Hind Meddeb's documentary Electro Chaabi, depicting the world of mahraganat music, is scheduled to be screened at Mosaic Rooms in London on Wednesday 9 July.
The documentary examines the emergence and development of an Egyptian hip-hop music genre which surfaced in Cairo's underprivileged Al-Salam City neighbourhood and was soon coined as mahraganat.
"More than just a musical phenomenon, Electro Chaabi is a healthy outlet for youth oppressed by the prohibitions impose [sic]," an anonymous reviewer described the documentary on IMBd.
The 'mahraganat' musicians replace Western hip-hop rhythms with Middle Eastern rhythmic patterns known as maqsoum, fusing folk with electro beats. Lyrics in Arabic depict the musicians’ day-to-day realities and hardships, touching on a variety of socio-political issues.
Produced by IPS and Studio Masr and released in 2013, the film is written and directed by Hind Meddeb. It has already been screened in a variety of international events, including the Rotterdam Film Festival.