Author: Heba Moawad
Yesterday, at the small theater of the Egyptian Opera House, a ceremony was held to announce and distribute the awards for the “Best Practices in Preserving Urban and Architectural Heritage for 2025” competition, organized by the National Organization for Cultural Coordination, headed by consulting engineer Mohamed Abu Saada. The ceremony honored the participating and winning projects, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, and Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo. Tamara project wins grand prize The restoration and revitalization project of the Tamara building in Cairo’s Khedive district, owned by Ismailia Real Estate Investment Company, won…
Ever since the ancient Egyptians first left their mark on temple walls, the farmer has been the primary hero embodying the story of the land and the Nile. He was not merely a laborer who sowed and reaped, but rather a concentrated image of the spirit of Egypt, a symbol of fertility, generosity, and patience. In every historical era, the farmer reappeared, sometimes through the brush of an artist who translated his features into the hardness of the body and the depth of the gaze, and sometimes through the pen of a writer who made him a popular hero or…
With the arrival of Mawlid al-Nabi, celebrated today, when souls embrace with love and remembrance, the question arises about the presence of spirituality in Egyptian visual memory. Cinema, which has never been merely a screen, has captured from people’s lives what is deeper than their daily: their breaths in remembrance circles, their joy in celebrations, and their sincerity in popular rituals that blend religion and life until they become one face of identity. For centuries, Egyptians have celebrated this anniversary with rituals that combine spiritual serenity and popular celebration. It began with the Fatimid state, when processions took to the…
In the embrace of the Nile River and along the shores of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, Egypt weaves a tale of summer resorts through the ages. Nature intersects with history, and the spirit meets the place. From moments of tranquility on the banks of the Nile, where the first recreational outings took place, to historic beaches such as Ras al-Bar, Agami, and Gamasa, which have witnessed the presence of generations, to today’s resorts on the northern coast, Sharm El Sheikh, and Hurghada, the forms of summer resorts change and evolve. But their essence remains the same: a refuge where…
The experience of reenacting aspects of Egyptian civilization was incredible. In a world where history is often reduced to books and museums, Sam Kean chooses to brush off the dust and breathe life back into the past. Through his book Dinner with King Tut, he takes us on a unique journey through time—one in which history is not merely documented, but felt and lived through the daily experiences of ancient people.
When the tapes speak, official history falls silent. With this idea, Andrew Simon opened a different door to understanding popular culture in Egypt. Not all stories are told in official books, nor are all voices captured by microphones. In mass media, Simon listened to the whispers of cassette tapes, to what was hidden in conversations, markets, and the sounds emanating from cars, and to a history that rose from the bottom, rebelling against classifications. This is not just a book about a recording medium, but about a pivotal moment that changed language, taste, and power. In this interview, we meet…