Egyptian Streets is an independent, young, and grass roots news media organization aimed at providing readers with an alternate … by Mille Team | February 21, 2020. by Mille Team. Scroll for more . Delara Zand, “Jennifer Lopez Performed In Egypt For The First Time And Chose An Egyptian Designer For The Occasion”, https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/news/jennifer-lopez-performs-in-egypt-wearing-egyptian-designer. Feb … The Mahraganat community remains tight-knit and artists are well-acquainted with each other, often collaborating through workshops and local gatherings.8SceneNoise Team, “Mahmoud Refaat: Bringing Noise”, Scene Noise, 19 March 2015, available at: https://scenenoise.com/Features/mahmoud-refaat-bringing-noise jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The lyrics of Mahraganat songs treat issues of disloyal friends, unfaithful lovers, financial difficulties, how one’s success is judged by others and the current scarcity of good people. He was categorical in refusing to issue any further performance licences to Mahraganat artists, including Mohamed Ramadan, a famous actor and Mahragan musician, who has several successful hits.5Amr Adib, “Hany Shaker Details the Ban” jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); To grasp the controversy behind Shaker’s decision, one needs to understand the impact Mahraganat culture has had on Egyptian pop culture and how it escapes the control mechanisms put forth by the State to regulate cultural productions. Mahraganat, which typically involves fast-paced and loud beats, is hugely popular among young, working class Egyptians, but has also made an impact on the country's music … Ezzedine C. Fishere, “Egypt's music ban is part of a more disturbing cultural repression”, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/28/egypts-music-ban-is-part-more-disturbing-cultural-repression/. Yet, music of sha’abi inspiration is not the only genre the authorities have been increasingly censoring. By bbcafrica Egypt’s union for musicians has issued a ban against local grime singers, claiming that it is protecting public taste. Partial, in that it privileges hip-hop to the virtual exclusion of every other kind of nationalist and protest music sung by musicians and crowds during the 18 days of the original Tahrir Square occupation, January 24-February … Yes, the entire, chart-topping genre. Popular mahraganat singer Mohamed Ramadan, who has amassed more than eight million subscribers on YouTube, caused controversy last year, when he posted a rap video entitled "They Want Chaos" - taking a subtle swipe at actor-turned-whistleblower Mohamed Ali. The genre, whose name literally means “festivals” in Arabic, originated in the Cairo slums in the early 2000s. 三分快三计划软件（人工）as nations and communities evolve … The culture of protest associated with the Egyptian uprising has attracted a huge amount of media coverage -- much of it, unfortunately, partial and superficial. Hamza Hendawi. The Mobo awards, which celebrate music of Black origin, have announced the nominees for their first ceremony since 2017. Additionally, artists from Shaker’s generation do not get as much attention as other younger artists, with Shaker’s recently posted videos on YouTube rarely scoring more than 50,000 views.22Hany Shaker’s channel on YouTube.com, available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/HanyShakerOffical/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_22').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_22', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The Egyptian authorities’ meddling with local cultural preferences is not new and has been heavily anchored in the establishment’s attempts to control the country’s cultural productions.23As discussed in Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol 51, p.233–256, 2019. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_23').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_23', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Indeed, if one takes the example of the propagation of pirated cassette tapes in the 1980s, the content on these recordings was considered vulgar and the work of amateurs by the official media.24Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, p.233–256, 2019 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_24').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_24', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); As with the digitalization of music and the subsequent birth of the Mahraganat genre, audio-cassettes had also permitted the spread of popular music and enabled anyone to become a cultural producer. The music, fast and loud, was made using cheap computers at home by people who could not access expensive studios. Egyptian Musician’s Syndicate head Hany Shaker issued a decree on Saturday banning all Mahraganat singers (electronic folk) from performing in any festivals, clubs, cafes or other concerts, according to an interview on Amr Adeeb’s program. In the first decade of the new millenium, from the heart of the slums and marginalized neighborhoods of Cairo, rose a new form of popular Egyptian music: mahraganat, which literally translates in Arabic to ‘festivals’. Lyrics often use street slang and offer an honest look into the lives and perspectives of impoverished youth: the difficulties of having intimate relationships with women, unemployment, drug consumption, etc. However, Egypt’s musician union have just banned the genre. Singers of mahraganat … 3 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_26').