--- title: Egypt — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 6 description: Wikipedia's «Egypt», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Egypt/page/6/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Egypt # Egypt · page 6 From Wikipedia, [«Egypt»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Egypt/) … [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Egypt/page/5/) **6** [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Egypt/page/7/) ### Largest cities See also: [List of cities and towns in Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Egypt) ## Culture Main article: [Culture of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Egypt) Egypt is a recognised cultural trendsetter of the Arabic-speaking world.[538](../../538/ "tree and pragmatics") Contemporary Arabic and Middle-Eastern culture is heavily influenced by Egyptian literature, music, film and television.[539](../../539/ "tree and pragmatics") Egypt gained a regional leadership role during the 1950s and 1960s, giving a further enduring boost to the standing of Egyptian culture in the Arabic-speaking world.[\[324\]](../../page/7/#ref-324 "note 324")[540](../../540/ "tree and pragmatics") Egyptian identity evolved in the span of a long period of occupation to accommodate [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam), Christianity and Judaism; and a new language, [Arabic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language), and its spoken descendant, [Egyptian Arabic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Arabic), which has a significant [Coptic-Egyptian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_language) [substrate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratum_%28linguistics%29).[\[325\]](../../page/7/#ref-325 "note 325")[541](../../541/ "tree and pragmatics") The work of early 19th century scholar [Rifa'a al-Tahtawi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifa%27a_al-Tahtawi) renewed interest in [Egyptian antiquity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt) and exposed Egyptian society to [Enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment) principles.[542](../../542/ "tree and pragmatics") Tahtawi co-founded with education reformer [Ali Mubarak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Mubarak) a native [Egyptology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptology) school that looked for inspiration to medieval Egyptian scholars, such as [Suyuti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suyuti) and [Maqrizi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maqrizi), who themselves studied the [history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Egypt), [language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_language) and [antiquities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture) of Egypt.[\[326\]](../../page/7/#ref-326 "note 326")[543](../../543/ "tree and pragmatics") Egypt's renaissance peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the work of people like [Muhammad Abduh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Abduh), [Ahmed Lutfi el-Sayed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Lutfi_el-Sayed), [Muhammad Loutfi Goumah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Loutfi_Goumah), [Tawfiq el-Hakim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawfiq_el-Hakim), [Louis Awad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Awad), [Qasim Amin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasim_Amin), [Salama Moussa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salama_Moussa), [Taha Hussein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taha_Hussein) and [Mahmoud Mokhtar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Mokhtar).[544](../../544/ "tree and pragmatics") They forged a liberal path for Egypt expressed as a commitment to personal freedom, [secularism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism) and faith in science to bring progress.[\[327\]](../../page/7/#ref-327 "note 327")[545](../../545/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Arts Main article: [Contemporary art in Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_art_in_Egypt), [Art of ancient Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_ancient_Egypt) See also: [Architecture of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Egypt) The Egyptians were one of the first major civilisations to codify design elements in art and [architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture).[546](../../546/ "tree and pragmatics") [Egyptian blue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_blue), also known as calcium copper silicate, is a pigment used by Egyptians for thousands of years.[547](../../547/ "tree and pragmatics") It is considered to be the first synthetic pigment.[548](../../548/ "tree and pragmatics") The wall paintings done in the service of the [Pharaohs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaoh) followed a rigid code of visual rules and meanings.[549](../../549/ "tree and pragmatics") Egyptian civilisation is renowned for its colossal [pyramids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids), [temples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_temple) and monumental tombs.[550](../../550/ "tree and pragmatics") Well-known examples are the [Pyramid of Djoser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Djoser) designed by ancient architect and engineer [Imhotep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imhotep), the [Sphinx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx), and the temple of [Abu Simbel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Simbel).