CAIRO: A survey of taxis around the city would leave one thinking the Egyptian musical landscape consists of little more than Um Kulthoum, Saudis reciting the Quran, Amr Diab, and a few other contemporary pop singers. But Makan, a sub project of the Egyptian Center for Culture and Art, aspires to rectify current musical and cultural homogeneity by infusing Cairo with the rich artistic traditions native to the region. According to their statement of purpose, the ECCA exists “(to) encourage the diversity, specificity and vibrancy of Egypt's cultural scene as a strategy to counter cultural uniformity, consumerism and an increasing intolerance for the marginal.†Fending off these external forces that threaten to quench native music, the ECCA works to preserve tradition by both recording and promoting. Hence Makan was opened as a downtown center to host regular, live performances of “The Mother of the World’s†indigenous music. Currently, Makan hosts 2 weekly shows on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 9pm. Its venue charms. A lightly decorated room holds about 50 chairs, with a small double-rowed balcony above. Level with the audience, the artists perform on the first floor. The spotlights hardly discourage the feeling of intimacy as the performers bless the crowd with winks and knowing looks. The show confers an array of emotions, ranging from languor to exultation. During the intermission, the hand drums are lowered, the house lights turned up, and hibiscus and traditional teas are passed around. There is no pretense about the place and the performers take their smoke break with everyone else, chatting with the crowd, a mix of Egyptians and ex-pats. Tuesday night regularly features the program’s composite performance entitled “Nass Makan†which musical director Ahmed el Maghraby describes as a “new creative experience†according to the organization’s website, egyptmusic.org. “Nass Makan†combines musicians from an array of folk traditions; creating a rich amalgam that couples modern instruments, like a full drum kit and the saxophone, with poly-rhythmic hand drumming and the arghoul. On Thursday, November 12, the diversity and novelty of “Nass Makan†will be plumbed even deeper as regular performers are joined by a selection of Norwegian musicians. Not afraid to experiment and explore is Makan. This unique performance, with the addition of the violin and other Western instruments, will surely be a noteworthy blend of influence and direction. The show begins at 9 pm. Makan engages local heritage more deeply than the surfeit of “traditional†music performances rendered for tourists throughout the city. Taking its mission seriously, Makan is successfully making its plea heard for the perpetuity of the traditions and art that are truly at home in Egypt. BM
