During the last Take Back the Tech! campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a new local campaigner popped up in Egypt. Bnt Al Masarwa, a feminist band, holds storytelling circles where women share their experiences of violence and discrimination. Then those stories are turned into songs. Bnt Al Masarwa wrote about their unique songwriting process for the campaign, and they have a new album coming out this year.

In honour of International Women's Day, we want to share one of their songs with lyrics translated into English. Read the lyrics below and listen here: https://soundcloud.com/bnt-almasarwa/lekol-wahda-hekaya

For every woman there is a story
That must be praised
For every woman there is a struggle
Where she fights in her own way
For every woman there is a life
that is limited with its narrowness
The peel of the story says
That time is cruel
That traditions kills
That sadness exists
However there is a smile

Between my color and my religion
Between my shape and my class
Between my ethnic and my race
Its colors doesn't make us happy

And the stories are many
Most of them are similar
"All of them are women
And their oppression is the same"

The core of the story says
That oppression has many colors
Oppression is various
Its forms are for granted

Between my color and my religion
Between my shape and my class
Between my ethnic and my race
Its colors doesn't make us happy

I refuse the unanimity
a word that defines me
Woman and lady
Mara and girl
Harem, Nisswan
Get us out of that Solid bloc
And don't give us a title
Our black grief
Is becoming pale
Sometimes I leave my dream
Because of the repeatable pain

Between my color and my religion
Between my shape and my class
Between my ethnic and my race
Its colors doesn't make us happy