Egypt's female DJs create inclusive dance floors

Country's music industry remains dominated by men

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  In Egypt's patriarchal society, a generation of young women DJs are forging their own path, seeking to create more inclusive spaces for performers and party-goers alike. All photos: AFP

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  Egypt's music industry remains male-dominated, while the conservative country's cultural establishment marginalises and even bans electronic music artists

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  Female partygoers have for years complained about harassment on the dance floor, while many revellers find mainstream venues too expensive

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  Aspiring artists are taking inspiration from female DJs in the region

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  DJ and promoter A7ba-L-Jelly decided to establish her own collective as part of making the underground electronic dance music scene more inclusive

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  In 2019, more than 90 per cent of women in Egypt aged 18 to 39 said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment

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  From the Nile-side dance venue, DJ Yas Meen Selectress complained that regardless of gender, 'there are no dedicated spaces for us where we can play our music'

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  Locations are often gardens or other makeshift sites

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  'Traditions, society and other factors mean that there are fewer women than men in the scene,' Yas Meen Selectress added

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  Despite rising numbers of female DJs, the music industry remains dominated by men — especially in production and management

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