Abdou Cherif left, carried by his voice towards the heavens. 3528

Aziz Daouda, 1 y.

- Art - Music - Society -

1.6 min read.

I was driving back from Fez, when the radio channel which kept me company announced the sudden, dramatic, incomprehensible, unexpected, rapid, devastating and sad disappearance of Abdou Cherif. I adored, I adore and will adore until the end of my days this virtuoso whom I never had the chance to meet but whom television and YouTube subsequently made me discover and love. I, who adore Abdelhalim Hafed or Hafez and the beautiful Egyptian songs, find in him a certain continuity of the "belle époque"; that of the sublime musical drop; the one where lyricists like composers, conductors and performers surpassed themselves to offer the Arab public and not only the best of music. Inspired sometimes by deeply rooted popular arts, sometimes by musical tunes from elsewhere, even going so far as to explore Argentina Tango, they have bequeathed us a unique musical heritage whose richness we do not yet fully appreciate. Listening to Abdou Cherif performing Gabar or habibaha, we are caught in a whirlwind of magic by his captivating voice, strong, soft, expressive. The sound is crystal and the diction clear. Abdou sublimates this kind of song to make you forget the original… And then big surprise, one evening, at the Olympia in Cairo, he doubtfully gently announced that he was going to venture into singing "La Boheme". Charles Aznavour would have loved this moment so much. It was a triumph. And it's not over, Abdou will try the impossible and no one is bound to do the impossible, one evening in Casablanca he will amaze, surprise, by revisiting one of the standards of Moroccan Malhoum: Ghita. Who would have thought that one day this inveterate faithful of Abdelhalim would knock on the door of Lhaj Driss Benali Al malki and make him stand up in his two centuries old tomb. I am convinced that where he is, Driss Benali is smiling with satisfaction. No one has ever interpreted Ghita like Abdou Cherif, not even the great master Driss Toulali. This is the man who leaves us today forever, leaving us his voice, his smile, his elegance, his sensitivity and his audacity to stand up in large concert halls and take his fans on a journey beyond time. . When I arrived home, I stood in a corner, took my phone and started listening to endless extracts of his interpretations, spending more time on some where he had been at the height of his art, such as Rahila, composed by another of Moroccan music: Abdesalam Amer and performed by another beautiful voice that of the crooner Mohamed ElHayani. He also left early. A way of the deceased Abdou Cherif from a distance and to pray for the peace of his soul. I hesitated before offering you any of his interpretations: all of them are as perfect and beautiful as each other. Finally I said to myself why not Bohemia. You have a link down here. We belong to God and to him we return. Rest in peace Abdou.

youtu.be/hvM66SxNfJY?si=EAZNznev...

[Science #4] Precision Nutrition: Tailoring Your Diet Beyond Hunger and Excess 50

Fatima Zahra EL hajji (Tima EL), 4 h.

- Science - Health -

1.7 min read.

- Science Series -

Hunger and dietary excess may seem like opposite ends of the spectrum, yet both can undermine health. Too few calories disrupt essential physiological processes and energy metabolism, while chronic overeating—especially of nutrient-poor foods—can drive metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and raise the risk of long-term diseases. Ironically, consuming more nutrients than needed often fails to meet the body’s precise biochemical demands, accelerating cellular wear and potentially shortening lifespan. Emerging research suggests that certain calorie-dense foods, when consumed carelessly, may harm healthspan—the number of healthy years lived. Conversely, mindful nutrient intake—or even periods of moderate hunger—can sometimes benefit overall physiology more than habitual overeating. The key lies in recognizing that each individual’s nutritional needs are unique. This is the foundation of Precision Nutrition. **From "One-Size-Fits-All" to Tailored Nutrition** The term “precision” is often associated with medicine, where a treatment is matched to a patient’s genetic profile instead of relying on a standard prescription. That same philosophy is now transforming the way we think about food. Personalized nutrition moves beyond outdated dietary guidelines by using your genetic makeup, lifestyle, and preferences to determine which foods serve your body best. Your DNA might reveal, for example, that you absorb certain vitamins inefficiently, or that specific foods help stabilize your blood sugar more effectively. This approach empowers you to make dietary choices tailored to your biology—not to fleeting trends. **How Does It Work?** It starts with a DNA sample, analyzed for hundreds of tiny genetic variations known as polymorphisms. These influence traits like lactose intolerance, vitamin D absorption, caffeine metabolism, and sensitivity to salt or sugar. Using advanced algorithms, nutrition scientists translate this data into actionable diet strategies. For instance: - If your genes show low omega-3 absorption, your plan might emphasize fatty fish, flaxseed, or targeted supplements. - If you metabolize caffeine slowly, reducing coffee intake could help avoid sleep problems or anxiety. One striking example comes from the GC gene, which affects how well your body raises blood vitamin D levels after supplementation. People with certain GC variants may require more sunlight exposure or higher supplement doses to achieve optimal health. The power of personalized nutrition lies in decoding the relationship between your genes and every bite you take—turning food into a truly personal form of medicine. A comprehensive understanding of each individual’s unique nutritional needs—driven by genetic, metabolic, microbiome, and lifestyle factors—enables the development of personalized dietary interventions that have transformative potential far beyond individual health. Precision nutrition not only enhances quality of life and healthspan but also offers a pathway to optimize resource use and address global challenges such as hunger and malnutrition. Emerging perspectives highlight that precision nutrition, while often associated with high-income countries, is increasingly seen as a vital strategy to democratize health and tailor nutrition recommendations for entire populations, including those in low- and middle-income countries where malnutrition and food insecurity remain urgent issues. By leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven diagnostics, precision nutrition can target specific micronutrient deficiencies, metabolic conditions, and even genetic variations prevalent in different communities. This targeted approach moves beyond generic dietary guidelines, allowing for more effective, culturally relevant, and sustainable interventions that better meet the biochemical and physiological demands of diverse populations.