Folk music in Upper Egypt is characterized by a diversity of instruments, such as the rababa (spike fiddle), the kawala (end-blown flute) and the arghul (double pipe, single-reed woodwind, an ancient instrument found depicted on the walls of Pharaonic tombs). Supported by the percussive nakrazan (small kettledrum hung around the neck and struck with two sticks and Elba (Percussion), the lead singer and the chorus perform a call and response style of song, dancing at the same time in  the Upper Egyptian style. Song texts deal withsubjects ranging from love to the beauty of nature -the river, to the palms, the land, to marriage, circumcision and birthday songs, to material that reflects and confirms the Upper Egyptian cultural identity.

In Upper Egypt, the two primary contexts for this singing are weddings and circumcision. Communities of Upper Egyptians who have migrated to Cairo have begun to add Cairene celebrations to their contexts, such as birthdays, graduation celebrations and the prevalent Subuu3 which celebrates the seven-day birthday of a newborn baby.

Mazamer El Nil band is comprised of talented musicians and singers from Upper Egypt. They perform regularly in the towns and villages of Upper Egypt cities' villages and towns, and are especially well-known in Sohag and Asiut. They also perform for communities of Upper Egyptians in Cairo. Mazamer El Nil has now joined the network of bands under the umbrella of El Mastaba Center for Folk Music.