El warsha troupe performing at Beit El Set Wasila. Photo by Amira Noshokaty
El-Warsha members took centre stage between founding director Hassan El-Geretly and Musician Maged Soliman, smoothly unfolding their theme for the night — Ramadan rituals.
The theme focuses on Egypt's intangible cultural heritage during Ramadan, which is more of a cultural festival that continues for 30 days of art and spirituality.
El-Warsha opened with the famous Shokoko song "Your Love is a Candle, My Heart is Lantern," written by Fathi Qoura and composed by Mahmoud El-Sherif. Bahaa Tolba, El Warsha's talented singer and storyteller, performed the song.
The song was followed by a sequence of fawazeer Ramadan (Ramadan riddles), a traditional Ramadan ritual set to entertain those fasting during the holy month and tickle their minds. Shimaa El Alaily scattered several of renowned vernacular poet Fouad Haddad's Ramadan riddles and gave out candy to audience members who answered first.
Following the riddle, storyteller Samia Jaheen recited a witty poem by Fouad Haddad. Haddad depicts the passion for food that reaches its peak during the holy month when families and friends gather and compete to present signature dishes at their Ramadan banquets and many more.
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