[551](../../551/ "tree and pragmatics") Modern and contemporary Egyptian art spans disciplines from the vernacular architecture of [Hassan Fathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Fathy) and [Ramses Wissa Wassef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramses_Wissa_Wassef) to the iconic sculptures of [Mahmoud Mokhtar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Mokhtar) and the distinctive [Coptic iconography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_art) of [Isaac Fanous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Fanous).[552](../../552/ "tree and pragmatics") Its development in the twentieth century reflected a complex dialogue between national identity, global artistic trends, and social change.[553](../../553/ "tree and pragmatics") Early modern Egyptian artists sought to reconnect with their national heritage through Neo-Pharaonic styles in architecture, sculpture, and painting, with artists such as [Mahmoud Mokhtar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Mokhtar) and [Mahmoud Sa'id](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Sa%27id) incorporating symbolic references to ancient Egypt and rural life.[\[328\]](../../page/7/#ref-328 "note 328")[\[329\]](../../page/7/#ref-329 "note 329")[554](../../554/ "tree and pragmatics") Later generations embraced international movements like [Surrealism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism), [Cubism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism), [Dadaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaism), and [abstraction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_art), while the [Art et Liberté](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_et_Liberté) group, including [Ramses Younan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramses_Younan), promoted individual expression and antifascist ideals.[\[328\]](../../page/7/#ref-328 "note 328")[555](../../555/ "tree and pragmatics") The Contemporary Art Group, with artists such as [Gazbia Sirry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazbia_Sirry) and [Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdel_Hadi_Al_Gazzar), explored social realism and the quest for the Egyptian soul, while experimental painters and sculptors like Munir Canaan and Salah Abdel Kerim explored [Abstract Expressionism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Expressionism) and [assemblage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_%28art%29).[\[328\]](../../page/7/#ref-328 "note 328")[556](../../556/ "tree and pragmatics") In the latter half of the century, artists responded to political and cultural shifts with Islamic-inspired calligraphy and geometric abstraction, exemplified by the Calligraphic School of Art.[\[328\]](../../page/7/#ref-328 "note 328")[557](../../557/ "tree and pragmatics") Other notable artists from this era include [Inji Efflatoun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inji_Efflatoun) and [Kamal Amin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamal_Amin).[558](../../558/ "tree and pragmatics") The launch of institutions such as the [Townhouse Gallery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townhouse_Gallery) in 1998 democratised art access and introduced new media forms like video and installation art,[\[330\]](../../page/7/#ref-330 "note 330") providing a platform for younger artists such as [Fathi Hassan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathi_Hassan), [Ghada Amer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghada_Amer), Medhat Shafik, [Moataz Nasr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moataz_Nasr), and Mona Marzouk to experiment with installation, video, and photography.[\[328\]](../../page/7/#ref-328 "note 328")[559](../../559/ "tree and pragmatics") The [2011 Egyptian revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Egyptian_revolution) ushered in a new era of politically and socially engaged art.[560](../../560/ "tree and pragmatics") [Graffiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti) emerged as a prominent medium to document protests and communicate revolutionary messages,[\[331\]](../../page/7/#ref-331 "note 331") with artists like [Bahia Shehab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahia_Shehab), [Alaa Awad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaa_Awad), [Aya Tarek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Tarek), and [Ganzeer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganzeer) creating works that memorialised martyrs, critiqued political figures, and reclaimed public spaces.[\[332\]](../../page/7/#ref-332 "note 332")[561](../../561/ "tree and pragmatics") [Khayamiya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khayamiya) is a traditional Egyptian appliqué textile art primarily made in Cairo's historic ShareʿEl Khayamiya (شارع الخيامية), also known as the Tentmakers Market.[562](../../562/ "tree and pragmatics") The craft, thought to date back to [ancient Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt), involves a labour-intensive hand-stitching process that can take weeks to complete, with designs ranging from geometric motifs to scenes drawn from Egyptian history and folklore.[563](../../563/ "tree and pragmatics") It was originally associated with decorated tents, but today it is also used for quilts, cushion covers, and wall hangings.