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

We’ve just about made it through this long, arduous
week after the Eid holiday, and it’s been tough working normal hours again
after Ramadan, it really has. We’re excited, though; because Cairo is back in
full swing, and there are endless amounts of things to do around the city.

Thursday is always a good day for music,
and Wust El Balad will be blowing the roof off at Cairo Jazz Club while Sahra
will perform at After Eight. Ashara Gharby will play their funky world music at
Rawabet Theatre while up-and-coming group Talta Talet are worth checking out at El Sawy
Culturewheel.

Composer Omar Khairat couldn’t have picked a more inspiring spot
for his concert tonight. The multi-award winner will be in the gaze
of the Giza Pyramids as he performs his most popular and signature compositions, accompanied by a full orchestra. NubaNoor have featured some of the finest Nubian singers and composers over the
years, and you can catch one of their unique performances at El Tanboura Hall.

If you’re in the mood for dancing and looking to let loose, head
over to Arabella Country Club for Sound of Light; a night of house and trance with DJs Spiky,
Damarawi and Global Euphoria.

For an evening of raw amateur talent, head over to Darb 17 18 for Up on the Roof’s open-mic
night, where you can sing, dance, talk or just make a fool out of yourself.

Celebrities and NGO representatives will be present at the United Nations’ International Literacy Day, which aims to raise people’s
awareness and concern of literacy
issues in the world.The all-day event will be held in El Sawy
Culturewheel’s River Hall and will feature a live performance by Hamza
Namira at 4PM.

By all means have a nice long lay-in on
Friday, because you’ll need to recharge your batteries for the night ahead. Cairo
Jazz Club will host DJ Amir Sharara’s electric mixes and the irresistible
percussion beats of high-energy trio the Digital Monkeys, while Soot Fel Zahma &
Azraq Samawy will bring their respective rock and oriental sounds to El
Genaina Theatre, while Iraqi singer Mostafa El Ammar
will perform his repertoire of traditional Arabic pop songs in El Sawy
Culturewheel. For something a little more low-key but no less thrilling, check out the
Sayed Darwish Choir at Cairo Opera House.

If you feel like catching an independent film screening, Mohamed Rafiq Zaher’s film
Kheit Da’eef (Weak String) will be shown at El Sawy Culturewheel and will be
followed by an open discussion.

The photography of Alaa Taher, Basem Samir
and Hossam Hassan continues to show at Safar Khan Art Gallery as part of the charity exhibition To Egypt
with Love II, which runs till September 23rd.

Numerous artists who lived through Nasser’s
era have contributed to Gamal Abd El Nasser – The Dream at Picasso Gallery,
and the exhibition is worth a visit for its eclectic collection of artwork commemorating the Egyptian leader. 

Make every single minute of Saturday count
before you drag your heels back to work the next day. Two heavyweights on the
Cairo music scene are out to play; Salalem have a gig at Cairo Jazz Club, while Sahra will play live at El Genaina Theatre. For something a little more traditional,
check out oud player Hossam Samir, who will perform the songs of Om
Kalthoum as part of ‘Kalthoumiat’ in El Sawy Culturewheel.

It was a busy
Ramadan for El Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group, and they’re showing no signs of
slowing down with yet another show at Wikalet El Ghouri on Saturday night.

We are very excited about the Indian Colour
Festival at Swiss Club. Although tickets for this traditional Indian festival
are now sold out, you can check our feature on the event to find out about the
next edition to be held in October.

El Sawy Culturewheel always throws up some
interesting events, and this week is no different. Pop in at anytime during the
day to take part in the Political Parties Forum, which will also run into
Saturday. Alternatively, you can enjoy a trilogy of puppet shows.

There you go Cairo, enjoy!