The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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For book lovers, besides disappearing into the pages of a book for hours and days on end, the joy that ensues from talking to other book lovers or brilliant authors is, beyond doubt, unmatched. With this in mind, if you’re a book lover, be prepared for the experience of a lifetime with the 6th round of the Cairo Literature Festival this April!

Kicking off on the 20th and running until the 25th of April from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM every day, the Cairo Literature Festival promises to be the beating heart of literary discussions, with the central theme being “The City and Memories”. The idea behind this is that Cairo, currently bursting at the seams and gaining international kudos, has undergone a million changes and transformations throughout time, which—in a way—potentially threatens the cultural memories we hold so dear in our minds of our beautiful city. Scepticism around this topic abounds, giving way to literary discussions concerning the significance of literature in preserving our cultural memories.

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This year, Al Ghuri Dome on Al Azhar Street will be home to the anticipated festival. An important historical landmark, Al Ghouri Dome is the perfect spot; it acts as a reminder of the cultural memories our beloved city is teeming with that we ought to use and preserve. There, multiple events are set to take place, from different seminars to poetry nights.

Bringing together some literary numero-unos, the Cairo Literature Festival warmly welcomes a diverse lineup of authors and literary professionals from around the world. From Zizi Shousha, the Egyptian poet and journalist, and Omaima Sobhy, the Egyptian editor and translator, to Christine Otten, the Dutch writer, performer, theatre director, and music journalist, and Ibtisam Abu Saada, the Palestinian poet, the festival stands as a spring of literary splendour. On the 20th of April, the festival is going to commence with a seminar given by the renowned Palestinian author and poet, Ibrahim Nasrallah, alongside the esteemed Egyptian author—and the honorary president of the festival—Ibrahim Abdelmageed.

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Throughout the festival, the event guarantees an extensive exploration of the theme “The City and Memories” by hosting a wide array of events with remarkable literary figures. Certainly, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t go, right?

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