The closing night of the She Arts Festival on 5 October began with a heartfelt tribute to the female sponsors who helped make the event possible. The evening showcased a strong program featuring a wide range of female singers, musicians, dancers, and artists from various fields.
Following the tribute, Aida El-Ayoubi took the stage, guiding the audience on a musical journey spanning many years of her career. The stage was vibrant and colourful, with a large screen behind her displaying graphics, videos, and lyrics, especially for 90s fans eager to sing along.
El-Ayoubi’s timeless journey
Aida El-Ayoubi first captured hearts in 1991 with her debut album, which included the highly successful title track Aala Bali (On My Mind), a beautiful fusion of soft lyricism and patriotic themes.
El-Ayoubi wrote and composed most of the album's songs, showcasing her talents as a singer, songwriter, and composer. The album gained widespread popularity across the Arab world for its heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies.
After that memorable album and a series of concerts, El-Ayoubi retired from the music scene.
She made a comeback in 2011, focusing on spiritual and patriotic music that resonated with Egypt’s social and political changes at the time.
Notably, she collaborated with the Egyptian alternative rock band Cairokee on the song Ya El Medan (Oh, the Square), released shortly after the 25 January Revolution during a period of heightened national sentiment.
Homecoming at AUC
During her most recent concert at the AUC's Ewart Hall, the older audience had a chance to reflect on the past, while younger fans celebrated El-Ayoubi as one of Egypt’s icons in the independent music scene.
The venue held special meaning for her as well—she shared, “I graduated from the American University in Cairo, and I’m happy to be on this stage again after all these years.”
Amid warm applause from a full house, El-Ayoubi opened the evening with classic favourites such as En Kont Ghali Alaya (If You Were Dear to Me), Habibi Hen Aalaya (My Love Be Tender with Me), Asfour (The Bird), and Ya Ward Ala Fol We Yasmin (Flowers and Jasmine).
Accompanied by an orchestra, several compositions showcased the singer playing guitar or oud—both instruments that have become her distinctive artistic signatures.
Spiritual and patriotic highlights
She also performed a deeply spiritual song about Prophet Mohamed titled Ya Rasool Allah (O Messenger of God), accompanied by her oud. This heartfelt piece reflects her devotion, combining traditional musical elements with emotional vocals.
El-Ayoubi paid tribute to the esteemed songwriter Mostafa El-Halawani, who wrote Aftah Nafsak Lel Haya (Open Yourself to Life). This uplifting and hopeful song encourages embracing life with optimism and joy.
The night featured Ghusn El-Zaytoun (Olive Branch), a song she wrote for Palestine. “I wrote this song when I was at university; recently, I received a prize for it,” she shared. The song represents the long Palestinian journey of struggle and hope.
The concert also featured Misr Ana (I Am Egypt), in which El-Ayoubi embodies the spirit, history, and resilience of her country.
She closed the concert with her timeless masterpiece, Aala Bali, as the entire audience joyfully sang along.
Celebrating women’s creativity
The She Arts Festival is an annual event dedicated to honouring women’s creative contributions across diverse artistic fields, and this year marked its fifth edition, held from 2 to 5 October across Cairo, Alexandria, and the New Administrative Capital.
The festival brought together talented female artists from Egypt, Lebanon, Spain, and beyond, showcasing their work through a dynamic lineup of events. Attendees enjoyed music concerts, dance performances, theatrical productions, and music competitions.
In addition, the festival included visual arts exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses, a lively handicrafts bazaar, and film screenings, creating a vibrant platform for female creativity and empowerment.
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