Young designer aims to promote Egyptians' African roots

A young fashion designer who believes Egypt’s African heritage is just as important as its Middle Eastern orientation aims to bring the international Afropunk Festival to Egypt.

Amna El-Shandaweely, an award-winning fashion designer who has trained with Elie Saab, launched last December a collection called “Cairo Punk” that is inspired by the Afropunk Festival, an annual international art festival that showcases African culture through music, art, film and fashion.

“I really would like to bring this festival to Egypt, but I will need sponsors and organizers who can help me bring it to life,” Shandaweely told Al-Monitor.

The Afropunk Festival, held for the first time in New York in 2005, was launched by people of African descent who felt that they were marginalized. Last month, the first festival took place on the African continent, in the South African city of Johannesburg, and was attended by thousands of visitors.