In preparation for a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, Cairo authorities removed a large-scale mural located in Tahrir Square. The 66-meter-long painting was one of 40 murals commissioned by the city to beautify the area for the visit. It was created by a group of young volunteers known as Rasmet Basma.

The mural became the subject of intense public debate due to its depiction of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Queen Nefertiti with dark skin. According to reports, the artistic choice triggered a furious reaction from some members of the Egyptian public. Critics argued that the mural was an attempt to promote Afrocentric claims regarding the origins of the 14th-century BCE pharaohs, a narrative that many in Egypt reject. Following the backlash, city officials removed the artwork from public view.

While the mural was intended as a beautification project, its removal highlights ongoing tensions regarding the portrayal of ancient Egyptian historical figures. The incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding national identity and the historical interpretation of Egypt’s pharaonic past in modern public discourse.