A sound of Upper Egypt, carried by a woman who changed the story. 🇪🇬✨
Safa Al Helaly — Egypt, hailing from Sohag in Upper Egypt, is a pioneering folk musician and singer known as the “Lady of the Rababa.” She holds the historic distinction of being the first professional female rababa player in Egypt, entering a musical tradition that had long been considered a male domain.
Trained under folk legend Fatima Serhan, Safa later refined her musical education at the Higher Institute of Arabic Music at the Academy of Arts in Cairo. Today, she leads her own independent musical troupe, bringing together Egyptian folklore, Sa’idi traditions, and the ancient epic poetry of the Sira Hilaliyya through contemporary arrangements.
Her music does more than preserve tradition—it places a woman at the center of a form of Egyptian street art historically shaped by men, creating a powerful dialogue between heritage and change.