Independent media company, Mada Masr, launched three years ago amid a pinnacle point of political polarization within the Egyptian society. It was arguably the worst and best time to launch a new publication that reported on everything from marginalized voices, to economic corruption, and alternative culture.
“When we first took on this endeavor we never had the luxury to think about creating a holistic business. We were a team of journalists that suddenly found ourselves with nowhere left to express after leaving Egypt Independent, we felt we had a responsibility towards delivering Egyptian news both on a local level and beyond,” Maha ElNabawi, co-founder of Mada Masr, tells us. “What had started as a spontaneous reactionary space to censorship and corruption in media, quickly bloomed into a substantial, reliable and active space that was open to voices of a generation/the people. It quickly became evident to us that we were part of something.”
In starting Mada, they’ve learned to expect anything and everything, ElNabawi tells us. But the one thing they could have never fully imagined was just how much dancing they would do along the way. This year for their Mada III concert, they hope to be able to share the dance floor with their readers, families, friends, and collaborators on December 10th. To celebrate their third birthday, they’re heading back to the Swiss Club garden for a full dance music event with the support of Cairo Jazz Club, their sound sponsor.
Mada III will be kicking off with a Mada-sourced playlist of alternative music from the region for the last of the winter sun. At sunset, LOULII will warm up the stage with her special brand of deep minimal, indie dance and soulful house. Following the success of MadaONE’s event with keyboardist and electro-shaabi pioneer, ISLAM CHIPSY (EEK), they’re bringing him back to the Mada stage for a long overdue encore. To close the gig, musician, producer, and radio celebrity SAFI will take us on one of his legendary electronic journeys, playing an eclectic set that is certain to reach the far corners of our grassy dance floor. There are also rumors of a secret after party to be announced in the coming weeks. Not only that, they’ve also joined forces with the cool cats from UNTY for a special UNTYxMADA collaboration that will celebrate the launch of UNTY’s Winter 16 collection at the event.
“If there is one thing we have all learned from living in Cairo (and maybe Beirut), is that in the bleakest moments, there remains a space for celebration. Our events, and specifically our anniversary party is a way to say thank you our readers, to celebrate the impossible, and to remember that there is always room for dancing,” ElNabawi says with a big smile on her face.
WE SAID THIS: For more about the event, click here. Oh, and see you there.