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About Cairo
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Culture is alive and well in the open air museum that is Egypt with its great Sphinx, its pyramids and its historical ruins. The country has nurtured a love of art that can be traced back to the pharaoh’s and has evolved constantly trough the years to become the vibrant media that it is today. Geographically straddling two different world s, North Africa and the Middle East, Egypt has become infused with their flavour, later it assimilated whatever new was brought in during the era of western colonisation. While, and despite, acquiring a multi-layered complexity the country has managed to keep a cultural identity that has remained totally Egyptian. Today all these influences flavour Egypt’s cultural life as it stands firmly on its own two feet mixing the old and the new to their best advantage. Although, most of Egypt’s rich culture stem from a social and cultural tradition that is Arab and Islamic, cultures well represented in the songs of the great diva Um Kalthoum, (1904- 1975) and in folk dancing which is being revived by local dance companies, it also incorporates elements of western and American cultures. It was in the 19th century that European cultural institutions such as the theatre and the opera began to surface in Egypt. The most famous of these institutions is the Cairo’s Opera House. Commissioned by Khedive Ismail to coincide with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Contrary to public opinion, the first opera performed was Rigoletto, not Aida which was performed later in 1871. Unfortunately the building was destroyed by fire in 1971, to be replaced by the New Opera House www.cairoopera.org , a gift of the Japanese offered as a token of friendship between the two countries. The building was completed in 1988, making Egypt the only state in the region that built two opera houses in a century. Situated on Opera Square, the imposing Opera House, with its adjoining Cultural Center, is Cairo’s main venue for drama, dance, and film, music (old and new, religious and profane). The opera house has its own opera group, orchestra and corps de ballet. The trend was followed by the opening of painting galleries, the formation of theatre groups, and classical and folk dance companies. Responding to a recent world-wide interest in Arabic and Middle Eastern cultures, a renaissance has occurred in Cairo with the emerging of a new movement, the Avant Garde. This group of independent artists have begun making their mark on both the local and international market scene using photography and videos as art mediums. One such venue is the Gallery for Contemporary Art on Nabrawny Street in downtown Cairo. Founded in 1998 as part of a recently formed council called the Arts Council of Egypt it offers an opportunity to artists to enter the global art scene in the field of photography and videos. Before its opening nobody in Cairo showed photography as an art medium. The American University in Cairo (AUC) also has art and photography exhibitions, theatre productions, concerts given by music al, folk dancing, and marionette groups. For more info please check their web site www.aucegypt.edu To find out about the numerous cultural centers varied programs, lectures, films, music, exhibitions, and other cultural events check your Yellow Pages, consult the monthly magazine Egypt Today www.egypttoday.com , the newspaper Al-Ashram Weekly www.ahram.org.eg either at the newsstands or online. Literature is prominent in Egypt starting with the towering literary figure of Naguib Mahfouz Nobel Prize winner for literature 1998. His chronicles of the city rival with those of Charles Dickens. Not to be missed are the works of the controversial feminist writer Nawal el Saadawi. Born on the outskirts of Cairo she was a doctor and psychiatrist’s before she launched her writing career, she is the founder of the Arab Women Solidarity Association. Her most famous book is the Hidden Face of Eve written in1977. Other delightful books are the Yacoubian Building by Al Aswany and Oleander Jacaranda by the British author Penelope Lively. For a unique treat, book lovers must visit the Book Sellers Market at Soor Al Azbakeya, near Al Attab Square 10 minutes from Khan el Khallili. The market is a well organised street of book kiosques crammed full of old books, new books, old magazines, comic books, travel books most in Arabic but several in English, French, or German. A veritable book heaven. Cairo is full of book stores with some, situated mostly in the predominantly expat neighbourhoods, specializing in English and French publications, check your Yellow Pages for more info. Cairo the largest metropolitan area in Africa has been for centuries one of the major cultural capitals of the Middle East More than an ancient theme-park travelogue of things to do ancient ruins bargains to collect. |
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