#SceneArts: EGYPT’S ‘LIVING CITY OF THE DEAD’ AS SEEN BY AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN PHOTOJOURNALIST ED KASHI At the heart of the Citadel of Salah El Din in Old Cairo, the captivating narratives of a vital part of this locale's history unfold—the stories of those residing within the 'Living City of the Dead'. As part of Cairo Design Week, the Cairo-based photography school Photopia curated and hosted an exhibition featuring the work of acclaimed American photojournalist Ed Kashi. This collection stems from his visit to Egypt in 1993, during which he spent three weeks in the City of the Dead. In this exclusive CairoScene & El Fasla interview, the photographer guides us through the exhibit, where images from the past come to life within the historic Citadel's walls. Against the backdrop of Cairo's rapidly changing urban landscape, Kashi urges viewers to contemplate this archival documentation of a community and landscape on the brink of disappearance. 🖊️Farah Desouky @cairoscene & @elfaslaonline "مدينة الموتى الحية" ده كان الاسم اللي اطلقه المصور الأمريكي إد كاشي على منطقة المقابر في مصر، لما قدر يعيش مع سكانها اللي وصل عددهم في 1993 ل120 ألف ساكن عايشين حياتهم بشكل طبيعي كل يوم بين القبور. إد وصل مصر بشكل أساسي في مهمة لناشيونال جيوغرافيك لكن جذبته الحياة الغريبة اللي رغم الموت اللي حواليها، فيه قلوب نابضة وضحك وأفراح كل يوم. وفي قلعة صلاح الدين الأيوبي ضمن أسبوع القاهرة للتصميم وبالتعاون مع فوتوبيا، شوفنا صور مشروع "مدينة الموتى الحية" واتكلمنا مع المصور عن نظرته وإزاي قدر يوثق اللقطات دي.

With the Creative Industry Summit whirling energetically into Riyadh’s Jax District this April 23rd to 25th, SceneNow Saudi caught up with Neamat Khalil and Mai Salma, the founders behind this spectacular summit.

#SceneArts: AWARD-WINNING VISUAL STORYTELLER HEBA KHAMIS ON CAPTURING ‘BANNED BEAUTY’ A photojournalist turned visual storyteller, a two-time winner of the World Press Photo, an Alexandrian woman, but most importantly: a cautious researcher and speaker, Heba Khamis. Born and based in Alexandria, Egypt, Khamis began her career covering the 25th of January Revolution, documenting on-ground protests and conflicts. Years later, she delved into long-term projects, viewing them as a journey of connecting with people and centring their voices before her lens. As part of Alex Photo Week 2024, Khamis showcased a photo series shot in Cameroon, titled ‘Banned Beauty’. The project, which started in 2016, remains one that Khamis reflects on to this day, as she sifts through images and questions her attempt at capturing a violent practice without vilifying the procedure or sensationalising the young girls subjected to it. The project addresses breast ironing in Cameroon, a procedure widely practised in rural areas. As Khamis entered family homes and spoke to mothers and young girls, she came to understand their fear of sexual violence and teenage pregnancy. “Out of every 1000 girls in Cameroon, 127 are teenage mothers. Mothers opt for the procedure to provide them with better opportunities in life; it’s a protective measure,” Khamis tells CairoScene. During @alexphotoweek, World Press Photo displayed the project as part of the ‘Resilience’ exhibition, which selected award-winning World Press stories from across the globe, showcasing and spotlighting the struggles of womanhood in different contexts. We had the opportunity to speak to Khamis about her project and her visual approach at large. 🎥 @cairoscene

May El Ghety on her role in the popular Ramadan series 'Massar Egbari' and her journey to TikTok fame. 🎥 @elfaslaonline & @cairoscene

#SceneArts: EGYPTIAN STAR ASMAA GALAL ON HER COMEDY DEBUT AND HIT RAMADAN SERIES ‘ASHGHAL SHA’A’ While she’s known for compelling roles in poignant social dramas that have moved millions to tears, Asmaa Galal takes a comedic turn this year. Portraying Yasmine, a new mother of twins married to Dr. Hamdy (Hesham Maged) in 'Ashghal Sha’a', Galal dives into her first comedy role. The series features 15 episodes filled with the comical trials of parenthood and the challenges of finding the ideal babysitter, as suggested by its satirical title. Directed by Khaled Diab and penned by Shereen Diab and Khaled Diab, the show blends situational humour with an authentic portrayal of love and parenthood. Galal and Maged strike a delightful balance between comedy and heartfelt moments. In this exclusive interview with CairoScene & El Fasla, Galal shares her initial apprehensions about exploring new genres, the dynamics on set, and whether she’s up for another comedy project. Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews with the stars behind Ramadan 2024’s series. 🎥 @cairoscene & @elfaslaonline