Hey there,

We hope you’re sipping your tea or coffee as you read this, and that you’re finally taking a quiet moment away from the rush of your week to think about the people you love, even the ones who are no longer with us, like our grandmothers and grandfathers.

Maybe her photo still sits in a small frame by your bed, or maybe you’ve held onto her old purse, the one that somehow still looks effortlessly stylish even it was from another era. Because let’s be honest, our grandmothers had a kind of elegance that today’s trends could never quite replicate.

And even if you don’t have an object or keepsake to remind you of her, her stories probably drift back to you in small ways. 

Like when she told you to rebuke the devil after a nightmare, or warned you never to yawn without covering your mouth. Who knows, maybe they carried wisdom we still haven’t fully understood.

Also, Egyptian Streets has officially opened Early Access for people based outside of Egypt to its first ever limited-edition merchandise collection, created in collaboration with four independent Egyptian artists whose work brings everyday Egypt to life in original, meaningful ways.

We hope you enjoy reading!

Warm regards,

Mirna Abdulaal

The time and effort behind this newsletter come from the Egyptian Streets team of independent, grassroots journalists. By subscribing for just USD 1.66 per month (EGP 80), or as little as USD 0.84 per month (EGP 40) for students (paid annually), you’re directly supporting the creation of content like this and helping sustain independent media in Egypt.

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Spotlight

^{Meet Mostafa Nabawy}

From a nude woman playing the oud to a woman casually smoking shisha, Egyptian artist Mostafa Nabawy never shies away from the strange or the unconventional. He paints the overlooked and the unexpected, yet always stays rooted in the textures, humor, and familiarity of Egyptian life. When we think of Egypt, our minds instinctively leap to history, such as monuments, pharaohs, and legends. Sometimes it feels as if Egypt is defined only by its past, as if its identity is too vast and heavy to grasp. But in Nabawy’s work, all of that complexity is distilled into a single, striking image: a woman holding an oud. It’s simple, yet deeply symbolic. Through that one instrument, he captures the emotional language of the country, and the sound that has shaped Egyptian ears and spirits for generations; the melody that carries both memory and identity. Discover his work here.

Speaking to Egyptian Streets, Mostafa shared more about his cultural picks and work below:

How did you develop your own style over time?

My style developed naturally through a deep connection with music and movement. I’ve always been fascinated by the emotional dialogue between a musician and their instrument, and how they almost become one entity while performing. Over time, through constant experimentation and continuous work, my artistic voice started to take shape. Each painting taught me something new, and gradually, my own visual rhythm and identity began to emerge.

Are there certain habits or rituals that help you find inspiration?

I usually paint in the evening, when everything is quiet and I can fully connect with the atmosphere of music. I often start by listening to a specific piece that matches the emotion I want to express. Sometimes I move or sketch in rhythm with the sound until the composition feels balanced. Lately, I’ve also been trying to wake up early to exercise before painting, and it helps clear my mind and fill me with energy and focus.

⁠How does Egypt influence your work?

Egypt influences my work in a subtle but powerful way. It’s not just about cultural symbols, but more about rhythm, warmth, and emotional depth. The people, the energy, and the everyday poetry in Egyptian life always inspire me. There’s a certain drama and movement that I constantly feel around me, and it naturally finds its way into my compositions.

Why do you love highlighting calligraphy in particular?

I was born and raised with a deep love for Arabic lettering and a passion for discovering Islamic art. From a technical perspective, I’ve always believed that calligraphy and typography are among the hardest skills any designer can master, and mastering them can take your career to the next level of professionalism.

⁠Is there a particular project that you want to highlight?

Through the exhibitions I’ve participated in, my focus has always been on expressing the intimate relationship between music, movement, and emotion. I try to make viewers feel the sound, to see music come alive through color, body language, and atmosphere. It’s an ongoing exploration that continues to evolve with every new work I create.

Merch Drop

^{Limited-Edition Merch Drop}

Egyptian Streets has officially opened Early Access for people based outside of Egypt to its first ever limited-edition merchandise collection, created in collaboration with four independent Egyptian artists whose work brings everyday Egypt to life in original, meaningful ways.

The Early Access window is currently available for global audiences only. A dedicated Egypt-based launch will follow soon, with local pricing and production being finalized to ensure affordability and availability inside Egypt.

This collection is more than apparel. Each piece carries stories that feel familiar. The humor we inherit. The sayings our parents repeat. The street scenes we pass without thinking. The warmth and chaos that shape us.

Read more here.

Feature

^{Teta, the Storyteller}

How do we bring back the days when our grandparents told stories from their hearts? Instead of fading away on a screen or a lecture, how can these stories live in someone’s home, tucked into a bag, or laid softly on a coffee table, ready to be revisited, shared, and debated?

We do not often think about how colonialism shaped the way we view even the smallest traditions. We always talk about how it impacted our economy or the global system, but more importantly, it also impacted the way we see ourselves.

