Folk puppets keeping heritage of Egyptian satire alive

Aragoz, the squeaky-voiced Egyptian puppet, with a wooden head, red conical hat, thin painted moustache and a bright red cloth cloak, was recognised by Unesco in 2018 as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. Photo: AFP

In an era of on-screen entertainment, a simple glove puppet named Aragoz still lures Egyptian audiences with comic sketches showing how wits and skill can defeat the thuggish and corrupt.

Recounting stories with a thought-provoking moral in their tale, puppeteers evoke peels of laughter from spectators, mainly children, as they enact Aragoz's exploits, some of which date back centuries to Ottoman times.