Tips from the culture desk: June 27-July 3 in Cairo, Alexandria

Here are three things to do this week, as recommended by Mada's culture desk.

Ghalia Benali concert — Thursday

Whether for her fusion of classical Arabic, Indian and jazz music, or because of her outrageous yet captivating outfits and engaging stage presence, Ghalia Benali is known for attracting high numbers of concert goers. The Tunisian singer and actress is based in Belgium, where she is also a graphic designer and visual artist. Among her most popular songs are poet Ibn Araby’s Din Al-Houb (Religion of Love) and Oum Kalthum’s Alf Leila w Leila (A Thousand and One Nights).

The Cairo show will start at 9.30 pm in El Sawy Culture Wheel, 26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo. Tickets range between LE60 and LE200. The show in Alexandria on Saturday will start at 9.30 pm in Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with tickets for LE50 or LE75.

Hayy Music Festival — Saturday

As part of the annual Hayy Festival — a music event organised by Genaina Company, bringing alternative female artists from Egypt and the region to the stage in Cairo during Ramadan — Egyptian artist Maryam Saleh, joined by Lebanese underground music pioneer Zeid Hemdan, will present their Arabic trip-hop project at the GrEEK Campus in Downtown Cairo on Friday. Their collaboration dates back to when they met in November 2010, and they have been working together and performing in Cairo and abroad ever since. The duo reproduces classical Arabic music with new instrumental and electronic beats and sounds, in addition to Maryam’s own lyrical compositions. On Saturday, Youssra El-Hawary will take the stage with her accordion, presenting her instrumental music.

Both events start at 9.30 pm at the GrEEK Campus, 28 Falaki Street, Downtown Cairo. Tickets cost LE40.

The Nilometer

Ramadan might be a good chance to visit the Cairo’s nilometer in Manial and think about famine. Used to measure the Nile’s water level, it was built in 861 by Amro bin al-Aaus. Before the High Dam opened in 1970, the Nile’s levels swung between extremely high and low, and the nilometer offered an early heads up and a more accurate way to tax plantations.

The nilometer is in a lovely spot on the edge of Manial’s Rhoda island, in a complex that also contains the beautiful Manasterly Palace — where cultural events very occasionally take place — and the Umm Kalthoum Museum.

The complex is at the southern end of Malik al-Salih Street. Entry costs LE1 for Egyptians and LE10 for foreigners. Open from 4 - 9 pm daily.