A number of artists decided to postpone and cancel artistic events and activities scheduled to be held this October, while several festivals postponed their activities until further notice, coinciding with the continued aggression of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.
Film and music festivals
The Arab Music Festival issued an official statement regarding the decision of the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Nevin Kilani, to postpone the activities of the 32nd session of the festival, which was scheduled to open on October 24 at the Nafoura Theater in the Cairo Opera House.
The ceremony was going to witness a celebration of the centenary of the popular artist Sayed Darwish, in addition to the musician Omar Khairat playing an opening piece with the participation of Ahmed Muhammad Darwish, grandson of Sayed Darwish, and a singing performance by the singer Asala Nasri, but the Minister of Culture’s decision to postpone came without explaining the reasons.
Postponed in solidarity with Palestine
The El Gouna Film Festival had announced the postponement of the sixth session for two weeks, while the festival administration is considering holding it without any celebratory events. The founder of the festival, Naguib Sawiris, commented in his tweet on the “X” platform on the postponement, saying, “It is not reasonable for us to celebrate while our sisters are suffering from… Bombing, destruction and killing.”
It is true, of course, that it is not reasonable to celebrate while our sisters are suffering from bombing, destruction and killing…
— Naguib Sawiris (@NaguibSawiris) October 11, 2023
Solo concerts
In addition to large festivals and events, a number of concerts and artistic projects have been canceled until further notice in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Friends of Jordan Festivals Association announced the postponement of the Egyptian Karaoke Band’s concert, which was supposed to be held on the 13th of this month.
Also in Jordan, the singer Rami Sabry decided to postpone his concert, and the company’s statement – which Rami Sabry published on his Instagram account – stated: “The company announces the postponement of the artist Rami Sabry’s concert, which was scheduled to be performed on October 20 at the exhibition grounds. In solidarity with the Palestinian people, the public will receive a refund for the tickets.”
Tunisian artist Ghalia Ben Ali also canceled her concert, which was supposed to be held on October 8, entitled “Jnan,” in Tunisia, which Ghalia commented on in local statements, and said, “I decided to cancel the concert indefinitely, even though… “It was special and different, as you were supposed to meet the Tunisian National Orchestra.”
In Egypt, the concert of the artist Ahmed Saad and Ruby, which was supposed to be held on October 18 at a private university, was postponed, which confirmed that the postponement decision came due to “the unrest and unfortunate events that the region is witnessing recently.”
