NMEC Showcases the Cultural Diversity of Qena through “Qena: Memory of the South”
As part of its “Governorates of Egypt” initiative, launched to highlight the cultural and civilizational identity of Egypt’s diverse regions, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) organized a large-scale cultural and artistic event entitled “Qena: Memory of the South”. The two-day event was held in collaboration with Qena Governorate and the Economic Clusters Unit, with the participation of distinguished artists and craftspeople.
The program featured a wide variety of cultural and artistic activities, including exhibitions of traditional crafts such as ferka weaving, pottery, leatherwork, handmade kilim, copperware, and jewelry. Visitors also engaged in interactive live workshops demonstrating the ferka loom and pottery wheel, offering a hands-on experience. The event further showcased photographic exhibitions of Qena’s major heritage and historical landmarks, alongside documentary films on the Mawlid of Sidi Abdel Rahim al-Qenawi and the Temple of Dendera.
The festivities included live displays of traditional Qena attire and interactive tastings of local delicacies such as ‘aysh shamsi (sun bread), molasses, fayesh, feteer, and ‘agamiya, which were met with great enthusiasm from visitors. The program was completed with folk performances highlighting Qena’s rich cultural identity, as well as artistic displays of weaving tools and models of traditional architecture and daily life.