CLEG on "holiday mode"

Just a quick note to let you know that CLEG will be in "holiday mode" till the end of the first week of January.
A happy festive season (to whoever celebrate it) and a great 2013 to you all!

End of year celebrations at Darb 17 18

The following is an announcement from Darb 17 18 regarding their end of the year event.

We at Darb 1718 Contemporary Art & Culture Centre have the pleasure of inviting all our friends to our Year End Celebration of 2012 on Friday December 21, 2012 from 4:00-11:00 PM. Come and join a relaxed gathering accompanied by arts, crafts, refreshments and live entertainment by local and international bands. This day is one of transformations: celestial, political and personal. Let us be together on this special day and celebrate Darb 1718’s 4th Anniversary.

Event Programme:
- DJ Imagika
- Al Darb Al Ahmar Arts School circus performance and percussion
- Mostafa Rezk Band
- An Erjul performance from Makan Egyptian Centre for Culture & Art
- Abo (Egyptian singer- songwriter and musician)
- Sandro Schneebeli & The Egyptian Connection
- All Star Jam

To join the event's bazaar, kindly fill in the booking form.
For more info. please check the Facebook Event Page.

Free Entrance

Eka3 presents Badiaa Bouhrizi and Darwasha this weekend

Eka3 presents a weekend of music in Cairo and Alexandria.

On Friday 21 December, 2012 Tunisian artist Badiaa Bouhrizi will perform at Makan, 9:00 PM
Address: Zaad Zaghloul St. El Mounira, Cairo. She will also provide a performance on Saturday 22 December, 2012 at al Cabina in Alexandria at 8:30 PM. Address: 11 Saint Saba St. Mahattet El Raml, Details here.

On Saturday 22 December, 2012 Egyptian artists in Darwsha Project will perform at Jesuit Center, 9:00 PM

RADIO LEWA

With the support of Pro Helvetia Cairo, Artellewa is launching Radio Lewa, a community art radio project and two workshops led by Swiss artists Joerg Koeppel and Mirjam Burgin.

The first workshop will take place from 21 December 2012 to 8 January 2013 and will introduce participants to basic radio techniques and experimental sound concepts. It will be open to Ard El Lewa residents of all ages. The second workshop will run from 21 December 2012 to 9 January 2013 where participants will develop concepts for experimental radio shows. It will be open to artists residing in Egypt and working in any discipline.

The programs produced during the workshops will be aired on Radio Lewa, a small radio studio at artellewa art space to be broadcast over the internet from 10 January until 31 January 2013. For more information please visit http://artellewa.com/2012/11/radio-lewa-workshops/

HISHAM EL ZEINY at Mashrabia Gallery

The exhibition "Takeoff.....Landing??" by HISHAM EL ZEINY opened on December 16, 2012 and will run until January 17, 2013 at Mashrabia Gallery, 8, Champollion St. Downtown, Cairo. Telephone Number: +20225784494.

This is how the author explain the theme of the exhibition:

The plane is considered a vehicle of transportation from a place to another.  Metaphorically speaking, a transition from one life situation to the next. In this exhibition I examine the imaginary scenario of an urgent trip undertaken by our national aviation, in which Egypt Air announces its unscheduled emergency Flight no. Jan 25 heroically attempting to head for democracy.. or better still "demo-crazy". Crossing heavy weather fronts, clouds pregnant with tear gas, volcanic eruptions of anger on the ground, buildings torched and obfuscating orientation, bullets cutting the sky echoing state terror, a revolution licking it's wounds and driven by a unique surge in a proud attempt to restore national pride and freedom. Due to the breakdown of navigation systems, and the total lack of vision, no further instructions can be given during this flight. Consequently because of the uniqueness of this venture, which relies on a risky autopilot, nightmarish images of the revolution manifest in front of the passenger's inner eye evoking fields of colors ranging from dusty mudbrowns over shady and heavy greys, shocked whites as lightning, sudden splashes of red eaten by thick oily petrol blue, all immersed in sharp toxic lucidity, giving way to rhythmic waves of the reds whites and blacks of our national flag...
For now the image remains blurred, things weathered.. a ruinous state, closer to standstill due to revolutionary fatigue and lack of fantasy in a so called orthodox establishment.
And yet, the mind keeps on spinning, inner images, "counterimages" of hope, an unfinished canvas, and as it is still in the making... it has no title yet.
The works on display highlight and reflect stages of this historical voyage, its takeoff which was mostly successful… and its landing remaining a mystery.

Christmas at the Cairo Jazz Club (with a Charity Event too ...)

The Cairo Jazz Club organizes two back to back Christmas music events on the 24th and 25th December, 2012 starting from 10:00 PM. In these occasions a special Christmas menu will be available.

On Saturday December 24, 2012 (Christmas Eve) CJC presents a tech, vocal house evening with DJ Mistletoe & Mayhem ft. Misty & Hafez.

