Tanoura Dance at Wikala al-Ghauri The Wikala was built in 1504 by Sultan Qunsuwah Al Ghuri as an accommodation and a market place for traders from all over the world. The building had a rectangular shape. The traders used to come from every country in Africa and stay in this Wikala for weeks. They used to stay in one of the upper floors while their animals and goods were stored in the rooms of the ground floor. The Wikala of Al Ghuri is the best preserved example of this Islamic architecture. Present day Wikala El-Ghuriya is a place where the Al Tannoura Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe puts out three incredible Sufi dancing shows a week. Here Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music on every Wednesday & Saturday at 8.00 PM for about an hour to the best of indigenous culture. This place is in Islamic Cairo, near al-Azhar Mosque and Bazaar Khan al-Khalili. These days Tanoura Music & Dance shows are arranged by various big Hotels and Nile Cruise Ships but the best s! how is held at Wikala al-Ghauri which is sponsored by the Egyptian Government for the entertainment of tourists from all over the world. To have a seat at the show one must enter the Wikala at least one hour earlier before the start of the show. The show features members of a local Sufi sect playing traditional instruments such as various drums, cymbals, rebaba (folk fiddle), ney (flute), mizmar (shawm), frame drums, sagat (cymbals), and tabla (doumbek drum), tambourine.
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