Independent art in Egypt is often sidelined as many opt for the mainstream whether it’s Ramadan shows, popular music, or Blockbuster-esque films. The emphasis on theatre, poetry, short-films, and other manifestations of expression are left to independent artists, who often do not get the recognition they deserve. Vybz aims to tackle this by showcasing independent artists and their work, and is founded by two theatre lovers, Ahmed El Hamzawy and Ahmed Ehab (Hobz), who were later joined by Ahmed Fouad and Nour El Desouki. Vybz are not only a production agency but instead, define themselves as “a collective of diverse artists providing a platform for creatives to bring their ideas to light, serving the culture’s needs.” My first encounter with Vybz was this winter at an event called “Vybz Jam” hosted at Room Art Space in Garden City which, most notably, hosted two upcoming independent female artists, Lella Fadda and Felukah. The event showed me a side of Cairo I had never seen before – it was bustling and had sold out. A month or so later, I attended a play co-produced by Kenoma Theatre Company and Vybz, ‘El Asanser’,…
Vybz: Bringing Egypt’s Independent Artists to Life During the Pandemic
June 3, 2020
