Follow the #Jan25 hash tag on twitter. As well as the publications mentioned above, there are loads of good tweeters. Here’s 10 to start you off:

@3arabawy
@Sarahcarr
@Jilliancyork
@ianinegypt
@bencnn
@fustat
@RamyRaoof
@Tom_El_Rumi
@tomgara
@beleidy

Picture from ARTIFICIALEYES.TV

Here is the current advice from the US State Department, from the UK Foreign Office, and from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Many governments are also arranging flights to evacuate their citizens from the country.

At present, the situation is volatile and subject to sudden change. It seems unlikely travel to Egypt will be recommended for at least the next few weeks, and most likely longer.

Picture from ARTIFICIALEYES.TV

Monday
Cairo-based band Bikya playing a mixture of acoustic sounds and electronica at the Cairo Jazz Club.
10:30pm – free.

Tuesday
West German Radio Choir performing with the Horus Piano Duo, the Coptic Bassem Darwish Ensemble, and the Sufi Madih Ensemble, at the Cairo Opera House – an expression of love for God and humanity.
8:00pm – 25 / 35 / 50 LE.

Wednesday
Ali El Haggar performing at al-Sawy Culture Wheel.
9:00pm – 35 / 40 LE.

Thursday
Screwdriver playing classic rock covers from the 60’s through to the 80’s, at the Cairo Jazz Club.
10:30pm – free.

Friday
Arabic pop-rockers Wust El-Balad playing at al-Sawy Culture Wheel.
8:30pm – 30 / 35 LE.

Saturday
Malian guitarist Habib Koite performing an acoustic set at Darb 1718.
9:00pm – free.

Note: Photo taken from flickr Creative Commons, and is by epredator.

Monday
Aida – 140 Years of Fine Art, at the Cairo Opera House. Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the first performance of Aida, there will be performances of the opera, along with an exhibition of posters, photos, costume and jewelry designs. 8:00pm – 50 / 75 / 100 LE. Runs till January 20th.

Tuesday
Cinema du Reel screening at CFCC Mounira. From Sunday 16th to Monday 24th January, CFCC will be showing films that won prizes at the 2010 documentary film festival in Paris. Note that films are screened in their original language, subtitled in French or English. Today’s film is La Quemadura, the story of the filmmaker and his sister trying to flesh out their mother’s disappearance 26 years ago. 7:00pm – free. For a full schedule of screenings, click here. (In French.)

Wednesday
Mazaher Ensemble performing at Makan – ritual healing music, heavy on the arrhythmic percussion, known as Zar. 9:00 pm – 20 LE advance and 30 LE on the door.

Thursday
Rai masters Sahra playing at After Eight. 10:00pm – minimum charge 100 LE.

Friday
Performance for a Cause – musical fusion event at Rawabet Space for Performing Arts (next to the Townhouse Gallery) to raise money for underprivileged women and children in Upper Egypt. Including performances by Hani Mostafa, Mohamed El Deeb, and the JAMM Band. 7:30pm – email performanceforacausecairo@gmail.com or call 0199913088 for tickets.

Saturday
Electro at Darb 1718 featuring performances by Neobyrd, Polymorph, and Machine Eat Man. 7:30pm – free.

Note: Photo taken from flickr Creative Commons, and is by epredator.

To celebrate, there is a release party and concert at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts, next to the Townhouse Gallery, from 8:00pm on 12th January 2011. Be there!

Note: Photo taken from flickr Creative Commons, and is by epredator.

Sunday
Jazz and World Music fusion band Eftekasat playing at the Cairo Jazz Club. 10:30pm – free.

Monday
The Gaza Monologues at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts, next to the Townhouse Gallery – children from Gaza have been given drama training, and perform stories of how the war in Gaza has affected their lives. 8:00pm – free.

Tuesday
The Bedouin Jerry Can Band playing at Beit al-Souhaymi – collective of musicians, poets and storytellers from North Sinai, performing indigenous songs and dances, garnished with coffee lore. 8:00pm – free.

Wednesday
Mazaher Ensemble performing at Makan – ritual healing music, heavy on the arrhythmic percussion, known as Zar. 9:00 pm – 20 LE advance and 30 LE on the door.

Thursday
The Hungarian Szeged Contemporary Dance Company performing Carmina Burana ballet at the Cairo Opera House. 8:00pm.

Friday
Shams el-Sheta at al-Sawy Culture Wheel – collaboration between poet Ahmed Haddad and oud player Hazem Shahin. 8:00pm – 15LE.

Saturday
Sufi dancing show at Wikalet al-Ghouri. 8:30pm – free. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Note: Photo taken from flickr Creative Commons, and is by epredator.

Sunday
Bashir playing contemporary versions of traditional Upper Egyptian folkloric music at After Eight. 10:00 pm ; minimum charge 60 LE.

Monday
French dance troupe Show Dance performing elaborate routines to music such as Gene Kelly, Nina Simone, Michael Jackson, and Broadway hits, at the Cairo Opera House. 8:00 pm ; 100 – 300 LE.
Also playing 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th of January. (Two performances on 8th – 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.)

Tuesday
Mawawil playing baladi and gypsy songs from the Nile delta region in Makan. 9:00 pm ; 20 LE advance, 30 LE on the door.

Wednesday
Variety Theatre at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts, next to the Townhouse Gallery. Includes a mime performance, storytelling, stand-up comedy, and sketches. 8:00 pm ; 10 LE.

Thursday
Urban Preachers playing R&B, soul and funk from the 70’s, at Cairo Jazz Club. 10:30 pm ; free.

Friday
Egyptian DJ Carlos spinning mainstream and underground house and trance at the Cairo Jazz Club. 10:30 pm ; free.

Saturday
Renowned Egyptian composer and pianist Omar Khairat performing at al-Sawy Culture Wheel. 7:00 pm ; 50 / 35 LE.

Note: Photo taken from flickr Creative Commons, and is by epredator.

The camel pictured is to be sold for meat rather than riding or work – you can tell because its feet aren’t hobbled – and interested buyers will poke and prod the animal with their sticks to determine how much good quality meat there is on the camel. The actual bidding takes place very quickly – usually lasting less than 30 seconds per animal – and once sold the camel is marked with the buyer’s sign, and will be collected – and paid for – later.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is situated in Fustat, not far from the Religion Compound and the Mosque of Amr Ibn al-Aas, overlooking the lake Ain al-Sira. The museum will showcase artefacts that represent the richness of Egyptian civilization through the ages, from prehistoric times through to the present day.

The exhibits are expected to be arranged thematically, and to include sections on the Nile, writing, and material culture.

The website Heritage Key also claims that “The climax of the visitor’s experience will be the Royal Mummies gallery, which aims to recreate the experience of visiting a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings.” This fits with rumours that exhibits from the current Egyptian Museum will be distributed amongst various museums in Egypt if and when the new Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids is finally opened.


Photo by schmuela.