[\[333\]](../../page/7/#ref-333 "note 333")[564](../../564/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Cairo Opera House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Opera_House) is Egypt's main performing arts venue, with the [Sayed Darwish Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria_Opera_House) in [Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria) and the [Port Said Opera House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Said_Opera_House) in [Port Said](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Said) serving their respective cities.[565](../../565/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2012 the [Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Contemporary_Arts_Festival) (D-CAF) was launched to revitalise Cairo's cultural scene and to provide an inclusive platform for contemporary arts.[566](../../566/ "tree and pragmatics") It is an annual arts festival held in Cairo, Egypt, presenting a range of performances, exhibitions, and workshops in theatre, dance, and visual arts.[\[334\]](../../page/7/#ref-334 "note 334")[567](../../567/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Literature Main article: [Egyptian literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_literature) The literary tradition of Egypt began in [ancient Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt), making it among the earliest in human history.[568](../../568/ "tree and pragmatics") Writing was first used by Egyptians to record texts on materials such as papyrus and carved inscriptions.[\[335\]](../../page/7/#ref-335 "note 335")[569](../../569/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Story of Sinuhe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Sinuhe) is perhaps its best-known work;[\[336\]](../../page/7/#ref-336 "note 336") and the autobiography has been called the earliest form of Egyptian literature.[\[337\]](../../page/7/#ref-337 "note 337")[570](../../570/ "tree and pragmatics") By the eighth century Egypt became part of the Muslim Arab world.[571](../../571/ "tree and pragmatics") Literature and libraries thrived under the new order, papyrus was replaced by paper, and calligraphy became central.[\[338\]](../../page/7/#ref-338 "note 338")[572](../../572/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 13th century, [Ibn al-Nafis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_al-Nafis) wrote [Theologus Autodidactus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theologus_Autodidactus), a theological novel with proto-science fiction elements.[\[339\]](../../page/7/#ref-339 "note 339")[573](../../573/ "tree and pragmatics") Literary practices such as the taqriz (commendatory blurbs) appeared in 14th-century Egypt,[\[340\]](../../page/7/#ref-340 "note 340") and Egyptian folklore contributed to [One Thousand and One Nights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Thousand_and_One_Nights).[\[341\]](../../page/7/#ref-341 "note 341")[574](../../574/ "tree and pragmatics") In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Egypt was central to the [Nahda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahda), the Arab cultural renaissance.[\[342\]](../../page/7/#ref-342 "note 342")[575](../../575/ "tree and pragmatics") [Muhammad Abduh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Abduh), a leading figure of Islamic modernism,[\[343\]](../../page/7/#ref-343 "note 343") co-founded the revolutionary journal [Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Urwah_al-Wuthqa) with [Jamal al-Din al-Afghani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_al-Din_al-Afghani) in 1884; though quickly banned by the British, it circulated widely across the Arab world.[\[344\]](../../page/7/#ref-344 "note 344")[\[345\]](../../page/7/#ref-345 "note 345")[\[346\]](../../page/7/#ref-346 "note 346")[\[347\]](../../page/7/#ref-347 "note 347")[576](../../576/ "tree and pragmatics") [Ahmad Shawqi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shawqi) pioneered the expansion of the classical [qasida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasida) form, though his work remained firmly rooted in neo-classical style.[577](../../577/ "tree and pragmatics") Following him, poets such as [Hafez Ibrahim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafez_Ibrahim) began addressing themes of [anticolonialism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-imperialism) alongside traditional poetic subjects.[\[348\]](../../page/7/#ref-348 "note 348")[578](../../578/ "tree and pragmatics") [Muhammad Husayn Haykal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Husayn_Haykal)'s [Zaynab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaynab_%28novel%29) is considered the first modern Egyptian novel.[\[349\]](../../page/7/#ref-349 "note 349")[579](../../579/ "tree and pragmatics") This novel started a movement of modernising Arabic fiction.[\[348\]](../../page/7/#ref-348 "note 348")[580](../../580/ "tree and pragmatics") Poetry remained vibrant, with figures such as [Aziz Pasha Abaza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aziz_Pasha_Abaza) contributing classical-style verse with [Pan-Arabism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Arabism) themes.[581](../../581/ "tree and pragmatics") The Abaza family produced several notable literary figures, including [Fekry Pasha Abaza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fekry_Pasha_Abaza), [Tharwat Abaza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tharwat_Abaza), and Desouky Pasha Abaza.