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

Here comes the first weekend in Ramadan, when our daily routine becomes entirely different from what we are used to all year round, and Ramadan tents take over for our weekly-dose of entertainment. If that’s your cup of tea, enjoy it while it lasts, but if not, no worries; Cairo’s many venues still have something for everyone. Here’s what’s happening during the weekend.

Thursday begins with a Nubian folk night at El Dammah Theater courtesy of El Kaff El Aswany, and a contemporaryArabic music night at Sufi Bookstore, where local band Abdeen take to the stage for a round of tunes that blends oriental, reggae, Nubian, and funk music.

Elsewhere, The Gypsy Jazz Project plays a round of Django-Reinhardt inspired tunes at ROOM Art Space, while EL Mustafaweya chant various religious tunes at El SawyCulturewheel, on a night called El Malhamma El Muhammadeya.

As for Ramadan tents, Galleria 40’s 3altawla is set to see pop star Mohammed Fouad taking to the stage for a round of tunes, while Sheraton Cairo Hotel’s Zad hosts a night that sees songstress Nour taking to the stage alongside violinist Azmy.

This Friday, Mashrou’ Roh take to the stage at 3elbt Alwan for a Sufi night
(Photo: Mashrou’ Ro7 / Facebook)

As for Friday, ROOM Art Space’s jazz night sees local band J.J Jazz band taking charge of the music, Sufi Bookstore’spoetry andSufi music night welcomes Egyptian poet Mahmoud Alaa to the stage, while local band Mashrou’ Roh is on the menu at 3elbt Alwan’sSufi night.

Another Sufi night takes place, but at Maadi’s KMT House, which sees El Hadra chanting some religious tunes, as part of its series of Ramadan nights called Tales of Cairo. Wael Gassar is set to be the star of the night at Triumph Hotel’s Sehraya as Boussy sings a round of her all-time favourites at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski’s Bab Al Qasr. 

When Saturday comes, Shady Al Qasser takes to the stage for a round of jazz tunes on the first night of Darb 1718’s Ramadan edition of MazzikaXElSat7, Do’souka sings various undergroundArabic numbers at ROOM Art Space, while Asyad El Zar serve some heavy zar beats at El Dammah Theater.

Qobet El Ghoury hosts a Tanoura show, New Cairo’s AUC  Campus hosts the screening of Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites, while the Oyoun Masr Orchestra plays various instrumental pieces at El SawyCulturewheel. Oka and Ortega seal the night with a round of shaabi tunes at Triumph Hotel’s Sehraya.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, check the Cairo 360 Events page for more things to do and places to go this weekend.