LGW x SPEAK present: Egyptian ensemble Mazaher introduced by Ahmed Mostafa

Friday Sep 10th 2021

News snacks

Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country.

SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migrants in the city of Utrecht, by organizing language courses and other cultural events. In this video, Ahmed Mostafa from Egypt introduces Mazaher, a group of mostly women musicians who play Zãr music.

"I have to say, I didn't know about it myself. But when I heard about it, and I looked into it, I got very enthusiastic. It's not a normal kind of band, [...] it's more of a spiritual, ceremonial event, where actually these artists try to be as close as possible with the audience."

Mazaher will perform at Le Guess Who? 2021, together with a.o. Etran de L'Aïr, Siti Muharam, Arooj Aftab, Mónika Lakatos, Damon Locks’ Black Monument Ensemble, and many more.

Interview: Patricia Assis & Danielle Silva
Video & editing: Emiel Janssen & Youri Verdonk
Mazaher footage courtesy of Ajabu! Records
Thanks to A Beautiful Mess Utrecht
Photography by Arno Mery