[\[350\]](../../page/7/#ref-350 "note 350")[\[351\]](../../page/7/#ref-351 "note 351")[582](../../582/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 20th century, modernist movements shaped Egyptian literature.[583](../../583/ "tree and pragmatics") [Al-Madrasa al-Ḥadītha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Madrasa_al-Ḥadītha) focused on the short story,[\[352\]](../../page/7/#ref-352 "note 352") while two of the most prominent figures were [Taha Hussein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taha_Hussein) and [Naguib Mahfouz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naguib_Mahfouz), the latter the first Egyptian and Arabic-language writer to receive the [Nobel Prize in Literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature).[584](../../584/ "tree and pragmatics") Avant-garde literary activity emerged through magazines like [Galerie 68](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerie_68), founded by [Edwar al-Kharrat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwar_al-Kharrat), giving voice to Egypt's 1960s generation.[\[353\]](../../page/7/#ref-353 "note 353")[585](../../585/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1990s, Egyptian literature responded to socio-economic changes such as urbanisation and rising living costs, focusing on isolated individuals in a changing society, exemplified by Mustafa Zikri, [Nura Amin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nura_Amin), and [May Telmissany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Telmissany).[\[354\]](../../page/7/#ref-354 "note 354")[586](../../586/ "tree and pragmatics") This era also saw the rise of women writers, often called kitabat al-banat ("girls' writing"), with shorter, first-person narratives.[\[355\]](../../page/7/#ref-355 "note 355")[\[356\]](../../page/7/#ref-356 "note 356")[587](../../587/ "tree and pragmatics") Egyptians constitute the largest share of shortlisted authors for the [International Prize for Arabic Fiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Prize_for_Arabic_Fiction), with [Bahaa Taher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahaa_Taher)'s Sunset Oasis winning the inaugural edition in 2008, followed the next year by [Youssef Ziedan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssef_Ziedan)'s Azazeel.[\[357\]](../../page/7/#ref-357 "note 357")[588](../../588/ "tree and pragmatics") Other notable contemporary authors include [Radwa Ashour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radwa_Ashour), acclaimed for the [Granada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada_%28Trilogy%29) trilogy; [Ahdaf Soueif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahdaf_Soueif), whose English-language novel The Map of Love was shortlisted for the [Booker Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_Prize) in 1999; [Ahmed Khaled Tawfik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Khaled_Tawfik), who introduced horror and science fiction to Egyptian literature with his Ma Waraa al-Tabiaa series; and [Ahmed Mourad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mourad), known for bestselling novels such as Vertigo and [The Blue Elephant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Elephant_%28novel%29).[\[358\]](../../page/7/#ref-358 "note 358")[589](../../589/ "tree and pragmatics") Feminist themes are explored by [Nawal El Saadawi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawal_El_Saadawi) and [Alifa Rifaat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alifa_Rifaat), while vernacular poetry is represented by [Ahmed Fouad Negm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Fouad_Negm), [Salah Jaheen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salah_Jaheen), and [Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdel_Rahman_el-Abnudi).[\[359\]](../../page/7/#ref-359 "note 359")[590](../../590/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Media Main article: [Media of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Egypt) See also: [List of radio stations in Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_Egypt) Egypt is a major regional media hub, with its press among the most influential in the Arab world.[591](../../591/ "tree and pragmatics") The [printing press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press) was first introduced to Egypt by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon) during his [French Campaign in Egypt and Syria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Campaign_in_Egypt_and_Syria).[\[360\]](../../page/7/#ref-360 "note 360")[592](../../592/ "tree and pragmatics") [Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria) was the centre of Egyptian journalism for much of the 1800s,[\[361\]](../../page/7/#ref-361 "note 361") with many literary journals starting there before moving to [Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo) [corpus](../../../Cairo/ "in our corpus").[\[362\]](../../page/7/#ref-362 "note 362")[593](../../593/ "tree and pragmatics") By the 1890s, Cairo had become dominant, hosting 65% of publications, while Alexandria accounted for 28%.[\[361\]](../../page/7/#ref-361 "note 361")[594](../../594/ "tree and pragmatics") The written press in Egypt today is highly diverse, with more than 600 newspapers, journals, and magazines.