Comedians born in Tripoli

Libya's capital and biggest city, Tripoli faces the Mediterranean from the coast of North Africa, its medina, still enclosed by old walls, curling around a harbour with centuries of history. Phoenician settlers founded the city, and later rulers, Roman, Ottoman and Italian in turn, left behind monuments such as the Arch of Marcus Aurelius.

Instability has marked recent years without displacing Tripoli as the seat of Libya's government and commerce, and a small but determined arts scene, alongside Arabic-language comedy, is helping restore everyday cultural life, with performers such as Nour El-Refai part of that effort.