On Christmas Day, Sunday December 25, 2012 the stage will be taken by the band GLASS ONION who will play for a Charity Event. Glass Onion have a very special playlist prepared for this Christmas presenting a more sophisticated spin-off to the legendary Beatles. All proceedings will be donated to The CANOSSA VOCATIONAL CENTRE. The Canossa Centre is an educational, vocational and training centre for the displaced Sudanese and Egyptian youth, women and children living in Cairo. They provide quality community-based education and services that equip refugees with all the necessary skills, educational support and encouragement to help build up their self sufficiency and self respect in preparation for repartition and resettlement into society. The Canossa Centre is composed of two sections; the kindergarten and the vocational centre for adults. For more information contact The Canossa Centre on 026376953 or visit their website: http://canossacentre.blogspot.com/ . 5 Abu Hashish Street, Helmiet El Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt.

SANDRO SCHNEEBELI & THE EGYPTIAN CONNECTION concert at MAKAN update

I got more information about Sandro Schneebeli & The Egyptian Connection at MAKAN on Thursday December 20, 2012 at 9:00 PM.
Here is MAKAN's press release of the event:

When guitarist and composer Sandro Schneebeli came to Egypt to perform in Art Beat 2012 Music & Art Festival, he fell in love with the country, its people, and its music. This week, the experimental musician comes back for another endeavour to explore more of Egyptian music, injecting its oriental sounds into his compositions. In collaboration with his "Egyptian Connection": Mohammed Medhat on Violin, Ahmed Nazmi on Bass, and Ahmed Hisham on Drums, Sandro Schneebeli promises an unforgettable evening of his original World Jazz compositions, infused with the unique flavors of the East.

Doors open at 8:30 PM
Tickets: 30 LE
Tea and Karkade are served
For information and reservations please e-mail: makan@egyptmusic.org

MakAn: 1 (Not 1a) Saad Zaghloul Street, 11461, El Dawaween, Cairo.
(on the corner of across Saad Zaghloul and Mansour street)
Tel: 00202 27920878
http://www.egyptmusic.org
www.facebook.com/pages/Egyptian-Center-for-Culture-and-Arts-Makan
Please click here for a map

SANDRO SCHNEEBELI (Switzerland) and MOHAMMED MEDHAT (Egypt) live concerts

The Swiss guitarist and composer SANDRO SCHNEEBELI has added two performances to the one that will take place on Sunday December 23, 2012 at the Cairo Jazz Club (click here for more information).
These two performances, in duo with Egyptian violinist Mohammed Medhat, will take place on Thursday December 20 at MAKAN and Friday December 21 at DARB 1718
Unfortunately I was not able at this stage to get the precise time for the performances. Please contact directly the venues for more information.

The Time That Remains: Movie Screening at Dina's Hostel

The Time That Remains (Al Zaman al Baqi) (2009/Palestine-Israel) will be presented on Sunday December 16 at Dina's Hostel at 7:00 PM

Director: Elia Suleiman
Language: Arabic, English, Hebrew.
English Subtitles
Runtime: 109 minutes

From the acclaimed director of "Divine Intervention", Elia Suleiman, comes another fantastical film "The Time That Remains". It's an examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day. The Time That Remains is a film that documents Elia's life and highlights the absurdity of the current Palestine/Israel situation.

Venue: Dina's Hostel,
42 Abdel Khaleq Serwat Street, Cairo, Egypt, 5th Floor

TEXTURES OF LIFE Art Exhibition in Maadi

TEXTURES OF LIFE an art exhibition by Anne-Francoise Giraud (France - Collage, mixed media) and Claire Marie Pearman (England - Installation sculptor, paper & metal) will be inaugurated in Maadi on Thursday December 13, 2012 at 5:00 PM (open till 9:00 PM).
The exhibition will continue on Friday 14 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM and Saturday December 15 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The exhibition takes place in Apt. 2 (ground floor), Bldg 56, Road 15, Maadi (across from Holy Family Church in Maadi).
A percentage of proceeds with be donated to Women's' Charities in Cairo.

For more information about the artists: www.anne-francoise-giraud.com & www.birchandarrow.com.

2012 NAGUIB MAHFOUZ Medal for Literature

Tomorrow Tuesday December 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM at the AUC Zamalek Dormitory, 16 Mohamed Thakeb St. (opp. Maraashli Church) the winner of the 2012 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature will be announced. For more information about the event, click here (you should register if you plan to attend).

To read more about AUC's Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, click here.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: RAMI ATALLAH QUINTET with MICHELLE ROUNDS

Join the Rami Atallah Quintet with special guest Michelle Rounds on vocals for a  swinging Christmas Concert in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek on Monday December 10, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Cancellation of Benefit Concert to support Syrian Refugees in Egypt

Culture Resource released the following announcement:

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) apologizes for the cancellation of the benefit Concert to support Syrian refugees in Egypt, which was supposed to be held on Saturday December 8, 2012 at El Gomhouria Theater, within the context of Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) initiative in support of the Syrian people. The cancellation is due to the political situation that the country is going through and Egyptians' preoccupation with the current political events.

