Through Randa Shaath's Lens: Glimpse of 1990s Cairo
On Thursday, acclaimed photojournalist Randa Shaath opened her latest exhibition as part of Cairo Photo Week 2025, offering an intimate glimpse into life in 1990s Cairo. The exhibition features 20 carefully selected black-and-white photographs from her extensive archive.
Shaath's lens captured spontaneous and deeply human moments across the city, highlighting not just Cairo's landmarks but its people and their stories. Her photos portray scenes such as folk celebrations at Al Sayeda Zainab, the construction of the metro stations and the October 6th Bridge, the old Ramses Square, a young girl's first day of school, and the premiere of the controversial film Al-Erhabi (The Terrorist).
These images reflect Shaath's approach to photography: documenting not only the urban landscape but the emotional and social textures of daily life. 'I wanted to tell the story of the people, not just the city,' she noted.
What made the evening especially engaging was Shaath's live storytelling, as she guided visitors through the exhibition. With each image, she shared personal memories and historical context, unveiling the narratives behind the still frames.
Speaking to SEE News, Shaath explained that the exhibition explores how cities inevitably change with time — and that each transformation carries both gains and losses. She chose the 1990s because it marked a vibrant and formative phase in her photojournalism career, when she was working for a weekly magazine and spent much of her time accompanying reporters in the field.
Shaath also reflected on how her studies, upbringing, and family roots shaped her visual sensibility. She spoke about her autobiographical book Gabal El Raml, in which she revisits her childhood memories in her grandmother's house in Alexandria, capturing the warmth of family life and gatherings that continue to influence her work.
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