Egypt's female DJs create inclusive dance floors

Country's music industry remains dominated by men

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

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

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

Aspiring artists are taking inspiration from female DJs in the region

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

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

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'

Locations are often gardens or other makeshift sites

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

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

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