El Mastaba Center For Egyptian Popular Music

The Egyptian popular world is replete with its own music, yet, despite the fact that this represents a living cultural tradition, no attempt has been made to date to collect and document this rich popular creativity. 

            El Mastaba Center For Popular Music was founded in July 2000 as a first step towards the achievement of the following objectives:

1.      The collection and documentation of Egyptian popular music and associated arts, such as song and dance, via video and audiocassette and photography.

2.      The organization of performances by popular groups, in order to broadcast their creative achievements and to bring them into contact with one another.

3.      Assistance with the creation of a network of popular artists (individuals and groups).

4.      The publication of printed materials dealing with this music and enriching the discussion around it.

5.      The organization of conferences and seminars on popular music.

6.      Holding workshops to teach popular music in its own settings to preserve it from extinction.

The Center is technically and artistically equipped to receive researchers and others interested in popular music and to provide audiovisual materials on a number of popular groups, including artists from Port Said (El Tanbura), Ismailiyya (El Sohbagiyya, El Rango), El Matariyya, Daqahliyya Governorate (El Baramka), and Suez (El Hinna).  The Center also possesses audiovisual material on the zar. And we are going to continue our efforts in this field.