IDIL BIRET at the Manasterly Palace

The renowned Turkish pianist IDIL BIRET will play music by Beethoven and Liszt (click here for performer's biography and evening's program) on Sunday December 16, 2012 at the Manasterly Palace in Manial.

It is possible that due to the current political events and situation of unrest, the concert might have to be cancelled. CLEG is not always informed in time to post an update. It might therefore be a good idea to double-check with the International Music Center (you'll find the numbers at the bottom of the poster below) on the date of the concert.

 

Update regarding the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference

The British Council recently provided an update in light of recent events regarding the cancellation of some events at the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference. Kindly schedule accordingly.

"In consideration of the events happening in Egypt, we announce the cancellation of all public events of the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference, on December 7 and 8. However, we will be continuing the discussions by posting keynotes online on Saturday December 8 on the conference website.
The Kids Read event, scheduled to take place in Cairo on December 8 as part of the Conference activities has been postponed.
Thank you for your understanding."

EDINBURGH WORLD WRITER'S CONFERENCE

The Edinburgh International Book Festival and the British Council will bring the Edinburgh World Writers' Conference (EWWC) to Cairo on Friday December 7 and Saturday December 8, 2012.

The two-day  conference will be held at the British Council in Agouza and the Civic Centre in El Gezirah, in partnership with Diwan Bookstore, the University of Cairo and the General Egyptian Book Organisation. The conference will include several major Egyptian writers who have been invited to participate in this global conversation. All events are open to the public.

The event in Cairo will bring some vital voices to the global EWWC debate, asking big questions. Poet and political commentator Tamim Al-Barghouti will ask the question 'Should Literature Be Political?' (Sat. at 8:00 PM) with a response from Scottish poet Aonghas MacNeacail. The second conversation will look at 'The Future of the Novel' (Sat. 1:30 PM). Writer and translator Sahar el Mougy will address an Egyptian and international audience to contemplate where literature is headed. British novelist Maggie Gee will respond.
These events will take place at the Civil Education Centre, El Borg Street, El Gezirah (click here for more details and map)

For more information about the EWWC, click here and here.

"MONO" Exhibition at Darb 1718

An amazing array of photographers (see complete list below) will participate to this year's Cairo Camera Club Exhibition titled "MONO".
The exhibition will take place at Darb 1718 and will be inaugurated on Saturday December 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM. The exhibition will continue till Friday December 14 and will be open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (4:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Fridays).

(click on images to enlarge)

MARWA ADEL Exhibition at Safarkhan Gallery

"The Journey" is an exhibition by Marwa Adel that opens today Tuesday December 4 and will run till Saturday December 29, 2012 at SAFARKHAN Gallery, 6 Brazil Street, Zamalek, Cairo.

Marwa Adel (click here to know more about the artist), a British Council's 'Grants to Artists' grantee, is a visual artist using photography, conceptual design and calligraphy to create artworks.

In her fifth solo exhibition with Safarkhan, Marwa explores the notion of "The Journey" of our lives. How we are trapped within the traditions and constraints of the past and our innermost struggles and our yearnings to be free from them. In Marwa's words: "A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. Life is too short to sit around thinking about every little thing that could go wrong. To live our lives to the fullest, we must first get rid of the fear inside us. Worrying solves absolutely nothing."

3X3 Art Exhibition at Al Kahila Art Gallery

Al Kahila Art Gallery (15, El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz St.Mohandessin, Giza, click here for map) presents 3X3, a collective exhibition of paintings and sculptures by 6 Egyptian artists.
The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday December 6, 2012 at 6:00 PM.
The exhibition will continue till Tuesday December 18, daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, except Fridays.

 (click on image to enlarge)

December at the Cairo Jazz Club

My CJC highlight of the month is the concert of Swiss guitarist and composer Sandro Schneebeli with "The Egyptian Connection" (Ahmed Nazmi, Hamed Hesham, Mohamed Medhat).
Schneebeli came to Egypt last October with his Jazz Quartet from Switzerland to perform at the Artbeat Festival and was deeply impressed by Egypt's music scene and warm welcome. So much so that he is already back for a concert with some of the friends he made on that occasion. Don't miss their performance on Sunday December 23 at 9:00 PM.

What else? As usual the month is packed with good stuff. Some more tips?
Techno House fans shouldn't miss DANCESTOCK's last two evenings on Wednesday 5 and 12.
While if you are into jazz, put a remark on your agenda for Sunday 9 when the Ahmed Nazmi Quartet will launch their new album.
And then American fusion singer Sheila Scribner, Basheer, City Band, Ashara Gharby, Wust El Balad, Salalem, ...

For CJC complete programme of the month, click here.

LEL SAMAR PROJECT

During their Pro Helvetia residency in Cairo, Swiss-Lebanese singer DIDA GUIGAN, and Swiss electronic musician MARCEL SAEGESSER, are set to perform the following public concerts in Cairo:

Friday December 7, 2012 at 8:00 PM:
100 COPIES MUSIC SPACE, 22 Talaat Harb St., 2nd floor, Downtown. Tel: 27738760.
Friday December 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM:
DARB 1718, Kasr El Sham St., Al Fakhareen-Old Cairo. Tel: 23610511.

