Latest news with #NawafizFestival
CairoScene
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Backstage: ZIAD ZAZA at Nawafiz Festival
The Egyptian rap star reflects on turning 25 and connecting with the crowd after his Netherlands debut at Nawafiz Festival. Jun 13, 2025 Just after his debut performance in the Netherlands at this year's Nawafiz Festival in Utrecht, co-curated by SceneNoise, Egyptian rapper ZIAD ZAZA took a moment to step back and reflect. The night wasn't just a milestone in his career. It felt like something deeper—a moment of shared presence with a crowd that felt strangely familiar. For ZAZA, it's never been about performing 'at' people. The energy he draws comes from a sense of closeness, even in places he's never been. Whether it's faces he recognizes from past shows or new ones that seem instantly in sync, it's the connection that stays with him. That sense of community felt especially strong at Nawafiz. In a city far from home, the festival created a space where Arabic music didn't feel like an export or a novelty. It felt local and rooted. For members of the diaspora who rarely get to experience this music live, it was a long-awaited moment. The show also happened to land right around his 25th birthday—a milestone that brought with it a wave of mixed emotions. Backstage there was celebration, cake, and chaos, but underneath it all was a quiet awareness of time passing. Turning 25 made him reflect on where he stands and where he's headed. He spoke candidly about the fear of time slipping away, of growing older in a world that moves fast. In the face of that, he's focused on making it count. For him, making music isn't just about success or recognition. It's about surviving, finding joy, honoring his faith, and giving his craft the attention it deserves. Watch the full video here:
CairoScene
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Nawafiz: The All-Arab Festival Making Utrecht a Hotspot for MENA Music
A deeper look into Utrecht's all-Arab festival, providing a space for resistance, community, and regional sounds. Jun 12, 2025 At a time when censorship is intensifying and public expressions of Arab identity are increasingly suppressed, Utrecht's Nawafiz Festival has emerged as a crucial space for free expression and connection through music. With an all-Arab lineup, it offered not only a celebration of music but a gathering point for Arabic-speaking communities across the Netherlands and Europe. The 2025 edition brought together artists from across the SWANA region and its diaspora, not only to perform, but to speak, resist, and be seen. For the second year running, TivoliVredenburg opened its doors to an all-Arab program, making Nawafiz one of the few spaces in Europe where Arab voices are not tokenized, but placed at the forefront. Across four stages, the festival's line-up - co-curated by SceneNoise - showcased a vibrant spectrum of genres, from hard-edged rap and Egyptian mahraganat to experimental electronics, indie pop, jazz fusion, and late-night dabke. Artists like Ziad Zaza, Lina Makoul, Ahmed Eid, Double Zuksh, Lana Lubany, DAM, Narcy, and Noise Diva delivered standout sets, underscoring the depth and dynamism of the region's musical landscape. With this more ambitious second edition of the festival, Nawafiz is quickly becoming a vital platform for connecting SWANA artists with audiences across Europe, while celebrating the diversity and creativity flourishing in the region's music today. Watch the full Afterfilm from Nawafiz Festival here:
CairoScene
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Utrecht's Nawafiz Festival returns to TivoliVredenburg on May 24th
Returning for its second edition on May 24, 2025, the festival expands across multiple stages at TivoliVredenburg. Mar 16, 2025 As Europe's appetite for Arab music grows, Nawafiz Festival, based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, is creating a space where SWANA music takes center stage. Launched in 2024, it quickly became a meeting point for the Arab diaspora and international audiences alike. Returning for its second edition on May 24, 2025, the festival expands across multiple stages at TivoliVredenburg, featuring artists like Lina Makoul, El Rass, Double Zuksh, Bedouin Burger and Lana Lubany with more artists to be announced soon. Stay tuned for the next wave of artist announcements, and grab your tickets at
