• Donia Shohdy, an Egyptian DJ known as A7ba-L-Jelly, performing in Cairo. All photos: Reuters
    Donia Shohdy, an Egyptian DJ known as A7ba-L-Jelly, performing in Cairo. All photos: Reuters
  • Shohdy is one of few women navigating Egypt’s alternative, underground DJ scene
    Shohdy is one of few women navigating Egypt’s alternative, underground DJ scene
  • Shohdy looks out from her apartment balcony in Maadi, a suburb of Cairo
    Shohdy looks out from her apartment balcony in Maadi, a suburb of Cairo
  • The 31-year-old musician is among a handful of women DJs in the Egyptian music scene, although she prefers not to be labelled as such
    The 31-year-old musician is among a handful of women DJs in the Egyptian music scene, although she prefers not to be labelled as such
  • She is founder of Jelly Zone, a team organising alternative music parties
    She is founder of Jelly Zone, a team organising alternative music parties
  • Nour El Kady plays music at a concert in Cairo
    Nour El Kady plays music at a concert in Cairo
  • A7ba-L-Jelly at home ...
    A7ba-L-Jelly at home ...
  • ... and at work behind the decks
    ... and at work behind the decks
  • The DJ with her cat
    The DJ with her cat
  • The dancefloor is rocking to a DJ's setlist
    The dancefloor is rocking to a DJ's setlist
  • Showing off her mixing skills
    Showing off her mixing skills
  • Egyptian DJ Yas Meen Selectress plays tunes
    Egyptian DJ Yas Meen Selectress plays tunes
  • Yas Meen Selectress in stage in Cairo
    Yas Meen Selectress in stage in Cairo

MENA

Female DJs navigate Egypt's alternative music scene - in pictures

Meet the women who get the dancefloors rocking

The National

March 06, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Points Classification

1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63

2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38

3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25

4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24

5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22

6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21

7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20

8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20

9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17

10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Updated: March 06, 2023, 5:41 AM