Cairo’s drum festival began this week, bringing together over 40 folkloric troupes from around the world.
The 11th International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts began in old Cairo and will continue until the end of the week.
The event included performances by a Palestinian troupe as well as groups from Japan, China, and India.
More than 30 troupes from across Egypt are also competing.
Audience members clapped as Egyptian performers played songs they knew by heart.
The event began in 2009 with the goal of spreading a message of peace via spiritual music.
Percussions were an excellent method to bring everyone together. “We liked the message of peace and unity,” said Anouk Honore, a French woman who saw a concert at the festival.
The event focuses on drums because they were initially used in conflicts, and the organizer claims he wanted to use an instrument that was previously used for military purposes to discuss art and peace.
“We are trying as much as possible to communicate humanely with the world’s cultures to emphasize love, forgiveness, and peace,” says the festival’s founder and director, Intisar Abdel Fattah.
Several historical and cultural places were chosen to serve as backdrops for the festival’s presentations.
“I am very proud of Egypt for organizing such an event, allowing us to enjoy various cultures from countries around the world,” said Manal Kamal, who attended a show.