Egypt revives the golden age of Arab song
cairo — Standing before a rapt crowd, Ahmed Adel oozes charm with his passionate performance of an Egyptian classic, evoking a romantic nostalgia for Arabic songs of the past.
After a melodious introduction on the Oud, the famed oriental lute, Adel croons his way through a “Mawal”, a traditional melody boasting long vowels.
“Ya leil” (“O night”), he sings, with the dreamy languor of the original performer, Egyptian legend Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
Egypt, a cultural powerhouse in the Arab world, has long enjoyed a booming music industry.
In the past, the rise of revered singers, such as Umm Kulthum, Abdel Wahab and another Egyptian Abdel Halim Hafiz among others, saw Cairo billed as the Hollywood of Arab song, attracting talent from across the region.
But in the 1990s, Gulf countries emerged as rivals to Egypt’s music industry, and Rotana, the Arab world’s largest record label, was formed in 1987.
The company is currently owned by businessman and Saudi prince, Al Walid bin Talal. The 2011 uprising also saw a downturn in the domestic music industry.
Yet the Egyptian metropolis remains alive with the sound of music.
Every day, in local cafes and homes the melancholic songs of Syrian-born star Asmahan and the tender rhythmic melodies of Egyptian singer Najat Al Saghira mix with animated conversationsa and
modern pop music. Egypt’s music scene remains vibrant, including electro Shaabi music, an exuberant popular blend seen by purists as too raucous.
The band Massar Egbari, which roughly translates as Compulsory Detour, rose to fame with a relaxed style of rock and a distinctive performance
of classics, such as by Sayed Darwish often called “the father of modern Arab music”.
Although the rock stars say they are influenced by classics, they don’t want to live in the past.
“Nowadays you can record something at home at a low cost,” said bassist Ahmed Hafiz.—