These performances come as part of the LEL SAMAR PROJECT, which is constantly moving between so-called Arab and western traditions in search of its own place, words and sounds.
For more information: www.lelsamarproject.com

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012

The 35th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival took off yesterday and will go on till Thursday, December 6, 2012 at different venues throughout the city.
As usual the festival offers a selection of pretty good movies from all over the world, and for most of them this is the only chance you'll get of seeing them in a movie theatre in Cairo, so don't miss the chance.

For more information and a full program of screenings, click here.

Benefit Concert for Syrian Refugees at El Gomhouria Theatre

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy), in collaboration with the Cairo Opera House, will present a benefit concert on Saturday December 8, 2012 at El Gomhouria Theater. All proceeds will be dedicated to supporting Syrian refugees in Egypt and will be put in the Ministry of Finance bank account 600/600 – for helping Syrian refugees in the neighboring countries, number 7/81600/450/9.

The concert will feature the renowned Egyptian musician Abdou Dagher and his ensemble, the master Egyptian oud player Hazem Chahine, Syrian flautist and composer Naissam Jalal, and Sulyman Erguner of Turkey.

Concert starts at 8:00 pm.
Ticket price are 100 and 200 EGP

For more information please visit www.mawred.org

FAYROUZ KARAWYA concert postponed

I am sorry for not having posted earlier but due to the tragic event that caused the postponement this must have been quite a last minute decision and I came to know about it only yesterday evening.
The concert by Fayrouz Karawya scheduled to take place on Thursday 17 November 2012 at El Genaina Theater, has been postponed to Thursday 22 November at 8:30 PM to mourn the innocent children who died in a fatal bus-train collision in Assiut.

For more information click here to get to the event facebook page.

DIA MAKEEN Exhibition at Al Mustakbal Library

Dia Makeen Draws the Egyptian Countryside in 35 Paintings Introduced in "Helwa Ya Balady" Exhibition

In a unique show that reflects a new artistic view on Egypt’s landscapes and the countryside in every detail, Dia Makeen will showcase 35 paintings that were drawn with his hands based on various standards, while using different types of materials and painting tools. The vernissage of the exhibition will take place at Al Mustakbal Library, on Sunday November 25, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

This exhibition is the artist’s 35th exhibition. Dia Makeen is well-known for his passion for the Egyptian countryside which has been shown in his paintings over the years. Dia Makeen will continue to explore the magic of the Egyptian countryside in the upcoming exhibition.
Exhibition will run till December 2, 2012, daily from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: Al Mustakbal Library; 123 Gesr El Sues, After Maryland Park, End of Al Sibaaq St., Heliopolis, Cairo.

For more information click here (artist facebook page) and here (exhibition facebook page)

DANCESTOCK at the Cairo Jazz Club

Four Wednesdays, Four Local and Four International Dance Sensations, only at one place…
Cairo Jazz Club presents DANCESTOCK, an electrifying dance extravaganza starting from Wednesday November 21, 2012 and making its final stop on Wednesday December 12, 2012.
All performances start at 10:00 PM

Dancestock Wednesday November 21
Aly B - Tech House, Nu-disco
Dan Healy (UK) - Deep Tech House

Dancestock Wednesday November 28
Tamer Auf - Tech, Deep House, Electro
Oscar De Rivera (Spain) - Deep, Tech, Tribal House

Dancestock Wednesday December 5
Misty & Hafez - Tech House, Nu-disco
Patrick Hagenaar (Holland) - Tech, Funky House

Dancestock Wednesday December 12
Wetrobots 3 Bosaina - Electronic
DJ Ashibah (Denmark) - Groovy, Deep, Tech House

This is a guest list ONLY event so reservations are a must.
For reservations please contact 010 68804767. Reservation lines open daily from 5:00 PM
Cairo Jazz Club LLC |197, 26th July St., Agouza (Sphinx Sq)
www.cairojazzclub.com/location.htm

NUBANOUR at El Dhamma Theater

El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to enjoy a night with the Black Pearls, NUBANOUR, tonight Thursday November 15, 2012 at 9:00 PM at El Dammah Theater (formerly Al Tanbura Hall).

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP. Tickets by reservation 20 EGP (The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM).
For more information please visit www.elmastaba.org
For reservations: info@elmastaba.org or call 011 243 66 241 / 011 50 99 5354  / 0223926768

BEAUTY OF LIGHT

To all photography lovers out there ...

(Click on the image to enlarge)

PHOTOCAIRO 5 - A contemporary art project in Downtown Cairo

PhotoCairo 5 (More out of curiosity than conviction - A contemporary art project in Downtown Cairo) opens tomorrow, Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 8:00 PM simultaneously at the Townhouse Factory Space, at the Contemporary Image Collective, and at the Shopfront of Mahmoud Bassiouny street in Downtown Cairo and runs until Monday December 17.

