observers recognize that Gamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, one of the coup leaders at the time and later Egypt's president, was the main driving force behind the project. The idea of the service however, is said to have come from Dr. Mohammaed Abdel-Kader Hatem, who would later hold the post of Minister of Information. Up until 1967 the service was headed and managed by director and chief announcer, Ahmad Sa'id.
Unlike the press, which was not under the control of the new government until 1960, the government had a monopoly over the radio decided to use this to their advantage. Recognizing the immense potential of radio, Nasser devoted "considerable financial resources to the expansion of public broadcasting." Voice of the Arabs was first aired one year after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 as a half hour radio programme on Cairo Radio. Quickly, the show developed into its own radio station broadcasting across the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. A year after its initial broadcast, the service's transmission time was tripled. By 1962 the service expanded to broadcasting 15 hours a day. This expansion subsequently made Egypt the "dominant broadcaster in the Middle East and a major international broadcaster" during the 1950s and 1960s. The following decade, the service had expanded to 24 hours a day broadcasting.
Voice of the Arabs under Nasser
Under Nasser's presidency, and the leadership of Ahmed Said, the service was characterized mainly by the revolutionary fervor of the coup leaders' ideology, the promotion of Pan-ArabismPan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
, an Anti-imperialist
Anti-imperialism
Anti-imperialism, strictly speaking, is a term that may be applied to a movement opposed to any form of colonialism or imperialism. Anti-imperialism includes opposition to wars of conquest, particularly of non-contiguous territory or people with a different language or culture; it also includes...
tone and the legendary voice of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Voice of the Arabs also called for the liberation of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and galvanized Arabs in North Africa, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
to rise up against colonial and monarchical rule.
During what came to be known as the "Ahmad Said Era" (1953–1967), programming consisted of news, commentary on political topics, speeches by public officials including Nasser, talks by and interviews with various Arab political figures and dramas with political themes. Additionally, nationalistic songs by popular musicians, like Abdel Wahab
Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Mohammed Abdel Wahab , also transliterated Mohammed Abd el-Wahaab was a prominent 20th-century Arab Egyptian singer and composer...
and Umm Kulthum, praising Nasser and his accomplishments and promoting Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
, were also a regular feature on the service. Music was utilized not only as a propaganda tool but also to attract listeners to "serious programs schedule adjacent to the musical programs." Frequently, Nasser's speeches would be broadcast immediately after a musical performance by Umm Kulthum.
While the audience for the service was broadly the whole Arab-speaking world, changing social and political conditions influenced the programming and the subjects for discussion. Targeted programs were designed for the Arab states of the Persian Gulf
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf", are terms that refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering the Persian Gulf....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
.
Pan-Arabism
Voice of the Arabs functioned as Nasser's main vehicle in propagating his Pan-ArabistPan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
views; it played a key role in propelling him to the leadership of the Arab Nationalist Movement
Arab Nationalist Movement
The Arab Nationalist Movement , also known as the Movement of Arab Nationalists and the Harakiyyin, was a pan-Arab nationalist organization influential in much of the Arab world, most famously so within the Palestinian movement.-Origins & Ideology:The Arab Nationalist Movement had its origins in a...
. The service was filled with declarations on Arab unity and statements which highlighted Egypt's and Nasser's roles as leaders of this movement. In 1954 it was declared on air that "the Voice of the Arabs speaks for the Arabs, struggles for the them and expresses their unity."
Anti-imperialism/Anti-colonialism
The programming was also characterized by an Anti-colonial tone and a rejection of Western imperialism. On one occasion, the service announced that Voice of the Arabs was "in the service of the Arab nation and its struggle against Western imperialism and its lackeys in the Arab world."For the first three years of its broadcasts the service focused its attention on the political struggles taking place in North Africa. The service supported the causes of French-exiled Sultan Mohammed V in Morocco and Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
's Neo-Destour Party in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. As an expression of Nasser's anti-colonial stance, the service enabled and encouraged exiled Algerians to update Algerian followers on their activities. Voice of the Arabs supported Algerian revolutionaries not only by allowing them to utilize the services and facilities of the station but also by explicitly advocating in favor of the FLN's struggle against the French and broadcasting Anti-French propaganda.
The service then turned its attention eastward; Iraq and Jordan became the next targets of Nasser's anti-colonial rhetoric and broadcast. In an effort rid the Arab world from any Western influence, Voice of the Arabs launched a propaganda war against Iraq's then Prime Minister Nuri as-Said
Nuri as-Said
Nuri Pasha al-Said was an Iraqi politician during the British Mandate and during the Kingdom of Iraq. He served in various key cabinet positions, and served seven terms as Prime Minister of Iraq....
, criticizing Iraq's participation in the Baghdad Pact. Voice of the Arabs also appealed directly to Jordanian citizens calling them to campaign against Jordan's potential participation in the Baghdad Pact. This continued until the Iraqi Revolution in 1958 when the Iraqi Monarchy was overthrown and Iraq subsequently withdrew its participation from the organization.
The nationalization of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
in 1956 by Nasser and the removal of British Forces from Egypt was also broadcast widely, contributing to the popularity of the service and the heightened level of concern amongst Western powers regarding the service. Combined with attacks on British and French allies in the region, this series of events led to an increased monitoring of Egyptian broadcast by Britain and France. Subsequent violent and non-violent efforts to silence the radio failed and contributed further to the radio's and Nasser's prestige and popularity.
Between 1956 and into the 1960s, Voice of the Arabs also gave expression to anti-British sentiments vis-a-vis its broadcast in North Yemen
North Yemen
North Yemen is a term currently used to designate the Yemen Arab Republic , its predecessor, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen , and their predecessors that exercised sovereignty over the territory that is now the north-western part of the state of Yemen in southern Arabia.Neither state ever...
. The service provoked action against the British presence in Aden (Southern Yemen), a move that was countered with Saudi-Arabian supported pro-British radio broadcasts from Aden. The Voice then took a more aggressive stance against Saudi-Arabia [to be continued]
Following the union with Syria in 1958 and the expansion of Egypt's transmitter power, the service was also used to promote liberation struggles in African countries south of the Sahara.
Decline in popularity
The station's popularity was tied to Nasser's accomplishments and successes as President and symbol of Arab unity. Therefore, the lack of spectacular success for Pan-Arabism and Nasser between 1958–1967 contributed heavily to the gradual loss of credibility and fame of the station.The decline in popularity was consolidated with the transmission of false reports during the 1967 war
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. From the start of the war, the Egyptian military relayed updates from front to the service, yet not all reports had been true. Despite the defeat of the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian forces on every front by Israel, Voice of the Arabs' chief announcer and general manager, Ahmad Sa'id reported great victories. Days after the war had begun and Israeli forces had captured and the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
from the Egyptians, East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
and the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
from the Jordanians and the Golan Heights from Syrians, the Voice continued to report an Arab victory. Sa'id's initial claims that Egypt was winning the war were broadcast across the whole Arab world by other radio stations as well and contributed to the build-up of hope that victory was near. This made the eventual let down even bigger and cost the station its credibility. Sa'id was thereafter dismissed from his position, although the decisions behind the false broadcasting were not made by him but by Nasser. The Voice and Ahmad Sa'id later became known as symbols of Egypt's self-deception and the Voice could not regain its former reach or impact.