Melodies from the Bosphorus to the Nile: A Harp Celebration of a Century of Cultural Harmony

أخبار هنا العالم - By Sayed Ibrahim

A breath of musical elegance drifted from the Bosphorus to the Nile as Turkish and Egyptian harpists united in a remarkable concert at the Turkish Embassy in Cairo. The event marked the centennial anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt, offering a vibrant testament to the deep cultural and musical roots shared by both nations.

The harp—one of humanity’s oldest instruments—was born in ancient Egypt, later spreading to Mesopotamia and evolving into what became known in Anatolia as the “çeng,” blending the refinement of Western sound with the emotional depth of the East. Today, the harp occupies a celebrated place in Turkish and Egyptian musical heritage, taught in conservatories and immortalized in the art of both ancient and modern civilizations.

At the heart of this evening stood two iconic artists: Egypt’s celebrated harpist Manal Mohie Eldin and her longtime friend and Turkish virtuoso Şirin Pancaroğlu. They were joined by Turkish musician Simin Özdeniz and Egyptian harpist Doaa El-Garzawy in a program rich with renowned Turkish compositions.

The concert, hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, and his wife Ayşen Belçik Şen, brought together an impressive audience of dignitaries and cultural figures. Among the guests were former Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Gen. Mohamed Abbas, Chairman of the Egyptian Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee Hazem Omar, acclaimed actors Mahmoud Hemida and Jamal Soliman, prominent journalists, influencers, and leading personalities from Egypt’s artistic and musical spheres. The performance spanned a full hour and was met with high praise.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Şen expressed his joy at bringing together the musical spirit of both nations, whose histories and artistic traditions have long been intertwined. He credited Manal Mohie Eldin with the idea for the concert and noted that the embassy has hosted multiple cultural events throughout the centennial celebrations—with more still to come.

Ambassador Şen reflected on the historic musical exchange between the two nations: Turkish Ottoman music influenced Egyptian compositions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while Egyptian music greatly shaped Turkish sound in the 1940s through the 1960s. He emphasized that such events embody the shared artistic journey of both cultures.

Looking ahead, he voiced hope that an upcoming cultural agreement between Turkey and Egypt will pave the way for deeper cooperation in areas such as calligraphy, manuscripts, heritage preservation, film and television production, and, naturally, music.

He also expressed strong optimism ahead of the UNESCO Director-General elections in Paris, voicing his confidence in the Egyptian candidate, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, praising his character, qualifications, and the profound legacy of the civilization he represents. Ambassador Şen underscored that El-Enany’s election would further strengthen cultural cooperation across the ancient lands of Anatolia and Egypt, especially under UNESCO’s umbrella in relation to tangible and intangible heritage.

The ambassador concluded by announcing upcoming cultural programs, including a joint exhibition of Arabic calligraphy and political cartoons on Gaza, as well as a Ney (reed flute) concert at Manial Palace.

The Artists

Şirin Pancaroğlu
A world-renowned Turkish harpist, Pancaroğlu studied at the Geneva Conservatory and Indiana University. She has performed in over 32 countries and released 13 albums. Through her “Turkish Harp Project,” supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, she revived the historic Ottoman-Turkish çeng. Her 24-volume collection of published sheet music in the UK has earned her global acclaim.

Manal Mohie Eldin
Graduating with distinction from the Cairo Conservatoire and further trained in Germany, Manal Mohie Eldin is a leading figure in Egyptian classical music. She has served as principal harpist for both the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and the Cairo Opera Orchestra. Her international appearances span the Louvre Museum to UNESCO events. Since 2004, she has focused on performing Arabic music on the harp and currently teaches at the Cairo Conservatoire.