Egyptian feminist band gives voice to country's women
All-female band Bnt Al Masarwa is turning the oppression of Egyptian women into songs to raise awareness of their discrimination.
Three young Egyptian women, united in their belief that music can create social change, formed a band that spotlights the problems faced by women in Egypt, from female genital mutilation to forced marriages.
The band, called Bnt Al Masarwa, Arabic for “Daughter of Egyptians,” consists of Marina Samir, Esraa Saleh and Mirette Abdel Moula, who decided to give a voice to women’s suffering through their songs.
The three young women met in 2014 at a creative writing workshop organized by Nazra for Feminist Studies, a nongovernmental organization that seeks to enhance and support feminist movements in the Middle East and North Africa.
The workshop's goal was to write song lyrics that highlighted the discrimination faced by women in Egypt.
