Algeria’s Egyptian Cultural Week opened on 4 June with performances by Masar Egbary and poet Zein El-Abedeen.

The festival, held at the Islamic Algerian capital Talisman, aims to strengthen relations between Egypt and Algeria.

Hossam Nassar, the Egyptian culture ministry's director of external relations, opened the festival with a speech.

“We came from the country of the million revolutionary to celebrate the anniversary of Algeria’s independence,” he said and added that Islamic culture didn’t erupt from nothingness and the secret of its greatness lies in its combination of Philosophy, Sufism, poetry and literature.

“It is the culture of Al Ghazaly and Ibn Rushd, of Ibn Timia and Al Halaj: of Al Gahez, Ibn Roumy, Naguib Mahfouz and Ahlam Mestaghanmy,” he continued.

He further emphasised that relations between the two countries have been witnessing a positive change since the Sebaeya Sufi troupe performed on 16 April

The Saber Abdel Sattar troupe then performed pieces by Um Kalthoum and Abdel Wahab as well as the Algerian singer Warda.

Massar Egbary also performed and Zein El-Abedeen recited poetry that glorifies the martyrs and calls for Arab solidarity.

The second day of the festival will include a children’s origami workshop as well as a theatre performance of Chaise Longue, while the independent Egyptian film Microphone will be screened on the third day.