[\[363\]](../../page/7/#ref-363 "note 363")[595](../../595/ "tree and pragmatics") The three leading state-owned press institutions are [Al-Ahram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ahram), [Al-Akhbar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Akhbar_%28Egypt%29) and Dar Al-Tahrir,[\[364\]](../../page/7/#ref-364 "note 364") the latter being a major publishing house that issues a wide range of newspapers and magazines in different languages, including [Al-Gomhuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gomhuria), [The Egyptian Gazette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian_Gazette), [Le Progrès Egyptien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Progrès_Egyptien), among others.[\[365\]](../../page/7/#ref-365 "note 365")[596](../../596/ "tree and pragmatics") Egypt was the first country in the region to introduce radio broadcasts to a wide population in 1926, initially through private short-wave stations with limited range, primarily located between [Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo) [corpus](../../../Cairo/ "in our corpus") and [Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria).[\[366\]](../../page/7/#ref-366 "note 366")[597](../../597/ "tree and pragmatics") The official Egyptian radio service launched on 31 May 1934, with the first broadcast featuring [Muhammad Rifat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Rifat), a Quran reciter.[\[366\]](../../page/7/#ref-366 "note 366")[598](../../598/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the [1952 Egyptian Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_Egyptian_Revolution), radio became a central tool of state communication and regional influence.[599](../../599/ "tree and pragmatics") Under President [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamal_Abdel_Nasser), Egypt developed the [Voice of the Arabs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_the_Arabs) (صوت العرب) service, launched in the 1950s as one of the most prominent Arabic-language broadcasts of its time.[\[367\]](../../page/7/#ref-367 "note 367")[600](../../600/ "tree and pragmatics") Initially modest in size, Egypt's radio system was rapidly expanded by the revolutionary government.[601](../../601/ "tree and pragmatics") It was used to promote Arab unity, strengthen Egypt's leadership role in the region, often calling for solidarity and revolutionary action, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.[\[367\]](../../page/7/#ref-367 "note 367")[602](../../602/ "tree and pragmatics") Contemporary radio in Egypt is largely operated by the [Egyptian Radio and Television Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Radio_and_Television_Union) (ERTU), established in 1970, which manages multiple national and local stations.[603](../../603/ "tree and pragmatics") Private FM stations also exist, but state radio remains the most widespread.[604](../../604/ "tree and pragmatics") Programming includes news, cultural content, educational programmes.[\[364\]](../../page/7/#ref-364 "note 364")[605](../../605/ "tree and pragmatics") Egyptian television began in 1960 when Channel 1 launched with [Quran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran) readings and a speech by President [Nasser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamal_Abdel_Nasser), followed by Channel 2 in 1961 offering cultural, informational, and instructional programmes.[606](../../606/ "tree and pragmatics") Over the following decades, additional channels were launched regionally.[\[364\]](../../page/7/#ref-364 "note 364")[607](../../607/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 21st century, Egypt's television and film industry continue to supply much of the region through Cairo's [Media Production City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Media_Production_City).[608](../../608/ "tree and pragmatics") Television remains the most popular medium in the country, with [ERTU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Radio_and_Television_Union) operating two national terrestrial channels, six local terrestrial channels covering all 27 governorates, three satellite channels, and over ten specialised channels, including news, sport, culture, education, and entertainment.[\[364\]](../../page/7/#ref-364 "note 364")[609](../../609/ "tree and pragmatics") In addition, numerous private satellite television channels operate alongside the state networks.[\[364\]](../../page/7/#ref-364 "note 364")[610](../../610/ "tree and pragmatics") Egypt is a major force in satellite broadcasting, being the first Arab country to launch its own satellite, [Nilesat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilesat).[611](../../611/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Cinema Main article: [Cinema of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Egypt) [Egyptian cinema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_cinema), the oldest in Africa and the Arab world, began in 1896 with film screenings in [Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria), [Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo) [corpus](../../../Cairo/ "in our corpus"), and [Port Said](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Said).[612](../../612/ "tree and pragmatics") Early production started in 1907 with short documentaries, and the first feature films appeared in 1917, directed by [Mohammed Karim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Karim).