Culture | Culture of Egypt |
 Egypt's capital city, Cairo, is Africa's largest city and has been renowned for centuries as a center of learning, culture and commerce. The Egyptian Academy of the Arabic Language is responsible for regulating the Arabic Language (Arabic:اللغة العربية ) throughout the world. Egypt has had a thriving media and arts industry since the late 19th century, today with more than 30 satellite channels and over 100 motion pictures produced each year. Cairo in fact has long been known as the "Hollywood of the East." To bolster its media industry further, especially with the keen competition from the Persian Gulf Arab States and Lebanon, a large media city was built. Egypt is also the only Arab country with an opera house. Science Egypt's cultural contributions have included great works of science, art, and mathmatics, dating from antiquity to modern times. Music and dance  Egyptian music is a rich mixture of indigenous, Arabic, African and Western influences.As early as 4000 BC, ancient Egyptians were playing harps and flutes, as well as two indigenous instruments: the ney and the oud. However, there is little notation of Egyptian music before the 7th century AD, when Egypt became part of the Arab world. Percussion and vocal music became important at this time, and has remained an important part of Egyptian music today. From the 1970s, Egyptian pop music has become increasingly important in Egyptain culture, listened to mainly by the large youth population of Egypt. Folk music from Egypt's many cultures is also listened to a lot, and is played during weddings and other festivities. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Egyptian music was a way to communicate social and class issues. The most popular Egyptian pop singer is Amr Diab.Belly dance, or Raqs Sharqi in Arabic, may have originated in Egypt, and today the country is considered the international center of the art. Cuisine Egyptian food shares many dishes with other nearby Mediterranean countries like Greece, Jordan, and Lebanon. The national dish is (unofficially) considered by many Egyptians and Arabs to be ful medames, or mashed fava beans. Christians of Egypt, mainly Copts, observe Fasting periods according to the Liturgical Calendar that practically extend to more than two-thirds of the year. The diet is mainly vegetarian. Sport The most played most-watched sport in Egypt is Football (Soccer). Egyptian Soccer clubs especially Al Ahly and Al Zamalek are known throughout the Arab World and Africa and enjoy the reputation of long-time champions of the sport regionally. They enjoy popularity even among non-Egyptians in the Arab countries.Among the most-watched sports in Egypt are basketball, handball, squash and tennis. The Egyptian Squash team is always known for its fierce competition in world-wide championship in the 1930's and today. Handball has become another growingly popular sport among Egyptians as well. Since the early 1990's, the Egyptian Handball Team has become a growing international force in the sport, winning regional and continental tournaments as well as reaching up to fourth place internationally in 2001.Local sports clubs receive financial support from the local governments, and many sporting clubs are financially and administratively supported by the government. |
