Kalam Nawaem (Arabic: كلام نواعم, English: "Sweet Talk") is a one-hour, female-hosted Arabic talkshow that airs late Sunday evenings on the satellite network MBC1. Premiering in 2002, it is credited with pushing social boundaries on Arab television. As of 2007, it was classed among the top-10 programs in the Arab world and commanded the highest ad rates on MBC.[1] In a notable 2011 episode, the program hosted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[2][3]

Kalam Nawaem
Also known asSweet Talk (English title)
GenreTalk show
Presented byOctavia Nasr
Fawzia Salama
Muna AbuSulayman
Rania Barghout
Country of originUnited Arab Emirates
Original languageArabic
Production
Running time60 min
Original release
NetworkMBC

The show's format was inspired by the American television series The View and features four female hosts of different ages, Arab nationalities and points of view.[4] The hosts are Muna AbuSulayman, Mahira Abdel Aziz, Sally Abdel Salam, Nadia Ahmad, Samar El Mogren, Hala Kadim and Nadia Ahmad. The show discusses controversial topics and taboos in the Middle East such as gender equality, terrorism, incest, sexual harassment, rape, child abuse, infidelity and divorce. The presenters also read correspondence from viewers. Parts of the show have been censored by MBC.[1]

Some of the women have also shared their personal lives with the audience. In one episode, Besiso's then-boyfriend proposed to her on the show, and later Besiso allowed the program to document her pregnancy and televise the birth of her child.[1]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dishing Democracy". PBS.
  2. ^ "Video: Hillary Clinton on Kalam Nawaem (interview in English with Arabic subtitles)". MBC. Archived from the original on 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
  3. ^ ""Kalam Nawaem" hosts Hillary Clinton, in an exclusive milestone appearance on an Arab Satellite". MBC.
  4. ^ Rizavi, Zehra (21 August 2009). "A New "View" of Arab Women". Altmuslimah. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.