The American University in Cairo launched today the second edition AUC Tahrir2025 CultureFest in its Tahrir campus. This year’s festival celebrates Cairo as a global city — a vibrant mix of cultures that bridges Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world. The opening ceremony
In his remarks at the launch event, AUC President Ahmad Dallal said, “For over a century, AUC has been a gathering place for public lectures, debates, performances, exhibitions, and cultural exchange. We continue this tradition tonight, welcoming artists, scholars, and audiences from across the city and beyond.” Dallal added, “Your enthusiasm drives us to continue building this festival as a space for connection, creativity, and shared experiences. This year, we explore Cairo as a Global City—a meeting point of Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world. As a cultural hub of the Global South, Cairo is where heritage, people, and history converge in a dynamic and evolving landscape.”
The first day of the festival featured a special celebration of the Armenian Alphabet Restoration Reveal in the Armenian Room. The Armenian Ambassador to Egypt, Armen Sargsyan, and guests from the Armenian community in Egypt joined the AUC community to celebrate the newly redesigned 38-letter Armenian alphabet in the historic Armenian Room, showcasing the first recorded Armenian proverb as a tribute to Armenian heritage and Cairo’s community. As part of the experience, Mohamed Mandour’s documentary The Mashtots Alphabet will be screened throughout the weekend in the Armenian Room. It explores the 4th-century creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots, its role in preserving Armenian identity, its links to ancient languages, and its use as a numerical system — taking viewers through iconic landmarks where the script has stood the test of time.
The opening night activities also included the inauguration of the Heels Over Head art exhibition by senior students of AUC’s visual arts program. In this exhibition, young artists critically examine issues that range from personal struggles such as anxiety, guilt, or childhood trauma, while others address socio-political issues. Topics range from the deterioration and limited accessibility to green public spaces to the inequality of power distribution—highlighted by the overwhelmingly bright commercial billboards that dominate Cairo’s streets and highways—to the gendered hierarchies. “Over eight months, these artists refined their concepts through rigorous research and experimentation with both traditional and digital media. The result is a dynamic showcase of individual artistic voices, each employing materials and techniques that best articulate their concepts,” said Bassem Youssry, assistant professor of practice at AUC’s Department of the Arts. “Heels Over Head reflects the aspirations of these eight artists, inspired by the context of the environment they live in and its impact on their personal histories, past, present, and future,” he added.
The night also included a musical performance by AcaPop Choir, led by Alumna and prominent singer Nesma Mahgoub at Ewart Memorial Hall, where this dynamic Egyptian choir presented a captivating performance inspired by a blend of cultural traditions.
What to Expect on April 11: A Day of Culture, Art, and Celebration
The festival’s program for tomorrow, Friday, April 11 includes a vibrant array of activities, including book talks, panel discussions, performances, exhibitions, a bazaar, children’s programs, and a food fair that reflects Cairo’s rich multicultural flavor.
Among the highlighted discussion sessions of the day is a panel discussion titled “Reflections on the Nile: Sustainability, Innovation, and Action” on the urgent need to protect water bodies from plastic waste and how education, technology, and entrepreneurship can drive change.
Egyptian entrepreneurs and investors will engage in a session titled “Egyptian Startups Going Global” to talk about their experience starting in new markets and expanding their businesses, explore how investors view international growth, and discuss how Egypt can serve as a great foundation for startups intending to go global. Speakers are Hassan Arslan ’13, founder of SMETools and CTO of Ariika; Nadia Gamal El Din ’11, CEO and founder of Rahet Bally and Seif Hakim, manager of Design Thinking Programs at AUC V-Lab. The session will be moderated by Ayman Ismail, associate professor, Heikal Department of Management at AUC, Abdul Latif Jameel endowed chair of entrepreneurship and founding director of AUC Venture Lab.
The day will also include two performances by the Cairo American College Varsity Dance Team, showcasing cultural diversity through dance. An Indian dance performance, in collaboration with the Embassy of India and Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture will showcase mesmerizing classical Indian Kathak dance and vibrant Bollywood dance, bringing the rich cultural heritage of India to life.
Families and kids will also enjoy a fun-filled theatrical performance by Sitara Theatre, featuring lively African and Mediterranean dance and exciting stories from Cairo’s past.
The day will conclude with a cross-cultural musical collaboration performance by Nadya Shanab from Egypt and Fadhilee Itulya Kenya, bridging cultures through melody and rhythm and celebrating Africa’s diverse musical heritage.
Please check out the CultureFest agenda for the specific timings of all events.