PhotoCairo 5 is a large-scale contemporary art project organised by CIC and curated by Mia Jankowicz that explores the notion of paradigm shift.
PhotoCairo 5 is about ways in which reality is splintered and shifts of subjectivity are made. Involving international and local, emerging and established artists, this exhibition explores the ability of art to trigger affective responses within the viewer.
PhotoCairo 5 explores forces at play in reshaping reality, such as paranoia, the act of recognition, and altered states of consciousness. Bodies, materials and knowledges radically unreconciled to their political, architectural, institutional surroundings appear across the show: from the tale of a hysterical dancing spree near the site of the European Parliament, to an impossible monument to the revolution, and the absurd power dynamics of a re-enacted citizen's arrest gone wrong.

The project takes its title from a passing comment in Harun Farocki’s Videograms of a Revolution, in which existing footage of the Romanian Revolution of 1989 is narrated with attention to the position and motivations of the person filming. The comment refers to the decision – more out of curiosity than conviction – of a state TV camera operator to ‘glance’ the camera sideways at an emerging protest, against instructions. Farocki’s treatment of the material calls attention to this gesture over the depicted event. If art is to handle 'revolutionary acts', here the camera operator's innocent curiosity and bodily uncertainty takes the place of grand representational gestures, yet crucially, allow us to witness the awakening of a radical reality.

For a complete programme of events and maps of the venues, click here.
If you want to know more, at a glance, or you care for an Arabic version, click here.  

ALEXANDRIA STREETS PROJECT update

After the extensive field work in Alexandria the „Alexandria Streets Project“ will make its European debut on Sunday November 18 2012 at 11:00 AM at TAK, Prinzenstraße 85F, Berlin, Germany.
The curators Berit Schuck and Julia Tieke (Berlin), Caram Kapp (Spring Lessons, Berlin / international) and Omar Hatem (Radio Tram, Alexandria) will hold a discussion about the Egyptian radio landscape and the situation of online radios. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Sonja Hegasy, ZMO (Berlin).
The matinee will continue at 1:00 PM with a sonic expedition. Berit Schuck and Julia Tieke will present audio pieces and the sonic map of Alexandria which they have realized on the basis of field recordings and interviews with activists, architects, musicians, taxi drivers and other residents of the city.
The unlucky ones who cannot be in Berlin will see what it's all about on November 29 when all twenty audio pieces of the “Alexandria Streets Project” will be published on the project's webpage www.alexandria-streets-project.net
Still in Berlin, on Thursday November 22, Berit Schuck and Julia Tieke will talk about the concept „sonic map“ and the visualization of Alexandria's soundscape by the graphic design team EPS51 within the exhibition „Right-To-Left“ at Kunstquartier Bethanien. The event will be moderated by Marcus Gammel, Deutschlandradio Kultur (Berlin).

The project will then travel to Egypt with the launch of the sonic map of the „Alexandria Streets Project“ at the Goethe-Institut in Alexandria, 10 El Batalsa Street, Azarita on Thursday November 29, 2012. And on Saturday December 8, 2012 the „Alexandria Streets Project“ will be presented in Cairo at the Remix@100COPIES Music Space, 22 Talaat Harb Street, Downtown.

For more information contact: info@alexandria-streets-project.net

"Alexandria Streets Project" is curated by Berit Schuck und Julia Tieke, organised by west-östlicher diwan e.V. / arts programme (Berlin) and funded by Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa) in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Alexandria (Alexandria), Radio Tram (Alexandria), AGORA Arts & Culture (Alexandria), Spring Lessons (Berlin / international), EPS51 & Uqbar e.V. (Berlin).

TOLERANCE DAYS at El Sawi Culturewheel

In the framework of the "TOLERANCE DAYS", El Sawi Cultural Centre is presenting concerts from MASCARA on Tuesday November 13 at 8:30 PM, ANA MASRY on Wednesday November 14 at 8:30 PM and MASAR EGBARY on Friday November 16, 2012 at 8:00 PM.
Below please find the press release of this laudable initiative:

El Sawy Culturewheel launches a new campaign the aim of which is to promote and educate about tolerance (appreciation of differences). In the framework of the “Tolerance Days” gender, religion and culture aspect of tolerance will be discussed. The celebration starts on November 13 and lasts until November 16, 2012 when Masar Eghbari gives a concert on the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance. Mascara, Ana Masry and El Sawy Puppet Theatre are the artists who will also support the Tolerance Days. The campaign is conducted together with UN Egypt and NGOs supporting the idea of tolerance. UNESCO Cairo Office speaker will participate at the event.

Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. It is not only a moral duty; it is also a political and legal requirement. Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace[1].

The International Day for Tolerance is a good reason to remind people of this precious value. That is why Sakia is organizing Tolerance Days with many attractions such as concerts, workshops, booths and open discussions. During the three days in a row speakers from different fields will present their know-how, facts, data and useful tools and initiatives concerning gender, religious and cultural areas. Apart from that experts will be working on the recommendations on how we all might help to overcome the intolerance problem in Egypt. What is also worth mentioning is the fact that in Arabic there is no exact word that fully describes the meaning of tolerance (التسامح tasemah is more about the forgiveness). The way how language reflects culture will be also one of the issues discussed during the Tolerance Days.

