The Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Arts Center kicked off the 18th edition of its International Summer Festival, on Saturday, with a performance by Egyptian singer Dina El-Wedidi.

Running from 15 to 29 August, the festival is set to feature some of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s most well-known musicians, artists, and filmmakers. All performances will be held with a limited capacity, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This year’s edition is dedicated to famed Egyptian dancer and choreographer, Mahmoud Reda, who passed away on 10 July at age 90.

During the opening ceremony, El-Wedidi performed her new single Ana Kont Bakhaf (I Used to Be Afraid), before performing Tedawar W-Tergaa (You Look and Return). The latter song was re-launched last week, albeit in an acoustic version, in dedication to its late writer, Mido Zoheir. During the concert, fans warmly interacted with El-Wedidi’s popular tracks, which included Al-Seirah, Kotr El-Wagaa, and Fi Belad El-Agayeb.

There will be a variety of performances and lectures on different art forms during the rest of the festival. This week’s programme will include El-Leila El-Kebira, a musical performance by Fabrica on 18 August.

On 19 August, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s BA Orchestra will present a selection of the most famous musical and Broadway songs, with Sufi chanter Mahmoud Eltohamy set to perform on 20 August. The famous singer Medhat Saleh will present a musical concert on 21 August.

Moreover, next week will see musicians, including the band AndrOmidA on 25 August, Nouran AbouTaleb on 26 August, and Ali El-Haggar on 27 August, perform. This will take place in addition to dance performances and film screenings. The festival will conclude with a performance by pop star Mostafa Amar on 29 August.