The Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Art Centre will open its 18th International Summer Festival on Saturday with a concert by Dina El Wedidi and her band.

The well-known singer and songwriter will perform pieces from her repertoire, which is rooted in her Egyptian heritage but also features wider African and global influences.

In addition to her song Tedawar W-Tergaa, re-launched in an acoustic version this week and dedicated to its late writer Mido Zoheir, El Wedidi will perform other popular tracks like Al-Seirah, Kotr El-Wagaa and Fi Belad El-Agayeb.

The two-week festival, which is operating under strict safety measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is dedicated to late Egyptian folk dance icon Mahmoud Reda, who passed away on 10 July at the age of 89.

The festival will feature a variety of performances and lectures on different art forms.

On Sunday, it will host Fouad and Mounib and Michelle Rounds band while, film director Adel Adeeb will give a master class entitled “The Role of the Film Director.” The five-day “Low Budget Filmmaking” workshop, conducted by the film director Ahmed Rashwan, will also kick off on Sunday.

The programme also includes a stand-up comedy performance by Mohamed Helmy on Monday and a performance of El-Leila El-Kebira by Fabrica on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina orchestra, with conductor Nayer Nagui, will perform a selection from famous musicals.

Cultural events and activities in Egypt were resumed last month as part of phase one of the country's reopening after the COVID-19 shutdowns. All events are being held under strict measures that include social distancing, obligatory masks, and sanitisation.

Programme:

Opening concert: Dina El Wedidi

Saturday, 15 August, 9pm
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Open Air Theater

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