El Sawy Culturewheel has built the coalition with the organizations both international and local dealing with tolerance problem in Egypt. The list of the partners supporting the Tolerance Campaign looks as follows: The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, Swedish Institute, New Women Foundation, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty in Egypt, Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance, Ann Lindh Foundation, IBM Corporte Citizenship Department, UN Egypt.

The campaign will be inscribed in the Year of Listening in Sakia. In the past El Sawy Culturewheel launched many campaigns which raised the topic of awareness concerning the most troublesome problems in Egypt, starting from environment protection, water, helping the poor, through smoking, sexual harassment and finishing on reasonable use of fireworks or horns.

Egypt is the country of love and taking care of each other, but some people seem to forget about this value deriving from human rights. The desired outcome of the campaign is to prepare a common statement about tolerance and encourage Egyptians to be more tolerant and open-minded.

More information about the Tolerance Days is available on the website www.culturewheel.com, info@culturewheel.com and on the Tolerance Days fan page http://www.facebook.com/events/370077959746403/permalink/370077963079736/

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[1] Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, Proclaimed and signed by the Member States of UNESCO on 16 November 1995, http://www.un.org/en/events/toleranceday/pdf/tolerance.pdf

(Click on image to enlarge)

FAYROUZ KARAWYA at El Genaina Theater

FAYROUZ KARAWYA was born in the coastal city of Port Said in Egypt. Her relationship with music and singing started early in her life when one of her primary school’s nuns discovered her beautiful voice and asked her to join the school’s chorus. In 1994, she obtained a three-year diploma from the Institute of Arab Music in voice/oriental singing, reading musical notes, performance and composition for the lute. She was enrolled in the Cairo University School of Medicine where she developed a special interest in psychiatry and received her bachelor degree in 2003.
During her medical studies, Fayrouz performed only one song, in the Egyptian movie "The Secrets of Girls". Fayrouz’s desire to be a professional artist made her join the Misaharaty Independent Theatre Group as an assistant director, a musical editor and a leading singer. She performed in three plays “Sehraya”, “Hakawi El Haramlek”, and “Helw Masr”. At the same time, Fayrouz joined the “Center of Artistic Creativity” at the Cairo Opera House where she worked as an executive director and music editor for the ‘King Lear’ spectacle. Alongside her musical endeavours, she participated in the making of a documentary film, ‘Six girls’. She also wrote a script for a short-feature movie, “Sabah el Fol”, which brought her the Golden Eagle Prize, presented by Rotterdam’s Arab Film Festival in 2006 for its “extra-ordinary narrative skills”.
In April 2012, Fairuz Karawya released her first album entitled "Bara Menny ", which has won the best-selling album award in the famous shop Virgin Megastore in the week following the release.

FAYROUZ KARAWYA will be on stage at El Genaina Theater in Al Azhar Park on Saturday November 17, 2012 at 8:30 PM

For more info click here (facebook page)

EL TANBURA at El Dammah Theater

El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to join El Tanbura Band before they embark for a tour of France that will touch the cities of Dijon, Montpellier, Strasbourg, and Paris among others.
El Tanbura will play tomorrow Thursday November 8, 2012 at El Dammah Theater (formerly El Tanbura Hall) at 9:00 PM

EL TANBURA

A quarter of a century ago, in the city of Port Said, a group of Damma and Simsimia artists undertook the responsibility to gather, keep, and revive this musical legacy which was under the threat of loss and vanishing. These artists responded to Zakaria Ibrahim's call for establishing a new band to achieve those goals. This was the beginning of El Tanbura band.

In the first five years the band successfully managed to gather 20 hours of that precious legacy which is orally transmitted through consecutive generations and had never been documented before. The band documented it in writing, recording, video, and photography. Very important are the live performances which have continued over 24 years and through which the band presents regular weekly shows on the beach of Port Said. These shows are presented free of charge to the people of the city whose ancestors had helped in creating this special heritage.

The band also presents two annual festivals held in the city streets: one is held in the spring and the other on Victory Day, December 23, which commemorates the peoples' victory over the tri-partite attack of France, Britain and Israel in 1956. The resistance songs which the people created during this attack and after have become an important part of the band's repertoire. The band has continued to compose new patriotic songs for other situations and events such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the American invasion of Iraq, the 50th anniversary of the nationalization of the Suez Canal, the war of 1956, the revolution of 25th January during which the band performed often in Tahrir Square, and, most recently, the first anniversary of this same revolution for which they composed the "Aadi El Dalma" song.

In 2003, under the direction and encouragement of El Mastaba, the members of El Tanbura established a school in Port Said for teaching a new generation this art of singing, percussion, instruments and dancing. Young Tanbura, as it is called, is run by Mohsen El Ashry, and this young band has developed to the point where they perform with a high level of professionalism in Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria and other places.

