Top MENA Artists Push Beyond the ‘Female’ Prefix at ‘Women in Music’

Looking back on the first ‘Women in Music’ event in Cairo, a first-of-its-kind intimate gathering, co-hosted by SceneNoise, Little Pink Book and Takwene at Yellow Tape Records, Maadi, which brought together some of Egypt’s top artists and industry professionals to connect, inspire and celebrate the women shaping the region’s music scene. 

As part of the event program, SceneNoise curated an artist-focused panel, titled ‘Beyond the ‘Female’ Prefix: Artists Pushing the Envelope of the MENA’s Music Scene.’ At this panel, which was moderated by Munky Elbakry, MO4’s Managing Director, the spotlight was on five influential Arab female artists: Maii Waleed, Blu Fiefer, Dina El Wedidi, Perrie, and WAVE. 

We heard their stories, inspirations, and career journeys, as well as their viewpoints on the region’s music industry and what needs to be changed. The panellists also shared valuable insights and key strategies on how emerging female artists can break barriers, grow their careers, assert themselves in the scene and push their music to global prominence. 

Lebanese artist and founder of the independent record label Mafi Budget, Blu Fiefer, discussed how creating “female-only” playlists can be limiting, as it boxes artists into a separate category rather than integrating them into mainstream industry conversations. 

Egyptian folk sensation Dina El Wedidi reflected on the lack of experimentation within the music scene, advising emerging talents to take risks, embrace new sounds, and prioritize their artistic vision instead of playing it safe. She also emphasized the need for social media platforms to support and enable such experimentation. 

Maii Waleed, a pioneering figure in the Egyptian alternative scene, encouraged young female artists in the region to focus on self-understanding and exploring their complex identities, rather than merely seeking representation. Meanwhile, Egyptian-Moroccan rapper Perrie stressed the importance of building a supportive community to help women break through the male-dominated industry.