Greatest hits of the century

1

WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Palestinian, Israeli delegations in town for another round of ceasefire talks

Good afternoon, wonderful people and happy Monday. The news lull continues this afternoon with all the focus on the new round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

Israeli officials to land in Cairo for Gaza negotiations: Mossad chief David Barnea could join an Israel delegation expected to arrive in Cairo tomorrow for another round of negotiations to secure a ceasefire agreement, reports Alarabiya, citing unnamed sources. A Hamas delegation landed in the capital today. The delegations will discuss a proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, which unconfirmed media reports say involves a three-week truce in exchange for the release of 20 hostages.

Where do the talks stand? “The atmosphere is positive unless there are new Israeli obstacles” one Hamas official told AFP, with a senior Hamas official saying that the group has no “major issues” with the most recent truce plan presented.

Foreign investors are falling in love with Egypt again… Foreign investors we speak with (debt, equity, and strategic alike) have a growing appetite for Egypt. They’re buying into local debt, eyeing promising shares, and committing bns of USD to both new ventures here and the growth of their existing businesses. They like the Egypt story that’s taking shape after the float of the EGP, and our competitive advantages are clear to many of them: We’re a massive consumer opportunity and the regional export hub of tomorrow.

…but here at home, our community is in a rut. The enthusiasm gap between domestic business leaders and global investors is stark.

We’d all do well to remember: It’s a chicken-and-egg kind of thing. Foreign strategic investors will be reluctant to commit capital here until they see Egyptian businesses leading the way.

The Enterprise Optimism Forum 2024 will do exactly what it says on the tin: Spark conversations about a future that we think is much brighter than so many in our community feel right now. Think of it as much-needed shock therapy combined with an early, actionable roadmap for those of us who are “long Egypt.”

We’ll be talking with you about the agenda over the coming couple of weeks.It features speakers from Egypt and abroad who are future-proofing their businesses and angling to capture tomorrow’s opportunities — and who aren’t afraid to answer some tough questions.

*** Interested in attending? Tap or click here to let us know. Seating is limited.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

Tesla’s driving software is making its way to China.Tesla CEO Elon Musk concluded his visit to senior officials in China yesterday, where he discussed making Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software available in the country. Musk left the meetings victorious, with preliminary approval to implement the technology in China, Tesla’s second biggest market globally. But the approval didn’t come without strings attached. Chinese officials are withholding official approval until the carmaker meets “certain conditions,” though the specifications haven’t been made public. Other stipulations include navigation being provided by Baidu Inc., and that Tesla meets data-security requirements issued by the Chinese government. (Bloomberg | Reuters)

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

Fresh subsidized loans for hospitality players? The tourism and finance ministries have reportedly agreed to launch an initiative offering subsidized loans at a 12% interest rate to local and foreign hospitality players looking to set up more hotel rooms across the country.
Egypt makes progress in SBFN’s sustainability ranking: Egypt has moved one step higher in the financing sustainability ranking published by the IFC-backed Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) as the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) doubles down on its commitment to the country’s sustainable financing sector.
CIRA Education reports higher revenues in 1H 2023-24: EGX-listed education services provider CIRA Education reported a 34.6% y-o-y increase in revenues reaching EGP 1.6 bn in the first half of its fiscal year ending 29 February 2024.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re getting a more bearable week, with the mercury peaking at 29°C in Cairo tomorrow before cooling to a low of 17°C at night, according to our favorite weather app.

Hits of the Century: Rolling Stone’s top Arabic pop picks

The Rolling Stone has unveiled the Arab pop hits of the century, and Egypt takes the cake. The 21st Century soundscape in the Arab world is a tapestry that resonates far beyond the region — Remember when Billie Eilish admitted she was obsessed with Nancy Ajram? The Rolling Stone has narrowed down a century’s worth of bangers into a list of top 50 songs they feel represent iconic artists, trends, and timeless tracks that have shaped the genre.

Om El Donia came out on top. That’s right, folks, the list is dominated by staple Egyptian artists like Mohamed Mounir, Tamer Hosny, Sherine, and Hisham Abbas. A total of 15 Egyptian hits made it onto the list, four of which are in the top ten. Rapper Wegz, who has been making a name for himself since 2020, has made it to the list, as have Mohamed Ramadan and Oka w Ortega (to Hany Shaker’s dismay). Lebanese artists came in at a close second with eleven songs on the list and three hits in the top ten.

