El Kafafa band joined El Mastaba Center in 2013 and performs the ancient Egyptian art of Kafafa or palm clapping. Still found in Upper Egypt, palm clapping dates back to the days of the Pharaohs. Abd El Wahed El Sayed, the band's leader, explains that wall inscriptions depicting this art can be found in many temples and tombs, especially the Asasya tombs in the West Bank of Luxor.
Abd El Wahed explains that a performance includes three to nine members and one duff (open face drum) player. The singer starts with blessings on prophet Mohammed, followed by a ballad, after which the singer begins to improvise, taking a lead in the topic from the group. The claps define the speed of the rhythm and the duff follows the clapping rhythms. The performers sway in one movement moving their shoulders, hands and feet in beautiful harmony and following the row leader who is usually the the best dancer of the group.
Abd El Wahed explains that a performance includes three to nine members and one duff (open face drum) player. The singer starts with blessings on prophet Mohammed, followed by a ballad, after which the singer begins to improvise, taking a lead in the topic from the group. The claps define the speed of the rhythm and the duff follows the clapping rhythms. The performers sway in one movement moving their shoulders, hands and feet in beautiful harmony and following the row leader who is usually the the best dancer of the group.
