Khaberni - The Egyptian media figure Amro Adib captured attention and heated social media platforms by appearing in a Sa'idi galabeya, Saturday evening on his show "Al Hekaya" on MBC Egypt channel, in response to the controversy ignited by a photo of a Sa'idi man and his wife in the Grand Egyptian Museum, followed by heated discussions about traditional attire in Egypt.
Amro Adib chose to respond practically by wearing the galabeya on air, stating that the galabeya is rooted in Egyptian culture and is not limited to one specific area, adding: "The galabeya exists in both Upper Egypt and the countryside, and Egyptians are proud of it.. I am proud to be Egyptian and of my country's heritage," and he compared the pride Egyptians take in their attire with that of other peoples in their traditional clothes, like the Indian sari.
Amro Adib called for reliance on traditional clothing, and even proposed a symbolic idea saying that it is essential to have occasions where the galabeya is celebrated as part of the national heritage, and he coined the idea "Galabeya Party".
The Origin of the Controversy
The media figure Samar Fouda, daughter of the late thinker Farag Fouda, caused widespread controversy following statements considered disrespectful to the Sa'idi attire, as she viewed that it does not represent Egypt. This was met with a wave of rejection on social media platforms, turning into a broader discussion about identity and traditional dress.
In response to the angry reactions, Samar Fouda issued a formal apology on her accounts, affirming her respect for all Egyptians, and said: "I apologize for any words that have hurt someone's feelings.. I deleted the post because my point of view was misunderstood."
Samar also expressed her full appreciation for the couple who were the focus of the widely shared photo.