Topping the list at #1 is our very own El Hadaba. Amr Diab’s Tammalli Ma’ak is his magnum opus, the impact of which is still very much making the rounds in the contemporary music scene. The song has been covered by non-Egyptian artists extensively, most notably Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna, whose mash-up cover has garnered 43 mn views since last August and inspired a slew of adaptations by other popular artists.

The years 2000-2006 were the golden era of pop hits, comprising eight of the top ten songs. Here are the top contenders:

Nancy Ajram came in at number two with Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa’;
Cheb Khaled’s C’est La Vie earned him third place;
Hisham Abbas made it to fourth place with Habibi Dah;
Ehab Tawfik’s Allah Aleik Ya Sidy clinched fifth;
Fadel Shaker’s Ya Ghayeb came in at sixth;
Ragheb Alama’s Nasini El Dounia took seventh place;
Saber Rebai’s Sidi Mansour clocked in at eighth place;
Samira Said and Cheb Mami’s Youm Wara Youm collab was ninth.

Palestine is in the spotlight, with Mohammed Assaf’s Dammi Falastini set in tenth place.Music journalist Danny Hajjar describes the song as a “nationalistic rallying cry” that has seen an uptick in popularity in the face of Israel’s seven-month attack on Gaza, which has left over 34k Palestinians killed. The song has reached 14.7 mn streams on Spotify, with Google searches spiking to 22k on October 8 of last year.

Curious about what else made the cut? You can scroll through all fifty songs here.

The story of an underestimated African American congresswoman

? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-
(all times CLT)

The first woman to run in the Democratic Party primaries in 1972 shares her story in Shirley. The Netflix biopic on pioneering African American politician Shirley Chisholm, vividly portrays her groundbreaking 1972 presidential campaign. Directed by John Ridley, it navigates Chisholm's (Regina King) journey with some clunkiness, focusing more on her symbolic significance than her character depth.

Chisholm made history in 1968 by becoming the first African American woman to serve as a U.S. representative. In 1972, she further solidified her place in history by becoming the first African American woman to seek nomination for president.

Throughout her political career, Chisholm faced numerous challenges, including being underfunded and underestimated by political establishments dominated by white men. Despite these obstacles, she persisted in advocating for her beliefs and challenging the status quo. The biopic explores Chisholm's groundbreaking campaign for the presidency and her lasting impact on American politics.

The film celebrates Chisholm's legacy but simplifies her complexities, portraying her more as an idealized symbol than a fully realized character. It lacked depth in capturing her multifaceted personality, struggles and relationships— particularly with figures like Diahann Carroll (Amirah Vann) and Arthur Hardwick Jr (Terrance Howard), which gave a surface-level understanding of their significance in Chisholm's life and political journey. While it acknowledges Chisholm's importance, it would’ve benefitted with a more nuanced portrayal that fully honors her complexity as a person and political figure.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the film on Netflix or catch the trailer (watch trailer, runtime 2:18)

It’s not often that a chicken joint promises supremely crispy Nashville fried chicken and actually delivers.Crispy Hen offers a wide variety of sandwiches, meals, wings, sides, and sauces. We ordered a little of each to give you a comprehensive review, not because it all looked really good, we promise.

What’s on the menu: For the mains, we ordered the Cheerleader Sandwich, the Quarter Nashville Chicken Leg, and Nashville Chicken Tenders. We ordered sides of Nashville fries, sweet corn, sweet potato fries, and mac and cheese. The sauces we chose were the spicy honey, jalapeño mayo, roasted garlic mayo, and ginger garlic chili jam.

Order the chicken… but skip the rest. In an unfortunate turn of events, the restaurant forgot to deliver the Cheerleader Sandwich. We were looking forward to the crispy chicken mixed with the tangy coleslaw on a soft bun, but alas. The good news is that the chicken leg and the tenders picked up the slack. We didn’t feel the difference between the mild and hot heat levels, but the chicken was extremely crunchy, flavorful, and juicy.

A word to the wise: Opt for the tenders. The chicken leg was more crunch and bones than meat, and the tenders will give you more bank for your buck.

The sides were, on a whole, disappointing. The fries were seasoned well but were limp, a big letdown compared to the lasting crunchiness of the chicken. The sweet potato fries lacked the seasoning as well. The sweet corn was confusingly drenched in barbecue sauce — a bold choice, but not a successful one.

