Exploring Cairo’s Underground Art Scene: Stories of Resilience and Artistic Resistance

As musicians, we all share an interest in Cairo’s musical landscape and in the complex political circumstances that shape the careers of its artists. Having had the privilege of meeting artists and activists from Cairo’s underground music and art scene, we decided to use our time to capture their stories and shed light on artistic practices in restrictive environments.

The objectives of our projects were to document the stories and experiences of Cairo’s independent artists, musicians, and filmmakers who operate outside institutional frameworks, while illuminating their creative processes, challenges, and methods of resisting censorship and political oppression. Secondly, we wanted to analyze how art in Cairo’s underground scene functions as a form of resistance against political oppression, government cultural policies, and propaganda. This includes exploring how artists leverage their work to challenge and critique societal norms, often at significant personal risk. And thirdly, we were aiming to foster dialogue, encourage exchange, and promote cultural understanding by contributing to our knowledge transfer platform through sharing interview content and film-captured art. This will facilitate a deeper understanding of Cairo’s underground art scene and its ongoing significance within Egypt’s broader cultural and political landscape.

Based on seven hour-long interviews, as well as documentation of various venues and performances, we have created a short film. The film features Egyptian musicians and artists sharing their experiences through storytelling. Additionally, it brings to light some of the performances that took place in Egypt. 

We want to thank the Goethe Institute in Cairo for our great residency and have to thank Underground Social for their amazing support and hospitality during our time in Cairo. Last but not least we want to thank all artists and people involved in the film for sharing their thoughts with us openly and making this knowledge transfer possible.