Hey there,

We’ve all been following the headlines. Earlier this week, nearly 100,000 people marched in London at a rally against immigration. And in the U.S., the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reignited a debate around immigrants, though that conversation has been running hot all year.

But his newsletter isn’t about politics. It’s about looking beyond it. We’re interested in how immigrants continue to thrive, not only in spite of political divides, but through culture, creativity, and human connection.

We are all migrants, or descendants of migrants. Humanity has always been on the move, across time and across lands. Everywhere, immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of life.

In this edition, we turn to the real stories; immigrants whose lives have been transformed and who, in turn, are shaping the world around them. It’s about carrying our homelands with us, representing, supporting, and reimagining them, even from afar.

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.

Support our work and subscribe by clicking here.

Spotlight

^{Meet Celine and Nour}

Energy is everywhere—positive, negative, calm. Yet, we rarely pause to notice it, let alone see it take form. For mother-daughter duo Celine Gammal and Nour Jouayed, founders of their artistic brand CGNJ, energy finds expression through contemporary art and bold expressionism. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, they launched their first virtual gallery. Just a year later, their work was showcased at the prestigious Monaco, Paris, and Bruxelles Art Fair, cementing their presence on the international stage. Celine’s collections, from Intersection of Minds to Pharodoodles, embody her emotional depth, cultural roots, and spirit of experimentation. To date, she has sold more than 100 original works across Cairo, Alexandria, and Saudi Arabia, while continuing to collaborate with leading designers, galleries, and cultural platforms. Discover their work here.

Speaking to Egyptian Streets, Celine and Nour shared more about their cultural picks and work below:

What routines or rituals help spark your creativity?

We always begin by setting the mood with calming music — Andrea Bocelli, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and Celine Dion are some of our favorites. Music helps us shift into a reflective, intuitive state where creativity flows more naturally. For both of us, painting is a therapeutic process, so creating a peaceful, centered environment is essential.

How did you come to develop your unique artistic style?

Nour paints with expressive, full-arm movements. Her signature Sea Reunion series captures calm and freedom through flowing abstract forms. Céline developed Pharodoodle, a style where each hieroglyphic-inspired letter becomes a doodle of an Egyptian legend. She also uses dynamic, spontaneous strokes in her Energy in Motion series to express movement and emotion.

We come from different artistic instincts, one more classic, the other more modern, and CGNJ was born from blending those differences. Our styles evolved naturally through experimentation, ongoing dialogue, and shared expression since launching the brand in 2018.

Are there particular emotions that guide or influence you while painting?

Absolutely. We create from a space of calm, nostalgia, and emotional depth. Our collections — including Sea Reunion, Energy in Motion, City in Motion, Duetting Artline, and Intersection of Minds — are all rooted in movement, emotional release, and a search for internal harmony. Painting is our way of processing life and staying connected to ourselves and each other.

How do you express Egypt through your work?

Nour expresses Egypt through its natural beauty — especially the light, rhythm, and stillness of the Nile and the sea in Alexandria, the North Coast, and Ain Sokhna.

Céline reflects Egypt through her Pharodoodle series, reimagining heritage with a modern, illustrative twist. She also explores the city’s movement and diversity in her City in Motion series, drawing from neighborhoods like Downtown Cairo, Zamalek, New Cairo, and 6th of October. Her work aims to reflect Cairo’s everyday rhythm and layered identity — beyond the traditional pyramid imagery.

Is there a project that holds special meaning for you, and why does it stand out?

Every collection holds personal meaning for us — we don’t paint unless we feel emotionally connected to what we’re creating. Whether it’s Sea Reunion, Energy in Motion, City in Motion, or Pharodoodle, each piece reflects a specific moment or emotional state we were living through.

If we had to choose, Nour’s favorite is Sea Reunion, while Céline’s is the latest Pharodoodle collection. That line has also evolved into functional design pieces — including cushions, bed runners, and curtains — which are currently available at kozmanbysara.com. It’s been rewarding to see the artwork transformed into pieces people can live with every day during a difficult time, and it felt honest, while the other I created in Istanbul two years ago.

Feature

^{Egyptians in Europe}

As Europe intensifies its immigration policies, Egyptians residing in countries like France and Germany grapple with a dual sense of hope and apprehension. While they sought better opportunities abroad, the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment and stringent regulations have cast a shadow over their aspirations.

Egyptians like Mariam Mahdy, a 30-year-old scientific project manager in France, and Youssef Khaled, a 27-year-old software developer in Germany, share experiences of discrimination and exclusion. Mariam reflects on how being labeled an "immigrant" has become an insult, while Youssef recounts instances of being denied housing and employment opportunities solely based on his name and appearance.

The European Union's "Migration Pact," effective from June 2024, has further complicated the situation. It introduces measures such as biometric data collection and stricter asylum procedures, raising concerns about human rights and the treatment of non-European migrants.

