Life in Modern Egypt - a study in contrasts
By Ba-Ankh-Amen
Life in modern Egypt is a study in contrasts, especially in Cairo,
where the constant blasting of the car horns and the loudspeakers
of its thousand minarets proclaim both the hectic present and the
contemplative past. Modern skyscrapers, highways, a subway system,
hotels, restaurants, advertising and western clothing blend together
with ancient pharaonic ruins, Islamic mosques, Coptic churches,
Middle Eastern garb, bazaars and the odor of cattle in a unique
mosaic of life in modern Egypt. I once witnessed a huge caravan
of farmers, donkeys and camels making a right turn on a principal
Cairo avenue.
 |
Egypt today is a republic with a parliamentary government, a president as head of state and a judicial system based on british common law and Islamic moral law. The president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, is a powerful figure, and large posters of his image are displayed everywhere in Cairo, like a 20th century pharaoh, along with billboards of Coca-Cola, cigarette brands and other western goods. I guess that life in modern Egypt hasn't changed much when it comes to portraying larger than life images, be they pharaohs or presidents.
Islam is the official religion, practiced by 90% of the population, and several national holidays are of Islamic origin. Christianity and Judaism are officially accepted. It's not up to me as an Egypt visitor to judge the country politics and religious values. Perhaps it would be fair to say that from a Middle Eastern point of view, life in modern Egypt is quite liberal, while from a western perspective there is still some progress to be made in human and civil rights, freedom of the press, opportunities for women, alternative lifestyle issues, etc. I could openly talk politics freely with my tour guide and the driver, especially Arab-Israeli relations.
| Shakira in Egypt - Concert near the Pyramids of Giza (March 28 2007) |
Life in modern Egypt has changed in the big cities, where public and private transportation, television, American style food, sports, music, arts, cinema and theater are signs of a healthy modern economy. Education in Egypt is free by law, and there is a choice of public and private universities. On the negative side, there's overpopulation, urban housing problems, pollution and a great gap between the wealthy and the poor. As for the rest of the country, life in modern Egypt for the fellahin is similar to their ancient Egyptian or early Arab settlers ancestors. They inhabit the rural villages along the Nile, living in mud brick houses or goatskin tents, and tilling the soil with the same tools of pharaonic times. These people work their small plots of land and keep livestock. The men wear a long flowing robe called a galabiyah and many women wear the veil. The women also wear silver and gold jewelry, necklaces, and bracelets on their wrists and ankles. This is not vanity, however, but the dowry a husband must pay for the right to marry her. Since Egyptian currency has not much stable value and divorce can be done quickly under Islamic law, women keep jewelry as a form of economic security.
Social
Structures of Ancient Egypt
Family
Structure in Ancient Egypt
Ancient
Egypt Utensils
More than 90 percent of Egypt is barren desert. Life in modern Egypt
is pretty crowded. Only 3 percent of the total geographic area is
populated by almost 80 million Egyptians of ancient Egyptian, Arab,
Bedouin and Nubian ancestry. Not many foreigners choose to live
in Egypt.
Along the Nile valley, modern Egypt still looks very much like its ancient past, except for the roadways running along the river and some electricity towers and lines scattered here and there. In ancient days, the papyrus plant grew abundantly along the banks of the Nile. Now it's almost extinct and grown only for the production of souvenirs for the tourism industry.
African animals known to the ancient Egyptians are gone, too, leopards, cheetahs, lions, hyenas to mention a few. Some tour companies include special safari packages for Egypt tourists and travelers interested in the African fauna.
Modern Egypt is really unique, Mediterranean in the north, African to the south, and Middle Eastern in between.
Egyptians
are friendly and can be very helpful if you show them the proper
respect and behave yourself according to their customs and values.
Since tourism is one of Egypt's prime sources of income, there is
a well developed tourist industry focused on the visitor's satisfaction
and desire to return. I remember when I was taken to the Citadel
in Cairo to visit the Alabaster Mosque that I opted to not photograph
the place as there were worshipers inside. Instead, I sat on the
carpeted floor (you have to leave your shoes outside), and listened
to my guide as she told me about Islam. Once she finished teaching
me the Five Pillars of Islam, she left me by myself and went upstairs
where the women pray. Later, she added to my tour a visit to an
authentic Egyptian restaurant, so I felt truly rewarded.
On another occasion, in Aswan, the ancient land of
Nubia, the tour guide for the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser arrived
too late. Behi, my tour driver, went out
of his way explaining to me the entire project, the difference electricity
and planned systems of irrigation has made to life in modern Egypt,
and even gave me details such as yearly megawatt output, etc. Then
he asked me where I was from. When I told him I was from Puerto
Rico, I had to explain to him that I came from a tropical island
in the Caribbean, close to Cuba, which he knew. The size of Puerto
Rico had Behi exclaim that my island would easily fit on Lake Nasser.
But then he felt like he may have humbled me (he didn't), so he
added that, being tropical, Puerto Rico might be a luscious and
beautiful place, which, by the way, it is.
I can tell you many more instances of moments where I felt a close connection to the people of Egypt. I extended that connection back in time. Behi is very probably a direct descendant of a very ancient Nubian who lived at the time of King Amenhotep III or his son, the famous Akhenaten.
When the tour guide finally arrived and we headed for the Isis Temple at Philae, I kept thinking about the ancient Egyptians and how their lifestyle compares to life in modern Egypt. How would I feel as a visitor then. I concluded that not even 3,000 years can make a difference in hospitality.
Egyptians appreciate and reward your admiration and knowledge of their country so, my advise to you, prepare yourself, learn all about Egypt, its people and their way of life.
