Drum festival brings lively music to audience at Cairo's opera house

(22 Jun 2026) EGYPT DRUM FESTIVAL SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS RESTRICTION SUMMARY: LENGTH: 4:25 ASSOCIATED PRESS Cairo, Egypt - 19 June 2026 1. Various of founder of drum festival Intisar Abdel Fattah (beige vest facing away from audience) leading band during performance at the Cairo Opera 2. Various of Abdel Fattah leading band from Sudan 3. Abdel Fattah playing instrument as band members perform 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Intisar Abdel Fattah, founder and director of festival celebrating drums and traditional arts: “It is well known that drums have historically been a language of war. We are transforming this symbol into a dialogue of drums for peace, and presenting this distinguished Egyptian cultural product to the world through the International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts” 5. Various of audience members watching show, filming and clapping along 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Seham Ismail, co-founder and director of the festival: "We present this message every year, even without wars. So imagine how much more important it is these days under the current circumstances. It (the message) must be emphasized through every possible means to spread beautiful values and peace throughout the world, especially after the wars in Palestine, Iran and elsewhere. We always hope that peace will prevail, that there will be human connection among different peoples, and that no nation will suffer from oppression, humiliation or war.” 7. Various of Palestinian troupe performing as audience cheers 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Salma Khattab, Palestinian performer: "This is not the first time we have participated in the festival. We have taken part in previous editions as well. We have always been keen to participate because this festival represents artistic, cultural, and folkloric diversity through which we learn about the civilizations of other peoples. It shows us that art is the medium that can reach all audiences. Palestine was present today through folkloric performance pieces and, God willing, it will continue to be represented in the festival’s program." 9. Various of Indian troupe performing 10. Various of Sudanese troupe performing as audience watching 11. Various of South Sudanese troupe performing 12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Doaa Salah, audience member: "Every year, we look forward to this, and we've attended it in many locations (where the festival was hosted in the past). We've attended it in Moez Street, in Baehler Passage. We wait to see when it will happen, so that we attend it and learn about different cultures, myself along with the kids and the whole family." 13. Various of Egyptian troupes preforming 14. Abdel Fattah holding Egypt’s flag 15. Abdel Fattah holding banner reding (English): "Peace for the world" STORYLINE: Palestinian, Sudanese and Indian troupes shared a piece of their culture through dance and music performances at Cairo's opera house over the weekend. The performers are members of 15 folkloric troupes featured in a drum festival that kicked off on Friday. The founder of the festival, Intisar Abdel Fattah said drums have been used historically to rally for war, but he wanted to use them to send a message on dialogue and peace instead. The festival originally started in 2009 with the aim of spreading a message of peace through spiritual music. "We present this message every year, even without wars. So imagine how much more important it is these days," said Seham Ismail, the co-founder of the festival. AP video shot by Mohammad Salah =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...