Exploring Shared Narratives and Egypt’s Living Heritage through Street Nomenclature: A Case Study of Dārb al-Māhābeel Street, Historic Cairo

Cairo’s vibrant urban fabric is distinguished by its diverse and deeply rooted tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with each district embodying unique narratives reflecting local history, traditions, and community practices. Dārb al-Māhābeel Street in Historic Cairo exemplifies this phenomenon as a locus where everyday practices, oral narratives, and built heritage once converged to form a distinctive cultural identity. This paper investigates Dārb al-Māhābeel, as a vital component of Cairo’s tangible cultural heritage, focusing on the community’s shared narratives associated with the street and exploring the origins of its nomenclature. In particular, it highlights key traditions and practices maintained by its residents and visitors, such as the traditional Būẓa beverage, which functioned as a cultural hallmark linked to the street’s social interactions.
This paper employs a qualitative methodology through focus-group interviews with local community members. These interviews aim to explore collective memories, perceptions of the street’s evolution, and the enduring rituals and practices connected to its historical legacy. The findings reveal that most original cultural and social practices, including the once-prevalent Būẓa taverns, have significantly diminished in recent years, leaving behind only the street sign as a tangible marker of its cultural identity. Despite this, the toponym continues to serve as a vessel of collective memory, maintaining a symbolic connection to the street’s historical significance. Furthermore, neighborhood elders emerge as key custodians of cultural heritage, playing a crucial role in transmitting micro-histories and communal narratives to younger generations.