The ticket costs 30 EGP and is delivered at the entrance. But you can reserve it in advance and get it for 20 EGP only by writing at info@elmastaba.org or calling 011 50995354 or 0223926768. Reservations will be cancelled at 9:00 PM.
Door opens at 8:30 PM.
For more information please visit www.elmastaba.org

RIMA KHCHEICH at the Geneina Theatre

Al Mawred Al Thaqafy will bring the renowned Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich to Cairo for a performance on Friday November 16, 2012 at 8:30 PM at the Geneina Theatre in Al Azhar Park.

Rima Khcheich started her singing career at the age of nine as a soloist with the children's choir at the 'Arabic Cultural Club', and later evolved into a solo performance with the 'Beirut Oriental Troop for Arabic Music' under the supervision and direction of Maestro Salim Sahab. Rima studied the tradition of classical Arabic singing at The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music' in Beirut, and her efforts were supported by her father Kamel Khcheich who encouraged her to memorize and master classics from the Arabic music heritage like Muwashahat, Adwar and other styles. She has performed Zakariah Ahmad, Al-Kassabji, Sayyed Darwish, Kamel Al Khal'i and Muhammad Abdel Wahab, amongst others. In 2006, Rima Khsheish released her debut solo album, entitled 'Yalalalli' which not only reveals a deeply emotional and original musical expression, but also stands as a note of rebellion against the dictates of the commercial music market. Currently, Rima teaches Oriental singing at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music and is invited on a yearly basis to Massachusetts, USA where she teaches voice and classical Arabic singing at Mount Holyoke College under the framework of the Arabic Music Retreat program directed by renowned musician and composer Simon Shaheen.

For more info please click here (facebook page)

FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE OF ARAB MUSIC 2012

The 21st edition of the Festival and Conference of Arab Music will be inaugurated in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House on Wednesday November 7, 2012. The festival will continue until Thursday November 15 with daily performances taking place in the Mail and Small Halls of Cairo Opera House and at the Gomhouria Theatre.

As usual a program in English has not seen the light as yet (or if it has it has been kept a well guarded secret) and non Arabic speakers who wish to have a taste of Arab music are left with the only option to pick up an evening at random and hope that they find what they were looking for. It is such a shame, because in the past the festival has offered so many good performances (you can get hold of the inexpensive cd recordings of previous editions in the lobby of the Main Hall at concert time). I believe, this lack of promotion is also a disservice to the artists themselves that would benefit from a larger exposure. CLEG has been complaining every year, but nothing has changed. But I'll insist:

Dear Cairo Opera House,
Since you are taking the laudable and considerable challenge of organizing this festival, why not publicizing it better (it gets far less advertisement than other events) and provide a nice bilingual program with performers bio and a background on the various forms of Arabic music that will be played? This will be a great service to music lovers in Egypt, and will contribute to dispel the belief that Arabic music is only the clanky shrills we get out of the feluccas cruising on the beautiful Nile.
Sincerely,
Cairowanderer

PS: If anybody gets hold of a program, please forward it to me and I will gladly publish it

"I WISH I WAS EGYPTIAN" by Le Théâtre des Amandiers (France)

On Tuesday November 6 and Wednesday November 7, 2012 at 8:00 PM, the Gomhouria Theatre, in partnership with the International Relations Office of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the Cairo Opera and the French Institute, will host the French theatre company Le Théâtre des Amandiers who will present the play "I wish I was Egyptian".

Adapted from the famous novel "Chicago" written by Alaa El Aswany and staged by Jean-Louis Martinelli, the play takes the audience to a little Egyptian community whithin the University of Chicago.

The play denounces the Police State, the collusion between Egyptian and American secret services, as well as the use of religion as a tool to manipulate. In pre-Revolution Egypt, some of the themes dealt with by the author were potentially dangerous. Jean-Louis Martinelli is offering a fluid and clever stage adaptation in a theatrical narrative punctuated by songs. The play explores the intimate world of nine Egyptian migrants, damaged by the psychological harm done by an emigration resulting from the repressive policy of the Egyptian state.

Played in French, subtitled in Arabic. 

Free entrance.

A performance will also take place at the Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria on Thursday November 8 at 8:00 PM.

ANASTASIA TERENKOVA at the Manasterly Palace

Another evening of great classical music in Cairo!
The young pluri-awarded Russian pianist ANASTASIA TERENKOVA (for a biography of the performer and the complete programme of the evening click here) will be performing in the second concert of the International Music Center season on Sunday November 11, 2012 at 8:00 PM.
On the programme music from Scarlatti, Chopin, Liszt, and, "as the cherry on the cake", the sublime "Pictures at an Exhibition" from Modest Mussorgsky. This is a perfect programme for music buffs and for people who wish to familiarize themselves with classical music alike. Give it a go, am sure you'll not regret it!

Please remember that this concert season marks the return of the IMC concerts to their original venue, the Manasterly Palace in Manial.

Cairo Jazz Club November Schedule

The Cairo Jazz Club programme of the month of November features Basheer, Ashara Gharby, Wust El Balad, Salalem, Adam Miller, Los Compadres, and Massar Egbari among others.

Click here for the complete programme.