[613](../../613/ "tree and pragmatics") By the 1920s and 1930s, the country's film scene expanded with productions such as [Layla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila_%281927_film%29) and [Sons of Aristocrats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Aristocrats), the first Egyptian talkie.[\[368\]](../../page/7/#ref-368 "note 368")[614](../../614/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1936, [Studio Misr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Misr), financed by industrialist [Talaat Harb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaat_Pasha_Harb), emerged as the leading Egyptian studio, a role the company retained for three decades.[\[369\]](../../page/7/#ref-369 "note 369")[615](../../615/ "tree and pragmatics") For over 100 years, more than 4,000 films have been produced in Egypt, three quarters of the total Arab production.[\[370\]](../../page/7/#ref-370 "note 370")[\[371\]](../../page/7/#ref-371 "note 371")[616](../../616/ "tree and pragmatics") The industry has been a dominant cultural force in the Arab world since its inception, earning the nickname "Arab Hollywood" and "Hollywood of the East".[\[372\]](../../page/7/#ref-372 "note 372")[\[373\]](../../page/7/#ref-373 "note 373")[\[368\]](../../page/7/#ref-368 "note 368")[617](../../617/ "tree and pragmatics") Its golden age, spanning the 1940s to the 1960s, saw Egypt become the world's third-largest film producer, with hundreds of films across genres achieving widespread regional popularity.[\[372\]](../../page/7/#ref-372 "note 372")[618](../../618/ "tree and pragmatics") Iconic filmmakers such as [Youssef Chahine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssef_Chahine) and [Henry Barakat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Barakat), and celebrated actors including [Faten Hamama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faten_Hamama), helped establish Egyptian cinema as a major influence on Arab cultural identity.[619](../../619/ "tree and pragmatics") Today, Egyptian films continue to reach audiences across the Arab world and beyond, maintaining the country's historic role as a central hub for Arabic-language cinema.[\[372\]](../../page/7/#ref-372 "note 372")[620](../../620/ "tree and pragmatics") Egypt hosts several film festivals, which have become important platforms for both local and international filmmakers.[621](../../621/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Cairo International Film Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_International_Film_Festival), established in 1976, showcases a range of films from dramas to experimental works and attracts filmmakers and audiences from around the world.[\[374\]](../../page/7/#ref-374 "note 374")[622](../../622/ "tree and pragmatics") It is listed by the [International Federation of Film Producers' Associations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIAPF) as one of the 11 competitive film festivals in the world.[\[375\]](../../page/7/#ref-375 "note 375")[623](../../623/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Luxor African Film Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxor_African_Film_Festival) highlights African cinema, while the [El Gouna Film Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Gouna_Film_Festival) presents Arabic and international films.[624](../../624/ "tree and pragmatics") Other notable events include the Ismailia International Film Festival, which focuses on social and environmental themes, and the Alexandria Short Film Festival, which features narrative, documentary, and animated short films.[\[374\]](../../page/7/#ref-374 "note 374")[625](../../625/ "tree and pragmatics") The number of cinemas increased with the emergence of [talking films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_film), and reached 395 in 1958.[626](../../626/ "tree and pragmatics") This number began to decline after the establishment of television in 1960 and the establishment of the public sector in cinemas in 1962.[627](../../627/ "tree and pragmatics") The cinema count fell to 297 in 1965, then to 141 in 1995, due to the circulation of films through video equipment though the boom of the film industry in this period.[628](../../628/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to laws and procedures that encouraged investment in the establishment of private cinemas, they increased again, especially in commercial centres.[629](../../629/ "tree and pragmatics") Their number reached 200 in 2001 and 400 in 2009.[\[376\]](../../page/7/#ref-376 "note 376")[\[377\]](../../page/7/#ref-377 "note 377")[630](../../630/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Music Main article: [Music of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Egypt) [Egyptian music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Egypt) is a rich mixture of indigenous, Mediterranean, African and Western elements.[631](../../631/ "tree and pragmatics") It has been an integral part of [Egyptian culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Egypt) since antiquity.[632](../../632/ "tree and pragmatics") The ancient [Egyptians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptians) credited one of their gods [Hathor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathor) with the invention of music, which [Osiris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris) in turn used as part of his effort to civilise the world.[633](../../633/ "tree and pragmatics") Egyptians used music instruments since then.[\[378\]](../../page/7/#ref-378 "note 378")[634](../../634/ "tree and pragmatics") 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