Egypt’s Culture Minister Ines Abdel-Dayem has announced the launch of the Qena Festival for Music and Singing, which will take place in Dendera temple in Qena, Upper Egypt.

Scheduled to take place over six days, from 27 February to 3 March, the event is the first cultural and artistic festival to be held in Qena governorate.

The festival includes a large line-up of musicians and bands, including Medhat Saleh, Ali Al-Hagar, Dina El-Wedidi, Mai Farouk, Mohamed Mohsen, Massar Egbary, Black Thema, and West El-Balad.

Launched under the auspices of Egypt’s prime minister, the festival comes within the framework of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s declaration of 2020 as the Year of Culture and Awareness.

According to the culture ministry, the festival is organised with the support of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Anani and Governor of Qena and the South Valley University Ashraf Gharib.

Minister of Culture Abdel-Dayem underscored that the festival reflects the state’s belief in the role of creativity in building up society and individuals.

“Among the festival’s goals is working towards reshaping awareness and confronting intolerance in all its forms,” the minister said.

Abdel-Dayem added that the ministry plans on holding similar festivals in various Egyptian governorates, with Sharqeya governorate being next on the list.