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Robabekya, El Sett, and More: 9 Iconic Sounds of Cairo

November 10, 2021
Robabekya vendor. Source: Flickr

One of the reasons many affluent Cairenes are choosing to vacate the heart of the city and take refuge in enclosed compounds in satellite neighborhoods is to escape the noise. But while the quiet may help with a good night’s sleep, the absence of Cairo’s carnival of sounds can bring about a melancholy feeling of solitude and forlornness after a long day in the city. A city that truly never sleeps, Cairo’s soundscape has become a key part of its character, and for visitors, it is also one of the most memorable aspects of a day spent in the city. We asked our readers to tell us what sounds they associate with Cairo, and while most of them may be found in other Egyptian towns and cities, they remain emblematic of the capital’s vibrant and at times chaotic charm. Robabekya On a wheelbarrow attached to a bicycle, a man buys and sells Robabekya – the Egyptianized version of the Italian phrase roba vecchia, literally meaning ‘old stuff.’ Trading in everything from clothes to tools to spare parts, this man cycles through the streets, yelling his famous word: “Robabekya!” often shortened…


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