Against this evolving landscape, there is a greater need for a deeper reflection on the nature of belonging and identity. As Mariam and Youssef's stories illustrate, the journey of migration is not just about crossing borders but also about navigating the complex terrains of acceptance and prejudice.

Read the article here.

^{Muslim-Americans are Not a Monolith}

Iman Zawahry, an Egyptian-American filmmaker, is among the first Muslim-American women to carve a path in the U.S. film industry. Her debut film, Americanish, offers a fresh perspective on Muslim-American life, moving beyond stereotypes to portray women with agency and humor. Zawahry emphasizes that Muslim-American women are not a monolith; they are diverse individuals with unique experiences and stories.

Growing up in Panama City, Florida, Zawahry faced challenges in pursuing a career in filmmaking, as her family initially envisioned more conventional professions for her. Despite this, she remained committed to her passion, eventually earning recognition for her work.

Through her work, Zawahry aims to provide a platform for Muslim-American women to tell their own stories, challenging the narratives imposed upon them and fostering a more inclusive representation in media.

Read the article here.

What to Read

^Americanah

Americanah follows the life of Ifemelu, a young woman from Nigeria, who moves to the United States to study. Her high school sweetheart, Obinze, hopes to follow but faces barriers and ends up in the UK. Much of the story is spent tracing Ifemelu’s experiences of being Black in America, from the small humiliations to the surprises, the misunderstandings, and what it means to be seen (or not seen).

Over time, Ifemelu builds a life in the U.S. But the cost of adaptation weighs on her. She starts to perceive that in fitting in, something of her own self is rearranged, and she begins to explore what home means when you live between worlds.

Meanwhile, Obinze’s story runs in parallel. He’s caught between ambition and alienation, feeling what it means to be foreign, and trying to build something authentic in places that don’t always accept him.

When Ifemelu eventually returns to Nigeria, she finds that “home” doesn’t stay static. Nigeria—Lagos and its people—has changed. She has changed too. She’s partly “Americanah”, which is a term used in Nigeria to describe those who’ve spent time in America and returned changed, with new ways of speaking, thinking, even feeling.

Read more here.

What to Listen to

^Nafida

Small X resists the pressure to conform to globalizing forces in music labels. Instead, he focuses on making music that “sounds like me,” preserving his voice, language (Darija), and texture.

Born in Safi, a city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast often excluded from major cultural hubs, Small X grew up in creative isolation. The lack of infrastructure, such as no studios and no networks, forced him to build everything from scratch. This outsider status becomes an origin story for his identity as an artist. 

There’s a “between” space in Nafida: the tension of Moroccan daily life, with sounds imported or inspired from London, jazz, breakbeat. In exile or diaspora (or simply being of two worlds), Small X negotiates identity: what to carry, what to adapt, what to reject. The music becomes a bridge between local and global, tradition and innovation.

Listen here.

What to Watch

^{Who Believes?}

When love complicates into fraud, or when affection becomes a vehicle for ulterior motives, how do we preserve moral integrity? What is the price of emotional survival versus ethical compromise?

The story centers on a spoiled Egyptian young woman, Nadine, who feels a void—a sense of emptiness or disconnection—in her life. When she meets Bassem, a charming young street-smart man who gives her attention and affection, she becomes involved in schemes of fraud and deception.

Consequences go beyond legal or external punishment; they also reverberate inside them, making them question their principles and integrity.

Watch it in Egypt here and in the US here. 

What to Eat

^{Between the Buns}

We’ve been spotting this burger place all over TikTok lately, so we had to give it a try. If you’re in the mood for a comforting meal that’s just for you, no “can we share?” interruptions, go for their cheeseburger paired with the passion fruit lemonade. The cheese melts perfectly, hitting first with a rich burst of flavor, before the rest of the burger slowly reveals itself. It’s one of those meals that feels best when eaten alone.

Find out more here.

What to Visit

^{Darvish Whirling}

Azad Gallery will be presenting a new solo exhibition by Egyptian artist Mohamed Abou El Wafa. Rooted in the transcendent beauty of Sufi chants, his work channels the voices of the munshids, from their repetitions to their echoes of longing and devotion. Each piece carries the pulse of dhikr gatherings, where chants rise and fall like waves, filling space with both silence and sound.

Find out more here.

Saudi Spotlight

^{Desert Warrior}

Desert Warrior, a Saudi-filmed historical epic set in 7th-century Arabia, follows Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart) as she escapes the grip of the Sassanid Empire and, alongside a desert bandit played by Anthony Mackie, unites fractured tribes against Emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley). Directed by Rupert Wyatt and filmed in NEOM and Tabuk, the movie blends Hollywood scale with Arab history, marking Saudi Arabia’s growing ambitions in global cinema. Premiering at the Zurich Film Festival on September 28, the film reflects both a tale of resistance and a statement of Saudi Arabia’s place in the international film industry.

Read more here.