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_26', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); as asserted by Ahmad Haykal, the former minister of culture (1985-1987). Initially, Mahraganat artists used to make a living through DJing and concerts. However, while Mahraganat musicians did not initially produce music in studios, Mahmoud Refaat, who is behind the music label 100COPIES Music, represented some artists in the early days of the genre. This ban is to be enforced by the Egyptian Tourism Police. Thus came about the figures of the “imposter artist” and the “unqualified producer”,27Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, see at p. 236, para. Mahraganat (en dialecto árabe egipcio), (en árabe: مهرجانات) Se transcribe: Mahrajanat, en español: "Festivales".También conocido como Electro shaabi o Electro Chaabi.Es un género egipcio de música electrónica, la que surge de la combinación de la música popular egipcia llamada shaabi que se baila en las fiestas nupciales y la música electrónica. This act created a media frenzy and, consequently, over 50 individuals were arrested by security forces and charged with inciting debauchery. The style of music is considered to be "lower class" or vulgar by more traditional or conservative listeners, due to its use of explicit language and favoured topics, some of which include drugs and violence. These musicians have eventually become intrinsically linked to Egyptian mainstream culture due to their popularity across all social classes. In the track, the young artist expresses his love for a woman who is also his neighbour, claiming that if rejected, he would hate his life, lose all sense of purpose, the heartbreak eventually leading to alcohol and hash consumption.3Hassan Shakosh and Omar Kamal, Mahragan Bent El Gueran, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHBaHQau8b4 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Shaker along with the syndicate’s council members deemed the content of the song immoral and decided to ban the genre altogether, despite its popularity online. From Paris to London to Oslo to Stockholm and many other stops along the way, several of Egypt's electronic and mahraganat artists are set to tour European cities from 19 September until 7 November. Though live touring remained a significant revenue source up until the recent ban, streaming platforms are increasingly becoming the main source of income.10Josh Hall, “EDM (Egyptian Dance Music) Comes to London: A Full Report”, The Quietus, 22 January 2014, available at: https://thequietus.com/articles/14329-electro-chaabi-knaka-sadat-diesel-figo-kode9-rinse jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_10').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_10', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Through YouTube alone, Hassan Shakosh is estimated to have made around USD739,600 in March 2020 alone, according to socialblade.com.11Social Blade, حسن شاكوش - Hassan Shakosh, available at: https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UChruvnbwqZ1J1-skg4R5bVQ jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_11').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_11', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); An artist such as Hamo Bika is estimated to make up to  $1.9M a year through YouTube too;12Social Blade, Hamo Bika Live, available at: https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCawKMKQQ5qSl8oZOfCfkXbA jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_12').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_12', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); these numbers go up to an estimated annual revenue of between $268,000 and $4.5M for Mohamed Ramadan.13Social Blade, Mohamed Ramadan, available at: https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/mramadanofficial jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_13').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_13', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); In a country in which the GDP per capita was of $2,549 in 2018, 14The World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$) – Egypt, Arab Rep., available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?end=2018&locations=EG&start=2010&view=chart jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_14').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_14', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Mahraganat musicians are thus financially well-off and are an example of upward social mobility in an extremely classist society. Indeed, Mahraganat music’s appeal is not limited to the working-class, youth from wealthier neighbourhoods have been keen listeners of the genre, which they perceive as energetic and expressive.20Dina Farouk Abou Zeid, “Songs from Egyptian Slums to Media”, Global Media Journal, Vol 17.32, 1-6, 2019 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_20').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_20', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); It is a major vehicle for self-expression, often putting its audience into a trance as one can tell from the way the audience engages with the performers.21Wael Alaa, “Bulaq: A pulsing survey of Cairo’s Underground Sounds”, Nowness, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.nowness.com/topic/mahraganat/bulaq-wael-alaa jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_21').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_21', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); In the words of a Mahraganat artist that I have interviewed for this article: “Mahraganat music is music that comes from within, from the soul, it comes from a deep human yearning for self-expression”. 