Rapper El Général helped spark the uprising in Tunisia, and in Egypt musicians bravely played their part in their nation's transformation with these impassioned and incendiary tracks
Protesters sing in Tahrir Square in Cairo Photograph: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
The soundtrack to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt is brilliantly reported by Andy Morgan elsewhere on this site. Andy used to manage the Tuareg band Tinariwen, but is now a full-time journalist, with his own blog devoted to world music. Here, with videos culled from YouTube, are some of the acts he describes in his piece on how the Arab world found its voice.
TUNISIAN RAP
Tunisian rapper El Général uploaded his song "Rais Le Bled" (President, Your Country) to Facebook on 7 November. "Within hours," as Andy Morgan writes, " the song had lit up the bleak and fearful horizon like an incendiary bomb." Here it is with English subtitles.
VOICE OF THE STREETS
"Leave" by Ramy Essam, with lyrics comprising all the most popular chants and slogans of the revolution heard on the streets. This song became the hit of the uprising, going viral on YouTube. Essam lived in Tahrir Square's tent village for the entire revolution, composing songs, and playing almost every hour on one of the many stages that sprouted there.
EGYPTIAN POETRY IN SONG
"Egyptian Intifada", the lyrics written by the poet Ahmed Fouad Negm, sung by Sheik Imam.
DEFIANT FOLK
Egyptian folk act El Tanbura and others from the El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music filmed in the streets of Cairo with a cut titled "Tahrir Square Jam".
HIP-HOP CALL TO ACTION
"Rebel" by Egyptian rappers Arabian Knightz, sung in English, its lyrics rewritten by the group's Karim Adel Eissa, aka A-Rush, on the night of Thursday 27 January.
ROCK SOLID
Cairo rock luminaries Amir Eid, Hany Adel and Sherif Mostafa with their rousing anthem to the revolution "Sout Al Horeya" (The Voice of Freedom).
RAP TRIBUTE
Iraqi rapper Narcicyst with other MCs from the Arabic rap diaspora in North America, including Omar Offendum, Freeway, Ayah and Amir Sulaiman, with "#Jan25" – a reference to both the date the protests began in Egypt, and its prominence as a trending topic on Twitter.
POP GOES THE REVOLUTION
"Ezzai" by one of Egypt's best-known musicians, Mohamed Mounir.
أميرة البيلي شاعرة مصرية من مواليد محافظة الاسكندرية بدأت كتابة الشعر من ٢٠١٤ واستمرت في تطوير اسلوبها في الكتابة والالقاء وتميزت في الفترة الاخيرة بأسلوبها الخاص. وقد نالت قصيدتها "أنا مليت" والتي أبكت مصر بالمركز الاول في مسابقة ابداع الاسكندرية. يمكنكم مشاهدة الفيديو أدناه أو عبر الرابط التالي: أنقر هنا كلمات القصيدة تعبت فَ قمت كلمته مانا بنته هيفهمني ويفهم اني محتاجة يكلمني ويسمعني ويفهم اني مخنوقة وحضنه بس هيساعني فَ كلّمته. الو ؟ هوانت ليه ساكت ؟ ألو فيا حجات ماتت ! الو تعبانة في أسمعني .. يرد يقول وايه يعني ؟ ما كل الخلق تعبانة ..وايه يعني ملامحك لسة بهتانة ما عادي كلنا مرضى .. جرحني بعجزي عن اني ارد القسوة ليه لكن .. انا قلبي مهوش داكن عشان يقسي ويكره حد.. مهواش حد فـ ليه جرّح .؟ وزعلني ياريته ما رد ، وليه اتغير بقا بارد وليه شارد بعيد عني ما كان بيقول زمان اني مراته وام لعياله وقالي اني هبقاله انا باقية لكن هو الي بيعافر ليخسرني كسرني لكني حبيته.. ياريتني ما كُنت حبيته ووهبته القلب واديته حنين عمره ما كان يحلم بحد يحبه يوم قدي .. ...
Here is my modest attempt to translate Fairuz's song "Khidni Ya Habibi خدني يا حبيبي " [Take Me Away, My Love] from Arabic into English. This song has always had a special place in my heart, as does the operetta/musical Petra in which it was initially performed, back in 1978. I have uploaded a special video of the song, with optional English subtitles, to my YouTube Channel. To view subtitles, start playing video then click on CC at bottom of video screen/window. For bilingual English/Arabic version, scroll to bottom of page. Watch below or at https://youtu.be/Hi4-DAq72s8 [Narration] An Egyptian man arrived one night Carrying with him the mysteries of the Pyramids And the sublime color of the Nile He appeared out of nowhere Just like joy itself And he gave us hope. [Song] Take me away, my love To a house that has no doors Take me away my love To the moon that guides the forgotten Leave me in a deep slumb...
Lina Makoul: Exploring the Art-Capitalism Paradox Lina Makoul's Artistic Activism: Lina Makoul has long used her international profile to address social and political issues close to her heart and her new single, 'Fish Masari,' serves as a prime example. You can listen/watch below or at this link . Exploring the Art-Capitalism Paradox: Written and produced by Makoul and Nasir AlBashir, 'Fish Masari' delves into the intricate relationship between art and capitalism. This thought-provoking wake-up call delves into how art enriches the hearts and minds of countless individuals while often failing to sustain its creators. Makoul's astute observations and succinct lyrics match the track's powerful physicality. A Fusion of Arabic Musical Traditions: 'Fish Masari' is deeply rooted in Arabic musical traditions, incorporating Middle Eastern instrumentation, percussive rhythms inspired by traditional Palestinian wedding songs, and clever samples. The track...
Karim Al Iraqi (1955-2023) was a renowned Iraqi poet who passed away in Abu Dhabi on September 1, 2023 after battling cancer. He was 68. As I tribute, I am sharing his poem "Kana Sadiqi" كان صديقي [He Was My Friend], an Arabic poem written by Iraqi poet Karim Aliraqi كريم العراقي aka Karim Odeh كريم عوده, about finding himself in the role of intermediary between a couple (two friends of his) whose love he had once witnessed but who were now breaking up. The poet speaks of his dilemma in the video below then goes on to recite the poem in Arabic. Poem translated into English by Dr. Ramzi Salti. قصيدة "كان صديقي" للشاعر كريم العراقي (كريم عوده) يخاطب بها حبيبين افترقا وكان هو الوسيط بينهما والذي يشكى كل منهما له همه وسبب بعده عن حبيبه الآخر. ترجم القصيدة الى الانجليزية الدكتور رمزي سلطي This video shows the poet, Karim Al Iraqi, reading his poem in 2014: Lyrics كلمات القصيدة He was my friend and she was eternally his. Their love stor...
