The Dissolution of Egyptian Culture Kattan May 19, 2013

LEAD-IN: Egypt is known for its rich culture. It has one of the longest histories compared to any modern country. But over time, the process of adapting to a more developed country has occurred. As a result, a loss of identity is occurring in Egypt. There is a big problem that is happening in Cairo, the loss of cultural identity. Westernization is a contributing factor to the dissolution of Egyptian culture. This country used to be way ahead of its time, but over the years it has changed.

NATSOUND of streets in Cairo (19 seconds then fade out) With this constant transformation, a loss of identity is occurring within its culture. It all began with the political dominance of Western nations, such as France and Britain during the 18th century, when the West became a place in the world that other countries strived to be like. There are many elements that other places adopt from Western culture. Such as technology, lifestyle, values, and even music. Music is one way to see MUSIC/NATSOUND: No Church in the Wild by Jay-Z and Kanye West (12 seconds then fade out) how much generations nowadays long to be similar to generations in the West. They are opening all of these hip new places and playing songs off of Jay-Z and Kanye Wests Watch the throne album in between laundromats and butcher shops that have been there for years and years that are still playing classic Oum Kalthoum songs. MUSIC: Enta Omri by Oum Kalthoum (17 seconds then fade out) Many people have different opinions about what is currently happening in this country. The Resident Perspective, which are interviews with residents all over Cairo posted on the Cairobserver website, gets multiple opinions about the city. When they asked a Zamalek resident about Cairo and its culture, the response was that there doesnt seem to be much value for aesthetic beauty and architectural heritage. Which is what the problem is. There is so much time dedicated to the idea of what is modern and new, that there is a lack of appreciation for the treasures within this city. The infrastructure is 1

changing at a rapid pace. There is a clear difference from one street to another. Professor Chahinda Karim, who works in the department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations at the American University in Cairo, has been teaching Islamic Art and Architecture since 1984. She pays attention to detail and is able to spot changes. KARIM: I think weve had influences from so many parts of the world. I think yes from the time that Muhammad Ali started sending students to study in Europe, and then they came back and started working here. When they encourage European architects and craftsmen to come and work in Egypt of course European influence came to Egypt. Its a style of architecture, but I dont see that we should call this a decadence. This is what Egypt is. Its a population of so many different people living together. (:35) According to a TED talk in Cairo done by Mohamed El Shahed in Arabic, negligence is also another factor that contributes to the dissolution of Egyptian culture. NATSOUND: Another Look at Cairo: Mohamed El Shahed at TEDXCairo 2012: Cairo is a weird city even to its own people and then narration begins (37 seconds and then fade out The Grand Continental Hotel, one of Cairos historic 19th century hotels in downtown Cairo, overlooking the old Opera Square used to house some of the most prominent figures during WWI and WWII. El Shahed discusses how people pass by this hotel daily, but dont take the time to actually look at it. He believes that we have a treasure, but because the government owns it, this piece of history will slip away and become a void in our history. KARIM: (Her opinion on the idea of negligence): I mean its very sad, the Continental hotel, I dont know what it looks like now, but I know that I went there once maybe 15 or 20 years ago and I was already very disappointed. Because you could tell that this was something very special. But it was already going down tremendously. People have been so interested in Pharaonic things like The Pyramids, Sakkara, and The Tombs, that theyve neglected some wonderful buildings from the 17 and 18 and 19 century, its sad, but its part of the economy, its part of the problem of the economy. (:40) MUSIC: Oulolo by Abdel Halim Hafez (11 seconds) The reasons why Egyptian culture is where it is today will vary from person to person. Nabil Fahmy, the Dean and Distinguished Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy, has his own opinion on the idea of identity loss is not just on the surface, but it is effecting the lifestyle as well. FAHMY: They believe that to pursue their political policies, needs to be engrained on their philosophy, their philosophy is profit and los of the individual. Individual is the most important element and its a free market or a market economy. So for people to 2

support America on a long-term basis, they not only try to convince them of American policies, they try to also make them adopt the American concept. Therefore, people going to America, go and see the American dream, they see the American opportunity. And they come back with that concept, they dont pay much attention to the weaknesses in American society, so they come back with that component and try to come and apply it to their own culture. (1:00) Heba Ibrahim, a private teacher, who has one on one sessions with students around Cairo, was raised in the West. She has been teaching for ten years and believers that people in Cairo are influenced by the West but dont necessarily know what to do with what they are being exposed to. IBRAHIM: I believe that weve taken the worst of the west. In general people here theyre trying to copy the west and dont even understand the west. The west may have a specific look, but they still work. Here, I feel like people in general they want to have a certain outlook and be part of a certain group. But at the same time, they dont understand what theyre doing, Weve taken the bad and not the good, people the way they dress has to be more westernized, what we eat has to be more westernized, and just generally how we act. Its not part of our culture and we dont understand how to make due with what we learned from them. You want to be just like any foreigner, thats not always whats right and I wish children in general understood and appreciated our culture a little more. (1:06) The younger generations can be very opinionated about this topic. Some people can say that Egyptians do appreciate the culture while others may disagree. It all depends on the amount of exposure that each person has experienced. VOX POPS: Different opinions What the future will hold cannot be determined at this point in time. But according to the current pattern. The West will keep influencing Egypt due to its advancements. The dissolution of this rich culture will keep on moving forward. But everyone has a their own thoughts about what will happen. As time passes, the process of adaption will continue to occur and continue to affect cultural identity in Cairo. Thanks for listening to The Dissolution of Egyptian Culture by Haifa Kattan. Special thanks to Professor Chahinda, Dean Nabil Fahmy, and Professor Heba Ibrahim Music Credits: Enta Omri by Oum Kalthoum and Oulouo by Abdel Halim Hafez