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El sebou: Egyptian Birth Ritual is a documentary film that follows a ritual that is performed for a newborn baby. This ritual is performed on the seventh day after the birth of the newborn. In this film the documentary follows the ceremony for a set of twins, a boy and a girl. On the seventh day the gender of the newborn is revealed through the decorations on the ceremonial pots called Sebou.

Synopsis
This film in particular follows the celebration of the el-sebou of twins from a rising middle class Muslim family. In the opening scene a woman is shown making a purchase at the convenient shop and is congratulated for the coming of a newborn baby. The next scene switches to a family celebrating the coming of their newborn baby with laughter, dancing, and singing. The family speaks about how this ritual is celebrated and the narrator gives the audience a translation of what is being is said. During the end of the documentary it is said that lamb is served on this day but this family being of moderate means went with mutton instead. Since they are having twins three lambs would have had to be purchased, 1 for a girl and 2 for a boy. The film ends with the family together eating a dish called Fata.

Production
El Sebou: The Egyptian Birth Ritual is El Guindi's first film. El Guindi is seasoned in anthropology but never thought of creating a film. She spent two years researching and learning about the Egyptian birth ceremony. The film was originally produced by Documentary Educational Resources in 1986.

Background
In Egypt, a birth ritual called el-sebou' is performed on the seventh day of the birth of a child. This film follows the ritual done for a set of twins- a boy and a girl from urban Egypt. El-sebou' is celebrated by families of all status groups. The sebou are clay pots that are decorated by the families according to the gender of the child which is revealed on the seventh day.

Release
El Sebou was originally produced by Documentary Educational Resources in 1986.

Reception
The film El Sebou received national and international recognition.