1. However, Egypt’s musician union have just banned … Egypt’s Musicians Syndicate has a history of attempting to ban gigs based on subjective moral judgements. Before we look … Such control has resulted in an important drop in the quality of Egypt’s cultural productions following the 2013 coup. Amr Adib, “Hany Shaker Details the Ban on Shakosh and Other Mahraganat Musicians from Performing and the Syndicate’s Position on Mohamed Ramadan”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NnZ09f236s&feature=emb_rel_end. I will drink alcohol and smoke weed”. Mahraganat, an electronic music of Sha’abi popular inspiration, has become one of Egypt’s most listened-to music. Mahraganat music first appeared between 2006 and 2007 in Cairo’s poorer neighbourhoods, mainly in Madinat Al-Salam and slums (known as ‘ashwa’iyyat), when wedding DJs started mixing popular sha’abi music with electronic pulses. Scoop Team, “Musicians Syndicate Bans Mahraganat Music in Sahel”, https://scoopempire.com/musicians-syndicate-bans-mahraganat-music-in-sahel/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHBaHQau8b4. Egypt's Awqaf Ministry Announces That Ignoring COVID-19 Preventive Measures Is A "Sin" In The Eyes Of Islam. Tap. All events have to be approved by the Ministry of Culture and “relevant state entities” which consist of the “representatives of the foreign affairs, interior, finance, tourism, antiquities, civil aviation, youth and sports, and local development ministries, whom will be chosen by their respective ministers, on the condition that they hold a senior civil service ranking.”31Mariam Ibrahim, “More hurdles to clear: What a new committee organizing festivals means for the future of artistic events in Egypt”, Mada Masr, 21 July 2018, available at https://madamasr.com/en/2018/07/21/feature/culture/more-hurdles-to-clear-what-the-states-decision-to-form-a-committee-organizing-festivals-means-for-the-future-of-artistic-events-in-egypt/ jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_31').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_31', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The committee also includes other culture professionals. The song, as of June 2020, had garnered more than 340 million views on YouTube. In early 2020, the Egyptian government lowered the hammer on the wildly popular style of music known as Mahraganat. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE . Since then, mahraganat has commonly been used by young, burgeoning artists to highlight social issues. Home; News. The country is indeed confronted to what Armburst labels “two national vernaculars”:6Walter Armbrust, Mass culture and modernism in Egypt, see p. 9, para 1, Cambridge University Press, 1996. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); one is valued and rooted in classicism yet inaccessible to most Egyptians, and another colloquial, practical and widely understood, yet not nearly as prestigious. In June 2010, Chris Brown joined the list of musicians banned from an entire country. As discussed in Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, p.233–256, 2019, Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, see at p. 236, para. These discords are often visible in the usages of Arabic, with the State encouraging the utilisation of a literal form of Arabic while those rejecting this statist approach put forth a vulgarisation of the language,7Walter Armbrust, Mass culture and modernism in Egypt jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); which the Mahraganat genre has done since its creation. Social media users have criticised Shaker for the decision, claiming that banning the genre of music will only make people want it more. The decision was taken after mahraganat singer Hassan Shakoush sang the lyrics “I drink alcohol and smoke hashish”. The music, known locally as “mahraganat”, has become very popular among the poor in Egypt with its working class performers attracting millions of followers on social media. However, Egyptian official media has often portrayed Mahraganat artists as ignorant, which shows their lack of understanding of the current youth culture, as one can deduct from Hany Shaker’s discourse. 2 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_25').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_25', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Indeed, along with the democratization of musical recording and President Anwar Sadat’s infitah (economic liberalization policy), working-class Egyptians were able to produce audio-cassettes only to face the critics’ wrath, who claimed the music was unworthy of broadcast and that it only brought forth untalented artists. After Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, it left Salam City and spread to other low-income neighbourhoods of Cairo. Mahraganat, which typically involves fast-paced and loud beats, is hugely popular among young, working class Egyptians, but has also made an impact on the country's music … Two of Ghana’s biggest music export who croons the reggae & dancehall genre, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, have been nominated for the “Best African act” category. Oka W Ortega, popular mahraganat singers in Egypt in the music video ‘Sorry’. Read More. If you’ve been to Egypt, you’ll know that every single café, wedding or taxi you step in to is more than likely going to be playing Mahraganat. Cherishing Traditional Egyptian and Nubian Jewelry. Egyptian pop culture, according to Walter Armbrust, a cultural anthropologist whose research interests focus on culture and mass media in the Middle East, has been important in establishing national identity, more so than official discourse. 1 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_18').