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

It’s the
big three-day weekend we’ve all been waiting for, and there’s no time to spare.
Some Cairenes may be travelling out of the city, but they’re missing out on a
fun-filled weekend in the capital.

After a well-deserved Thursday off, head over to Cairo Jazz Club and celebrate Salalem’s
recent release of their debut album Kelma Abee7a. Fresh off his hip-hop
radio DJ gig on NileFM, DJ Feedo is back at Stiletto Lounge in Giza, where
he’ll be banging out more hip-hop and r&b than you can handle. On the other
side of the Nile, Egyptian music trio Black Theama will bring their fun, groovy
music, charismatic personalities and infectious rhythms at El Sawy
Culturewheel.

In
celebration of the 20th anniversary of the independence of Armenia, folk singer
Arsen Krikorian will perform live with his band at El Gomhouria Theatre in
Downtown, while Cairo Opera House will celebrate 6th October with a concert by
the National Arab Music Ensemble. Meanwhile, the Bedouin Jerry Can Band will
blow the audience away at El Tanboura Hall by playing percussions on the
remains of Israeli war equipment in addition to their simsimya. Now that’s one
way to interpret it…

Up on the
Roof is back at Darb 17 18 on Thursday night, where you can take part or just
enjoy a night of diverse performances by the city’s amateur talents.

If you
like kooky modern design, the Spanish-based Injuve Creation awards have supported
young and emerging designers in Egypt, and have brought some truly unique
projects to an exhibition at the Gezirah Art Center. The Semiramis InterContinental
is currently hosting ‘Preservation
& Wildlife: The Other Side of Sinai’; an exhibition showcasing the diversity and
breathtaking beauty of Sinai through the lenses of some of Egypt’s most
talented young photographers.

You’ll
have a hard time deciding what to do on Friday
night, because DJ Carlos will be at Cairo Jazz Club with the best underground
house and commercial dance tunes, while DJ Feedo will be weaving his r&b/hip-hop
magic at Purple. If that wasn’t hard enough, Salalem will be blowing El
Sawy’s Culturewheel roof off, hopefully with tunes from their stellar new album.

If you’ve
been planning to go to Art Café in Maadi to see Phillipe Devlay’s unique
collection of artworks; Friday will be the last day of the exhibition, which
closes at 8PM. Alternatively, ‘Field Statements: Images From Tahrir Square’ is
a new exhibition that presents the works and viewpoints of artists who experienced
the January 25th revolution and interpreted it into art.  

Saturday might signal the end of the
weekend, but that doesn’t mean that Cairo will slow down. Live music is
provided by salsa and flamenco connoisseurs Fuego, who will play at El Sawy
Culturewheel, and Foo2 2el Soto7 who will fuse jazz harmonies with Latin, funk
and Arabian grooves at Cairo Jazz Club.

You can
also head to Wikalet El Ghouri in the heart of El Hussein to enjoy a night of
spiritual music combined with traditional dance performed by El Tannoura Dance
Group. Take advantage of being in that great location and have a walk around El
Hussein to Zeinab El Khatoun courtyard for shisha and tea while listening to
the occasional live oud concert.

Mashrabia Gallery will host the launch party of new book Cairo-Lucerna-Coira. This unique art book is a
result of an exchange of postcards and poetry between friends in Cairo, Lucerna
and Coira. In addition, Cairo-born Armenian Georges Kazazian will perform at
the gallery.

If you
want to wind down the weekend with a bit of culture, you can visit one of the
many exhibitions being held, including ‘Path of Hope’; a group exhibition by
two Egyptian artists living abroad who have reacted to the events of the
January 25th revolution through their craft.

And that’s
it, Cairo! Hope you soak up the sun and enjoy this relaxing long weekend!