An Egyptian collective of master musicians, singers, Sufi philosophers, and fishermen. It is these who have kept the life of Egyptians oldest traditions alive through folk music. It uses a seductive call of the Simsimiyya and an ancient lyre. From the traditional music other styles were adopted, when cafe owners employed musicians to entertain guests thus creating El Tanbura.

El Tanbura was founded by Zakaria Ibrahim, after he heard the sound of the Simsimiyya and dedicated himself to the old masters. This type of music was much later heard in the Egypt uprising.