Egypt

On a Cairo evening, the sound of the oud drifts through narrow alleyways, mingling with the steady beat of the tabla and the plaintive rise of the violin. These instruments, central to Egypt’s musical heritage, carry more than melody. They hold centuries of memory, weaving together strands of history, ritual, and identity. Traditional music in Egypt is less an ornament than an inheritance. It reflects the rhythms of daily life while echoing the country’s complex past. Across villages and cities, styles diverge yet remain deeply tied to place. Shaabi, with its exuberant tempos and streetwise sensibility, pulses with the concerns of ordinary people. By contrast, the refined strains of classical...