Egyptian Diary #2
From an early age in Gaza, I heard Egyptian music daily from my family, mixed with Palestinian traditional sounds. This was the soundtrack to my upbringing. The relationship between politics and art is obvious in the shared history between the two countries. This was true before 1948 when Cairo established itself as a modern influence, and when Egyptian musicians would come to Jerusalem, Yafa and other Palestin¡an towns, with musical movement in the other direction.
I found belonging in the "old" music of Egypt which seemed relevant to us, from Umm Kulthum to Sheikh Imam. The Egyptian school is still the pinnacle of what the Arab nation has devsloped. I have become convinced on this trip that the older generation of musicians here are a rare treasure from which we young musicians have a lot to learn if we want to progress.
— Reem