Flamenca Cairo: spending a Hispano-oriental musical night

CAIRO – 1 August 2018: As Cairenes search among a whole host of events popping on social media for special musical nights, the choice of many went for a different type of music, the Hispano-Arabic.

Flamenca Cairo Band concert was hosted by Darb 1718’s Music On The Roof event on Thursday. The live musical performance stirred loud cheers and applauses by eager audience.

Wael Khedr, the founder of Flamenca Cairo, expressed his enthusiasm to Egypt Today, saying “the audience gave us power during the performance.”


Wael Khedr, founder of Flamenca Cairo, performing at Darb 1718 - Nourhan Magdi /Egypt Today


The band started in 2002 as a group of friends, where they began with different music experiences and played in many places.



“Flamenca Cairo is a name derived from the Spanish language. The word comes from Flamenco music. But because we are from Cairo, we called the band ‘Flamenca Cairo’ meaning Flamenco music from Cairo,” Khedr explained.


Flamenca Cairo band performing at Darb 1718 in a special Hispano-Arabic night - Nourhan Magdi/Egypt Today


Khedr reiterated that the word Flamenco comes from the Hispano-Arabic term fellah mengu, meaning "expelled peasant”, adding that both types of music “are very close and share the same soul.”

Speaking about the large number of underground bands that emerged a while ago in Egypt, Khedr assured that the type of music he plays is different from that played by other underground bands, and thus the audience are different too.

“We are not affected by the presence of other bands, as I believe we satisfy a good segment of the audience,” he said.

Lead singer Ezz el-Ostoul performing with Flamenca Cairo band at Darb 1718 - Nourhan Magdi/Egypt Today



Singer Ezz el-Ostoul joined Flamenca Cairo in 2006 because their music is mixed with Sufi music; the type of music he like to sing, according to Ostoul.

He said that the band had temporarily halted its activities during the period of political changes in the country, but then resumed and currently enjoys a great attention by the audience.