Contents: Prelude: power and the play of music, Laudan Nooshin; 'The artist of the people in the battle': Umm Kulthum's concerts for Egypt in political context, Laura Lohman; Abd al-Halim's microphone, Martin Stokes; Mediated Qu'ranic recitation and the contestation of Islam in contemporary Egypt, Michael Frishkopf; Music, politics and nation building in post-Soviet Tajikistan, Frederico Spinetti; Music and censorship in Afghanistan, 1973–2003, John Baily; National traditions and illegal religious activities amongst the Uyghurs, Rachel Harris; Jews, women and the power to be heard: charting the early Tunisian ughniyya to the present day, Ruth F. Davis; Music and politics in North Africa, Tony Langlois; Singing against silence: celebrating women and music at the 4th Jasmine festival, Wendy S. DeBano; 'Tomorrow is ours': re-imagining nation, performing youth in the new Iranian pop music, Laudan Nooshin; The power of silent voices: women in the Syrian Jewish musical tradition, Kay Kaufman Shelemay; Bibliography; Discography; Index.