For the first time in Cairo since fleeing Gaza in March 2024, I heard music that I thought was lost. I saw so many Palestinian musicians from Gaza playing together. I heard the sound of my land and sang the words of my home.
I cried as I sang along with my new friends in the crowd — Egyptians, Palestinians, and others from all over the world. I was so happy to see friendly faces and hear these sounds again.
An icebreaker event
The event that made this possible was a musical jam party, an icebreaker between local musicians in Cairo and Gazan musicians who have relocated from Palestine since the start of the war. It was co-hosted by the Palestine Music Expo, a project supporting Palestinian music once housed in Gaza, and Audio Bus, a music-education platform based in Cairo that teaches musicians about music production, composition, and sound design.
This was the first collaboration of its kind between Palestinian musicians and their counterparts in Cairo. Throughout the evening, 20 different artists took turns sharing their music with the large crowd. As each new musician came up, different people, up to five at a time, sat in with the band to back them. Anyone was welcome to play.
Sometimes these people knew each other and had played together before, but many times people from different places who did not know each other played together for the first time. Many of us wore nametags, we were so new to each other.
Songs of yearning for the homeland
The first performers of the evening were Palestinians singer Ahmed Murad and guitarist Musical Shaman.
Ahmed’s singing carried us back to the beautiful time when we were growing up. He sang songs from Spacetoon, the popular Arabic TV channel where many of us heard these theme songs as children. These songs were a powerful start to the evening.
The war had stopped all concerts by these two artists, and they stopped knowing how to sing or play. But by God’s will they met in Egypt and returned to make music for us together.
Yara Ayoub, who is also Palestinian, sang songs of longing and yearning for our homeland. She sang the traditional Arabic song Above the Palm Trees, and Wassim Al-Sisi completed the section of songs of yearning with Yama Muwail Al-Hawa. He was accompanied on the oud by Muhammad Al Habash from Gaza.
Many of the artists were new to me, but some of the performers I knew were musical producer Feras Shawwa, singer Yara Ayoub, singer Baker Khadir, rapper Shamily, guitarist Saed Al Jarou, and Musical Shaman, the guitarist and singer mentioned earlier.
Different artists played with different backers and instruments, like the oud, tabla, piano, guitar, and bass. All were combined in a rhythmic way, and each singer reflected their own musical identity. Some of them sang Palestinian traditional songs. Musical groups sang jazz, some did rap, and some of them sang patriotic songs.
Before this event I did not know any Egyptian musicians, but now I do. Now we are all talking, and many of us will sing and play together in the future.
Creating sustainable musician networks
I spoke to the organizers — Ahmed Saqer, a member of Palestine Music Expo’s team management, and Mostafa Adel, the creator of Audio Bus — about why they came together for this event.
Ahmed recognized the importance of integrating Palestinian musicians in Egypt. He said he organized this event with Audio Bus to create a collaborative space for Palestinian artists and international industry experts.
“This initiative seeks to build mutually beneficial relationships and valuable networking opportunities for the music industry in Palestine,” he explained.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable network where Palestinian musicians can interact with global music professionals. This is not just about jamming sessions; it’s about creating long-term opportunities for these artists to develop their skills, share their stories, and contribute to the global music scene.”
Mostafa highlighted the networking aspect, too, saying that “Audio Bus is more than an educational platform; it’s a community. We provide the tools and the space for artists to express themselves, but it’s the artists who bring it to life. Their stories, their music, and their resilience create an environment where everyone feels inspired to contribute and collaborate.”
Both Ahmed and Mostafa were optimistic. This was the first event of its kind, but they hope to host more in the future so that artists can continue to build connections socially, and eventually record and perform together.
ZOHUD’s musical journey
One Gazan artist who shared his music that night was Zahd, a 33-year-old guitarist and singer who plays under the stage name ZOHUD. Displaced from Gaza after the Israeli forces destroyed his home studio where he made his own recordings, he fled to Egypt to ensure his children’s safety. He joined a group of Palestinian and Egyptian musicians, eager to rebuild his life and communicate the messages of Palestinians through music.
“My artistic projects in Gaza gave me a sense of freedom despite the ongoing siege,” Zahd shared. He has created an album that “encapsulates everything I have faced, including the war, and it resonates with the struggles that many young people here endure.
“Even though I lost my home studio and my instruments, the essence of my music remains. I’m here to share that with the world.”
Hala’s musical journey
Another Gazan musician, Hala Al-Samak, shared her story. “I play percussion and have always seen music as a safe haven. Every time there was war or pressure, I would channel my feelings through music.
“However, this war felt different. We thought we’d be gone just a few days and then return, but a month later, our house was bombed, taking with it all our dreams and memories, along with my instruments. Losing our home and my instruments was devastating.”
She continued, “Throughout the displacements we faced, I began to feel a profound loss of identity. My life turned into a monotonous routine. The one source of hope for me was the children, who always found ways to enjoy themselves despite incredibly tough situations. Their resilience gave me hope.
“Music became my way of healing, and being part of this community in Cairo has been transformative. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is light and creativity.”
Hala told me that when she arrived in Egypt, she was searching for a sense of self, eager for everything that signifies life. Thankfully, after three months in Egypt, she started to heal through music and community. She told me that “being part of a musical event that unites artists created a wonderful platform for us to express our voices and connect with others.” Speaking of the January jam party, she said it was “a beautiful experience that inspired me to continue and share my journey with the world.”
Transcending borders
The jam party not only allowed Palestinian artists in Cairo to continue their creative endeavors, but also to expand their influence and reach a broader audience. This new chapter in their lives is not merely about survival, but about thriving and ensuring that their voices are heard far and wide.
With collaborations like these, Palestinian artists carry their voices around the world, delivering a message of resistance, identity, and healing and showcasing the power of music to transcend borders and communicate profound truths.
