Tahrir voices to echo in London

Four months after the start of the revolution, Egyptians in the UK capital plan to celebrate it and affirm its continuation

Voices of Tahrir Square - London is an event organised by United Egyptians that will take place on 4 June 2011. It will be a day of revolutionary entertainment, culture and political discussion.
The program
A panel discussion will be held from 4:00-6:00p.m. to discuss the latest political developments in Egypt. The panellists include George Ishak (political activist and former coordinator of the Kefaya party); Amr El-Shobaky (author and political analyst at Al-Ahram Centre for Strategic Studies); and Yehia Mostafa Kamel (political columnist at Dostor and Al-Quds Al-Arabi).
Following the discussion, London will celebrate with revolutionary songs and music. The Choir project will be holding a week long workshop at London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and will showcase at the concert at 7:00p.m. on 4 June. In addition, Cairokee band and singer of the revolution Ramy Essam will entertain the guests.
According to the event's organisers, United Egyptians, they chose a date four months after the important events in January to celebrate what has been achieved in the revolution so far, to remember the many sacrifices made by Egyptians and to re-energise Egyptians in London to continue the struggle.
George Ishak is scheduled to speak about the Egyptian revolution's goals, what has been achieved and what has not. He will also highlight the importance of the upcoming elections. Ishak told Ahram Online that he accepted the invitation because “Egyptians abroad are part of our Egyptian community. They need to know what is happening back home. They can help Egypt from wherever they are. They can do scientific research and investment and can also help Egyptians find scholarships in different fields.” He added that the previous regime was hostile to creativity, research, and science, but that now the doors are open for everyone.
According to British-Egyptian Vivian Ibrahim, one of the founders of United Egyptians and a history lecturer at SOAS, “the reason why United Egyptians (in co-operation with al-Multaqa and Ekaa) are holding this event is to remind both Egyptians and non-Egyptians that the revolution continues and we remain committed to it. Moreover, as Egyptians living abroad we wish to promote involvement and political awareness among Egyptians living in the UK; to continue to lobby the Egyptian government to concede the right of Egyptians abroad to full political participation through voting in all elections and referenda and to facilitate this through Egyptian missions abroad.”
Who are United Egyptians?
On the eve of the 25 January Revolution, concerned Egyptians living in the UK formed United Egyptians. The group was the brainchild of Mowafak Abdelghani, an anaesthetist based in Manchester. He formed the group with his brother Mohamed Abdelghani (a London psychiatrist); Vivian Ibrahim (a university lecturer in London); Rafik Bedair (a colleague in Manchester); and Ammar Nouh (an engineer in London who has since left the group).
The core group of organisers began working together informally at the time when the Egyptian political scene seemed to be crying out for change, first with the appearance of Mohamed ElBaradei on the political scene and then with the murder of Khaled Said in Alexandria by the police. Before forming United Egyptians, the group organised protests in London in response to the killing, their first leap into political activism.
Their mandate is to bring together Egyptians living in the UK and promote their involvement in the Egyptian political scene, unifying them in support of the demands of the 25 January Revolution and calling for voices of Egyptians abroad to be heard. Since its establishment, United Egyptians has aimed to show solidarity and support with the process of reform and democratisation taking place in Egypt and to give the revolution a voice in the UK.
From its inception United Egyptians made clear it has no political or religious group affiliation, but supports the basic demands articulated by the revolution. They believe that only the Egyptian people should have the right to decide their future and that any process for building a new civil society should be led from within the country. They also believe that Egyptians abroad have a pivotal role to play as an integral part of Egyptian society.
The Choir project
Ahram Online spoke to Salam Yousri, founder of the choir project minutes before his departure to London. Yousri is travelling with only four members out of his 30-member choir. For the next week he will be training over 10 local singers from London and they will come up with songs in Arabic and English that reflect the revolution themes and others agreed on by the group. “We will hold rehearsals every day for nine days and the group sitting together in one room will create something that represents their taste and their flavour,” said Yousri. They will be rehearsing in SOAS university theatre.
“It all started when some people in London saw the online videos of the choir and invited us to play in London. They wanted the whole choir to come but we had no budget for this and they are a non-profit organisation. Also our aim is networking not touring,” said Yousri who adds that the most important thing for him is to spread the idea of the choir – the art of self expression through singing by amateurs.
Since its creation in May 2010, the choir project formed by musicians and amateurs has a new flavour with each new set of performers – leading to constantly changing performances and continuous training for amateurs. The first choir was titled “The Complaints Choir,” and others include the “Ads Choir,” “Proverbs Choir,” “Utopia choir” and the latest “Either me or you.” The choir uses colloquial aphorisms as a send-up of issues like congested streets, police corruption and endless arguments with cab drivers, all tackled with subtle humor. Since the revolution began, the Choir project has performed regularly at the top of the month in various theatres, including Tahrir stages and other streets, an opportunity denied them by the previous regime. Joining the choir does not require previous experience with music or singing.
Revisiting London
Political activist George Ishaq is excited to return to London, as he is in touch with the Egyptian community there and has been there several times before. His last visit was in December, when he met with the Egyptian Movement for Change. On New Year's Eve, when the two Saints cathedral in Alexandria was bombed, he attended a protest with other Egyptians at the Marble Arche.
Proceeds beyond the cost of the event will go towards programs for treatment and rehabilitation of those injured during the revolution as well as towards an innovative program to re-train and employ those who are unable to continue working in their former trades.
None of the bands are paid as United Egyptians is a non-profit organisation.