In Egypt, bread is revered as the source of life—so essential that it is often treated with a near-sacred respect. During my time there, I encountered a type of bread so hard it seemed more suited for percussion than for eating. Its sound was unexpectedly musical, resonating like a drum when struck.
In this video, four percussionists—musicians who earn their living playing rhythms for belly dancers in modest nightclubs (kabarate)—experiment with drumming on this hardened bread. What begins as curiosity evolves into a rhythmic dialogue, transforming a humble everyday object into an instrument of sound and cultural expression.
Video still
Details:
- One-channel video installation
- Dur.: 06:34 min
- Fulll-hd digital | stereo | 16:9
- Sound: Humina
- With thanks to Makan, Cairo