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_18', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); it reserves the right to write a report to the General Union detailing why such works were deemed offensive. Instead of just banning this popular music from radio, as was the case since the 1970s, his regime banned the mahraganat singers from … Only England And Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. That prompted the nation’s musicians syndicate, which is aligned with the government, to outlaw mahraganat music. A mahraganat gig attracted more than 100,000 […] However its rapid growth in popularity has resulted in a rise of music producers capitalising on its success. ... Head of Egypt's Music Syndicate Hany Shaker (C) attends voting process to elect board members of the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate, in Cairo, Egypt, 30 July 2019. Egyptian Musician’s Syndicate head Hany Shaker issued a decree on Saturday banning all Mahraganat singers (electronic folk) from performing in any festivals, clubs, cafes or other concerts, according to an interview on Amr Adeeb’s program. Mahraganat music consequently inscribes itself in the stream of contemporary popular culture that opposes itself to the State’s mass media schooling. egypt’s musicians syndicate head hany shaker issued a decree on sunday banning all mahraganat singers (electronic folk)... Egyptian Streets February 17, 2020. Buzz. Popular music has become dominated by young and rebellious musicians from urban slums who were once dismissed as vulgar. Mahraganat (English: festivals; Egyptian Arabic: مهرجانات ‎ [mɑh.ɾɑ.ɡɑˈnɑːt] or Electro Mahragan is a genre of Egyptian electronic dance music.Mahraganat is a combination of popular shaabi music played at weddings and electronic dance music. The main power the Syndicate has over Mahraganat artists is whether or not it decides to issue singer performance licences. In February 2016 , the Musicians Syndicate tried to cancel two gigs it referred to as “parties of devil worshipers,” according to the head of the syndicate, Hani Shaker, who said they were part of a “Western conspiracy to corrupt young Egyptians.” However, Article 65 of the Syndicate’s rulebook states that if any members are confronted to works that have “lacked respect towards the artform’s dignity or the Syndicate”,18Egyptian Musicians Syndicate, The Internal Rules of Procedure, see at p. 40, para. Wael Alaa, “Bulaq: A pulsing survey of Cairo’s Underground Sounds”, Nowness, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.nowness.com/topic/mahraganat/bulaq-wael-alaa. Following the concert, the Syndicate banned Mashrou’ Leila from performing in Egypt, claiming it stood against “all abnormal art”.29Hessen Hossa, “A battle for existence: How the combined forces of censorship and security shaped Egypt’s music scene in 2017”, Mada Masr, 2 January 2018, available at https://madamasr.com/en/2018/01/02/feature/culture/a-battle-for-existence-how-the-combined-forces-of-censorship-and-security-shaped-egypts-music-scene-in-2017/ jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_29').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_29', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); However, Jennifer Lopez was able to perform in 2019 at the North Coast and did not face any criticism, though one could argue her live concerts tend to be sexually charged.30Delara Zand, “Jennifer Lopez Performed In Egypt For The First Time And Chose An Egyptian Designer For The Occasion”, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, 13 August 2019, available at: https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/news/jennifer-lopez-performs-in-egypt-wearing-egyptian-designer jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11938_1_30').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11938_1_30', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'bottom center', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Whether or not an artist is allowed to perform depends on the whims of the Syndicate, along with the Censorship Board and what they consider artistically and morally appropriate. Egypt to Go Through Wave of Cold & Windy Weather in the Next Few Days. Digest. Josh Hall, “EDM (Egyptian Dance Music) Comes to London: A Full Report”, https://thequietus.com/articles/14329-electro-chaabi-knaka-sadat-diesel-figo-kode9-rinse. Their songs, blaring … Mahraganat, which typically involves fast-paced and loud beats, is hugely popular among young, working class Egyptians, but has also made an impact on the country’s music industry, and the genre is now commonplace at weddings and parties thrown by the younger members of the elite. One could hence argue the ban might be partially due to the Syndicate inability to capture any funds from the revenues of Mahraganat artists, as they are not Syndicate members. Singers of the electric folk style music, mahraganat, have been warned they will be penalised, along with any establishments that work with them, Mohamed Ramadan (L) and Mohamed Oka (AFP and Instagram), Egypt just banned ‘mahraganat’ music: Listen to five of the most popular tracks. Egyptian Streets, “Egypt’s Musicians Syndicate Bans Popular Mahraganat Music”, https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/02/17/popular-mahraganat-music-is-now-banned-according-to-egypts-musical-syndicate/. By bbcafrica Egypt’s union for musicians has issued a ban against local grime singers, claiming that it is protecting public taste. Mahraganat culture can thus be situated in the latter category. © Middle East Eye 2021 - all rights reserved. 3, Andrew Simon, “Censuring sounds: Tapes, Taste and the Creation of Egyptian Culture”, see at p. 236, para. Govt. The plea of Bika’s mother was aimed at the powerful Egyptian Musicians Syndicate, which has banned the singers of “mahraganat," a hybrid music genre that combines folk with electronic music and uses colloquialism in lyrics, from pursuing their profession. The music, known locally as “mahraganat”, has become very popular among the poor in Egypt with its working class performers attracting millions of followers on social media. Mahraganat artists have been heavily influenced by Adawiya’s music, along with other Sha’abi singers such as Hakim and Shaaban “Sha'bola” Abdel Rahim. Egypt Bans Popular Mahraganat Music . The genre of music started in poorer slums and areas of Cairo around 2006, when DJs and music artists started combining influences of grime and rap with Egyptian shaabi music. 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