The sauces were a mixed bag. We’re big fans of the classic chicken and toumeya combo, but the roasted garlic mayo did not work for us. The jalapeño mayo wasn’t our favorite either. The richness of the mayo and the fattiness of the fried chicken just didn’t complement each other. On the other hand, the spicy honey and the ginger garlic chili jam hit the spot perfectly. Spicy, bright, and just the right amount of sweet went perfectly well with the fried chicken. We will dream of them until our next fix.

The Elite are back in town to bring you a night of laughter. The troupe are back from their international tour to celebrate their five-year anniversary in their hometown. The Super Show is being held at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday, 24 May at 8 pm. Grab tickets here to laugh along with Taha Dessouky, Waleed El Moghazy, Ahmed Khairy, Mohamed Ashraf, Ahmed Essam El Sayed, Mohamed Helmy, and Toffi.

Egyptian violin and piano duos Fouad and Mounib will be performing at Theatro Arkan on Friday, 10 May. Get your tickets at Ticketsmarche.

Spend a spring day with Tamer Ashour and Mahmoud El Esseily. The singers will be performing at Family Park in Rehab on Friday, 10 May. Doors open at 7pm. You can find tickets here.

Led by the hammer-wielding Loretta Thurwar, these prisoners — called Links — battle gladiators from rival prisons for fame, fortune, and a chance at freedom. It delves into the political implications of its premise, exploring themes of racism and injustice—much like The Hunger Games or Maze Runner series.

Alternating chapters follow a diverse cast of characters, including TV executives, protesters, and armchair critics, providing a panoramic view of the dystopian society. There is also a partial tragic love story in the mix along with bold storytelling and social commentary.

You’re in for a “primitive thrill” when you read this “criminally entertaining” book, according to New York Times and The Guardian.

You can find the book on Amazon.

What the markets are doing on 29 April, 2024

The EGX30 jumped 5.6% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 2.8 bn (43.6% below the 90-day average). Local investors were net sellers. The index is up 4.5% YTD.

In the green: TMG Holding (+13.7%), Orascom Construction (+12.8%) and GB Corp (+10.9%).

ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

APRIL

29 April (Monday): Tahqiq Show at Rawabet Art Space.

29 April (Monday): Salsa night at CJC 610.

29 April (Monday): Hany Shaker concert at Cairo Opera House.

29 April (Monday): Metro Boomin concert at Kundalini Grand Pyramids.

30 April (Tuesday): Metro Boomin concert at Kundalini Grand Pyramids.

30 April (Tuesday): Reading Reem Basyuni's latest work at Bibliothek Egypt.

30 April-5 May (Tuesday-Sunday): Next Level International Summer Camp.

MAY

1-6 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Maadi Book Festival.

1 May (Wednesday): The Egyptian Project & Mawawil at CJC 610.

3 May (Friday): Youth to Business (Y2B) event at The GrEEK Campus.

3 May (Friday): 90’s Flashback at CJC 610.

5 May (Sunday): Coptic Easter.

5 May (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Labor Day.

6 May (Monday): National holiday in observance of Sham El Nessim.

10 May (Friday): Tamer Ashour and Mahmoud El Esseily concert at Family Park.

10 May (Friday): Fouad and Mounib at Theatro Arkan.

10 May (Friday): Madinaty Half Marathon at Madinaty Open Air Mall

11 May (Saturday): Cairo Flea Market at Zamalek Fish Garden.

17 May (Friday): El Mahatta at The American University in Cairo.

23-25 May (Thursday-Saturday): The Design Show at Cairo International Conventions Center.

24 May (Friday): The Glow Run by The TriFactory at Palm Hills Sports Club.

24 May (Friday): The Elite Super Show at the Cairo International Stadium.

25 May (Saturday): Techne Summit at the Cairo International Stadium.

30 May (Thursday): Mochakk Concert at Saqqara Pyramid

JUNE

15-19 June (Saturday-Wednesday): Eid El Adha (TBC).

30 June (Sunday): June 30 Revolution Day (TBC).

JULY

7 July (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Islamic New Year (TBC).

23 July (Tuesday): Revolution Day (TBC).

SEPTEMBER

15 September (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

OCTOBER

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily