The sixth She Arts Festival, held under the slogan "Voices of Peace – A Global Symphony," will feature artists from Poland, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Japan, India, and Syria, alongside Egyptian performers. The festival, founded and directed by Nevine Kenawy, is an international arts and cultural festival focused on women artists and female-led creative projects. Its programme combines performances with workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and opportunities for artistic exchange and collaboration.
The festival will take place primarily at the American University in Cairo’s Tahrir Square campus, with additional events in Cairo and Alexandria. The Arab programme includes Syrian-born, UAE-based singer-songwriter Ghaliaa, whose music combines Arabic and English with R&B, indie pop, and jazz. Syrian-Algerian artist Tala Tourgane draws on both Levantine and Maghrebi musical traditions, combining original songs with pieces connected to the music of her childhood.
Egyptian performers include Safa Al-Helaly, a folk musician and rababa player from Sohag who is described by the festival as Egypt's first professional female rababa player. Her work combines Sa'idi traditions and the epic poetry of the Sira Hilaliyya with contemporary arrangements. Another Egyptian highlight is Story of Hera, a contemporary dance and physical theatre work choreographed and directed by Shahenda Bahgat. Drawing on mythology, the production explores feminine archetypes, power, and emotional survival through movement and theatrical expression.
The festival will also present a tribute to Egyptian composer and musician Hany Shenouda, whose work with Al Massrieen helped introduce psychedelic rock, funk, disco, and electronic influences into Egyptian music. The tribute will reinterpret his repertoire through a female-led musical production. Other Egyptian highlights include singer Marwa Nagy, known for her interpretations of classical Arabic repertoire, and a joint performance by opera singer Farah El-Dibany and singer Nesma Mahgoub, bringing together Western classical music, pop, rock, musical theatre, and Arabic musical traditions.
The Al-Nour Wal-Amal Orchestra, an ensemble of blind and visually impaired women musicians based in Cairo, will also perform. The orchestra performs Western classical and Arabic music and has toured more than 30 countries. Among the participants from beyond the Arab world is DUALITY, a Polish duo formed by violinist and white-voice singer Daria Butskaya and musician Spacepierre, who performs on drums, keyboards, and electronics.
Drawing on melodies from the Polish-Belarusian borderland, the duo combines folk and world music with contemporary electronic sounds. From Italy, jazz singer, composer, and lyricist Costanza Alegiani brings together folk traditions, contemporary jazz, and experimental sounds. She founded the Folkways Trio in 2017, drawing on American folk music and traditional ballads, and has also performed with Italian jazz ensembles and orchestras.
Portuguese fado will be represented by Beatriz Felício, whose debut album was released in 2024 through the Museu do Fado. Hungarian singer Mónika Lakatos, an Oláh Romani artist, will present the vocal traditions and oral heritage of the Roma community. The programme also features Czech vocalist, songwriter, and vocal coach Mirka Novak, and Indonesian singer-songwriter INIS, who combines indie pop, alternative rock, and electro-rock.
Key points
- The sixth She Arts Festival takes place in Cairo from 1 to 4 October.
- The festival features artists from Egypt and around the world.
- The programme combines performances with workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and opportunities for artistic exchange and collaboration.