Superstitions were often dismissed by colonial powers as “backward,” but in fact they carried practical lessons rooted in the lived environments of past generations. In her zine, Naomi Attia reclaims both the stories and the visual language of her heritage, drawing from archival materials, everyday ephemera, and the physicality of Arab memory. 

Read the article here.

^{A Letter to Teta}

We never really get the chance to truly thank our Teta for all the ways she shaped our lives, from the small lessons to the moments that seemed ordinary but meant everything.

In writing this open letter, every story, every laugh, and every stern word now carries more weight, more meaning, because it gives us the chance to honor someone while they are still with us, or even after, in ways that texting or fleeting messages never could.

There is power in putting pen to paper, in letting tears fall on words, and in speaking directly to someone who has shaped your soul.

Read the article here.

What to Read

^{Rivers in the Sky}

How many times have we stopped to notice how a single drop of water connects us all, from continents to cities, from rivers to lakes, seas, and oceans? The world is full of water, yet it’s almost impossible to grasp why it exists in such abundance, or where it might carry us.

This is exactly what Elif Shafak reflects on in her new book, There Are Rivers in the Sky. She tells the story of characters from different parts of the world whose lives are linked by the rivers flowing through their lands, while also including poems from ancient poets that reveal why water has always been central to human history and to human life.

Shafak, who also wrote The Forty Rules of Love, continues her exploration of spiritual and historical threads in human lives, especially women’s experiences. One character, a newly divorced Zaleekah, contemplates her future, asking herself if she still has the will to live fully. Maybe she will, and maybe the river, with its persistence, will guide her back to her homeland, to herself, and to her life.

Read more here.

What to Listen to

^{Kalam Forsan}

Five years ago, your older Egyptian uncle or your 55-year-old boss might have rolled their eyes at Wegz’s music, calling it strange, confusing, and certainly no match for legends like Mohamed Mounir. But today, Wegz is bridging that gap, uniting generations, the young and the old, the new and the familiar. In his latest track, the soul of Aswan comes alive, not just in the song but in the music video, evoking a warmth so unmistakably Egyptian that it makes you want to pack your bags and head straight there.

As the first single from the highly anticipated Side B of Wegz’s album Aqareb (Scorpions, 2025), the track marks a return to something deeply local, intimately human, and emotionally rich. It echoes Mohamed Mounir’s signature approach: reflecting on life’s lessons, struggles, and triumphs with heart and sincerity, while showing that Egyptian music can speak to everyone, across generations.

Listen here.

What to Watch

^{Zar Mazaher}

This documentary narrates the stories of the last generation of Egypt’s Zār musicians, and their relationship with their children and grandchildren. Will their sons and daughters inherit the legacy?

These stories are about a tradition on the edge of disappearance, carried by women whose voices once guided entire communities through healing, ritual, and release. Zār ceremonies are a transcendent experience; when the drums begin and the women start to sing, it feels as though you’re floating on a cloud. Time loosens its grip. The world softens. The music lifts you somewhere between earth and sky, to a place where pain, memory, and spirit coexist.

Today, as the world grows tired of polished, commercialized sound, people are turning back to what feels raw, rural, and real; music that belongs to the soil, to villages, to the hands and voices of women who sing not for fame, but for healing.

This is why the question remains: will their children protect this powerful heritage? Or will the last echoes of the Zār fade with the women who kept it alive?

Watch it in Egypt here and in the US here

What to Drink

^{Matter Matcha}

A new matcha hotspot has finally arrived at New Cairo’s Waterway, and this time, it’s fully Egyptian-owned. Reem Hassan, formerly the country manager of Seven Fortunes in Dubai, has launched her own matcha-focused concept, and it’s nothing short of a matcha wonderland. From drinks to blends to all things green and earthy, the space is dedicated to matcha in every form. We can’t wait to dive into the menu and explore everything it has to offer, and we want to hear your thoughts too.

Find out more here.

What to Visit

^{Islamic Art}

Reconnect with the visual language that shaped our region. Join Prof. Bahia Shehab, one of the Arab world’s most influential voices in design and cultural history, as she unpacks the evolution of Arab graphic design and the timeless symbolism behind Islamic art.

Whether you’re a designer, a storyteller, or simply someone who loves the beauty of our visual heritage, this session promises fresh insight, inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for the art forms that continue to shape Arab identity today. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this thoughtful, energizing dialogue.

Find out more here.

^{Egypt Fashion Week}

The second edition of Egypt Fashion Week, themed “Evolution,” returns with a celebration of the country’s creative pulse. This year’s showcase brings together a dynamic mix of established and emerging fashion, accessory, and jewelry designers, alongside master craftsmen whose work anchors Egypt’s design identity.

Find out more here.

Saudi Spotlight

^{Finding a Home in Saudi}

This is the story of a Polish academic and her 15-year journey of turning a dream into reality: finding a home in Saudi Arabia. What began as a vision, to visit and understand the Kingdom, gradually evolved into a deep sense of belonging. Over time, she navigated work, culture, and community, creating a life rooted in a place many only see as foreign.

Read more here.