The politics of urban murals in North Africa: Performing dissent and martyrdom in the city.

This article examines the evolving role of graffiti and street art as forms of political dissent and social performance in North African urban spaces, particularly in Tunisia and Egypt since the 2011 protests. It highlights how graffiti has become an unpredictable and largely unpunishable medium that challenges authoritarian control over public space by commemorating martyrs, expressing collective memory, and asserting marginalized groups’ “right to the city.” Through case studies of murals and performances in key sites like Tahrir Square and Tunisian streets, the article explores how these ephemeral artworks create counter-spaces that contest dominant political narratives, foster civic engagement, and reconfigure urban semiotics. It also addresses the complexities authorities face in regulating such expressions, given their participatory, performative, and symbolic nature within contested socio-political landscapes.