Cairo authorities remove controversial Tutankhamun and Nefertiti mural

Authorities in Cairo ordered the removal of a 66-meter mural on Tahrir Square depicting Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Queen Nefertiti after it sparked controversy regarding their skin tone. The mural, created by the youth volunteer collective Rasmet Basma, was one of 40 works commissioned to beautify the city ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit.

The controversy arose from depictions that many Egyptians viewed as promoting Afrocentric claims regarding the origins of ancient Egyptian civilization. Ahmed Moussa, the 22-year-old founder of the collective, explained that the team used ChatGPT to generate drafts and utilized a gold-bronze shade that created shadows making the figures appear dark-skinned at night. Moussa admitted the group failed to consult archaeological or art experts.

Former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass stated that the public anger was justified and that such a significant location should not have been painted without professional supervision. The mural was painted over with a new layer of color just hours before the Chinese president arrived.