CAIRO: The Washington DC-based “Busboys and Poets” arts program teamed up with Cairo's Darb 1718's “Up on the Roof” performance event this week for a wonderful evening of poetry and song. The “Busboys and Poets” program director Andy Shallal came to Cairo this week on a US embassy-sponsored cultural dialogue. An international activist, Shallal has been running his Busboys and Poets cafe in the DC-area for many years. His center provides an arena for thinkers, writers, artists and activists from progressive and social political movements in the US. Shallal ran a poetry workshop at Darb 1718 this week, after which participants read their poetry, spoken word and stand-up comedy aloud. The performers had a variety of experience, confidence and style. All of their works, however, were politically charged with the emotions elicited by revolution, freedom and change in Egypt. “This is my first trip to the Middle East to promote the arts,” said Shallal, who is of Iraqi descent. He added that he hoped it is the first of many. Shallal said that he is working to foster a dialogue between artists in Egypt and artists in the US. He plans to create a relationship between his own center in DC and the Al-Sawy Culture Wheel in Zamalek. “We are hoping to set up Skype sessions between the two centers to facilitate dialogue,” he said. “We run a very political program, and they are more culturally focused, so it will provide a nice balance,” he added. The name “Busboys and Poets” refers to the former US poet-laureate Langston Hughes, who worked for many years as a busboy. Shallal highlighted Hughes' work, explaining that the poet wrote often of his discontent with US politics and racism. He likened the night's burgeoning Egyptian poets to Hughes, as they wrote on similar themes of politics, peace, freedom and solidarity. Additionally, Darb 1718 hosts its “Up on the Roof” performance poetry nights every first and third Thursday of the month. BM
