The Minya Arabic Music Festival ends its first round to the rhythm of the music of renowned Egyptian composer Sayed Darwish, Nevine El-Aref was tuned in On Minya Nile bank stands the imposing white Minya cultural palace with its modern architecture welcoming its visitors, who flocked from all over Upper Egyptian towns to attend the first Minya Arabic Music Festival (MAMF). In the foyer, there is a fine art exhibition displaying a large collection of paintings by 27 women artists from Minya. There are black and white portraits, landscapes, abstract paintings and another collection of images made of golden and silver threads. "My paintings strive to express the freedom, beauty and the important role of women," painter Nancy Habib told Al-Ahram Weekly. Somaya Abdel-Mawgoud drew portraits of Minya farmers which show the ravages of time in their faces. Naguiba Abdel-Hafiz has drawn two paintings of nude women walking on stones. These paintings were described by all the viewers as "very courageous". "Such paintings are totally unexpected coming from the conservative society of the Upper Egyptian town of Minya," said painter Nader Abdel-Wahab. For her, nothing should stand in the way of a painter's creativity, thoughts and mood. In the neighbouring hall, a collection of children's paintings are also exhibited. Walking on to the theatre, we heard the Minya Arabic music orchestra armed with qanoun, oud, req, nay, tabla, kamanga and coral rehearsing on the stage, waiting for the launching of the MAMF. "I am very happy to launch the MAMF, which I personally consider as a step forward for the General Culture Palace Authority [GCPA] and the performances of its Arabic musical groups, which take place all over Egypt," said Ahmed Megahed, head of the GCPA. He explained that four years ago when he was first undersecretary of state at the GCPA he realised that these groups were always performing the same music and songs. "Now with the launch of the MAMF, which will be a permanent annual event, they are forced to change their programme, especially since every year the festival will focus on the works of one of the late 19th and early 20th century Arab singers, composers or poets, such as the legendary singer Um Kalthoum, composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and poet Beiram El-Tonsi," he asserted. This year, which coincides with the 85th anniversary of the renowned composer Sayed Darwish's death, the administration of the MAMF chose his songs to be the main theme of such a festival. Megahed continued that having a mandatory theme will also be a means to develop the musical taste of spectators and to raise the awareness of the young about those pioneer artists whom they only know from books and documentaries. "It is also an exploratory trip inside every music group in Upper and Lower Egypt as they search for new singers and musicians who will represent the core of the GCPA's official Arabic music group," Megahed told Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that this newly formed official group will have special training sessions, as it will represent Egypt in national and international festivals. "It also allows re-evaluation of the GCPA's Arabic music groups, which will help in inspecting their qualifications, their weak and strong points, in an attempt to provide efficient help to improve them." Ahmed Ibrahim, director of the General Administration of Music and secretary-general of the MAMF said that Minya is the first leg of five other cultural events in Egypt that will end on 18 March in Alexandria, which is Darwish's birthday. Ibrahim said that every group must perform from eight to 10 songs by Darwish, two of which are obligatory and which will demonstrate the singers' vocal and the players' instrumental skills. These songs are Shed Al-Hezam ala Westak (Fasten your Belts) and Golal Al-Qenawi (Qena Pots). The Minya, Sohag, Assiut, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Luxor and Aswan groups are starting the festival and next month the Middle Egypt section will start its performances. Ratiba El-Hefni, head of the Arabic music jury, described the festival as a good opportunity to find new voices and musician players which will help in developing the Cairo Opera House music groups. She also adopted the Minya children's chorus and promised that they would participate in the upcoming festival. In an attempt to develop and support them financially, Megahed offered them new costumes and instruments, while Minya Governor Ahmed Diaaeddin offered them LE20,000. On the other hand, Mohamed Qabil, a member of the committee, said that during the three-day festival he realised that the orchestra conductors were in need of training. "Singing Darwish's songs are not like singing just any songs. They are more feelings than songs," Qabil told the Weekly, adding that "a singer cannot sing a song relating the story of a broken hearted man who is expressing the grief and sorrow of missing his lover with a smile and vise versa!" The Minya, Sohag and Assiut groups won the first three levels of the competition. Shaimaa Hassan from the Sohag group won the first level in singing (women) while Moha Ahmed from Assiut and Shaimaa Mohamed from Minya won the second and third levels. In men's singing Mohamed Abbas from Sohag won the first prize while Hassan Ismail won the second. The duo Omar Shehata and Salah Radwan won third prize. Members of Minya, Luxor, Aswan, Assiut and Al-Wadi Al-Gadid groups won several instrumental prizes. On the fringe of the festival Megahed and Diaaeddin agreed to host a weekly performance for Arabic music in the Minya culture palace not just to entertain Minya citizens but also to raise their music awareness and introduce them to pioneer singers, composers and poets. Monthly painting and theatrical workshops for children, youngsters and adults will be established in order to search for new talents.