Contemporary Art from Another Perspective

Pro Helvetia is organizing, in cooperation with Al Gezira Arts Center, the screenings of 3 films from the Swiss Artist Ursula Biemann during the first week of November. The screenings will be followed by lectures and discussions by specialists in political science, economy and history in order to shed light on contemporary art and its relation to other aspects of knowledge.

Contemporary art is considered as an important source of human knowledge in modern societies. It plays a significant role in detecting and revealing contradictions in the society much easier than the rigid rational analysis. Pro Helvetia supports and disseminates contemporary art by starting a series of discussions about its role and relation to other aspects of knowledge through the perspective of specialists in history, political science and economy.

Saturday November 3, 2012 “ERUPLEX”. Lecturer: Mr. Sayed Mahmoud, journalist and historian.

Monday November 5, 2012 “X – MISSION”. Lecturer: Dr. Ezzeldine Choukry Fishere, novelist and professor of political science at AUC.

Wednesday November 7, 2012 “PERFORMING THE BORDER”. Lecturer Mr. Magdi Sobhy, economic analyst.

Screenings start at 7:00 PM, followed by lectures and discussions.
Admission is free.

Youssra Hawary at Genaina, Fri November 2, 2012

Singer and accordionist Youssra El Hawary will present her selection of songs at the Azhar Park's Genaina Theater on Friday November 2, 2012 at 8:30 PM. Youssra's songs are an endearing weave of innocence and irony. The act is supported by equally accomplished musicians Ayman Mabrouk (percussion), Shadi El Hosseiny (keyboards), Sedky Sakhr (flute), and Carl Capelle.

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC October 21-27, 2012

Wishing you a very Happy Eid filled with a lot of music. Pardon the reversed calendar as Saturday shifted to last day.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

- Le Corsaire Ballet in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ahmed Rabie Band (Jazz) in the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Arab Music Institute, 8:00 PM
- NOSTALGIA III with Ahmed Harfoush at the Heliopolis Sporting Club, 7:30 PM 
- Meshwar Band (Arabic Reggae) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

- Michelle Rounds (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM

- Samaa’ Band led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi, 7:30 PM

Monday, October 22, 2012

- Le Corsaire Ballet in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM

- Chikudo & Friends (Traditional Japanese) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ Tamer Auf & DJ Awadi Brothers (Tech, Deep House) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

- Le Corsaire Ballet in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM

- Hougaku Traditional Music Company (Japan) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- ZeroKhamseen (050) (Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

- Ahmed Nazmi (Jazz/Bass guitar) and Basel Rajoub (Jazz/Saxophone) at Makan, 8:00 PM

- The Ka-settes (Acoustic covers) and Deja Vu (Funk / Soul / RnB) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- DJ Dina El Ghareeb at the After Eight Club, 9:00 PM

- Michelle Rounds at Nile Kempinsky's Jazz Bar, 9:30 PM 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

- Elena Dzamashvili (Piano, Chamber Music) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Michelle Rounds at Nile Kempinsky's Jazz Bar, 9:30 PM 
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 8:30 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble at the Makan, 9:00 PM

Thursday, October 25, 2012

- National Arab Music Ensemble commemorates Kamal al Taweel at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Yehia Khalil Jazz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Arabic Stand-up Comedy in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Magna Khan (Arabic Folk) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

- Michelle Rounds at Nile Kempinsky's Jazz Bar, 9:30 PM 

Friday, October 26, 2012

- DJ MadLou (Progressive House) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM

- Michelle Rounds at Nile Kempinsky's Jazz Bar, 9:30 PM 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

- MET Opera Live presents Othello broadcast at Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM 
- Zeid Hamdan and Maryam Saleh at the Sawy Culture Wheel, 8:00 PM
- Sarah El Gohary and Salalem at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM 

12th Independent Short Film Fest October 20-23, 2012

The 12th Independent Short Film Festival hosted by Goethe Institut will present "New Shorts from Egypt" as part of it's annual program from Saturday, October 20, 2012  to Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Goethe-Institut, 5 Sh. El-Bustan, Downtown, Cairo

All films  with English or French subtitles

The “Independent Short Film Festival” is entering its 12th edition.

The festival provides a platform of presentation and discussion of short, often first films. This year´s program  “New shorts from Egypt” has 43 entries, the international program from the “German Film and TV Academy Berlin” includes 7 films, both fiction and documentary.


Nadia Kamal, independent filmmaker and producer, curated the section “New shorts from Egypt” with films from mainly young directors.

Kamal Aljafari curated the International program (at German Film and TV Academy Berlin) with contributions from students of the “deutsche film-und fernsehakademie berlin (dffb)”. Himself a filmmaker, he has been teaching the directors´ class at the academy. The program will be presented by young German filmmaker Cyril Amon Schäublin.

Jury
Ahmad Abdallah (director, producer)
Dina Hamza (director)
Randa Shaat (senior photographer and head of photography at Shorouk Newspaper)

The decisions of the jury will be announced on the October 22, 2012 after the last screening.


Program
A screening schedule and a catalogue will be made available for download at:
Click on the links for the Arabic version of the programme, or in English here.