The Musicians' Syndicate's decision to prohibit a number of Mahraganat singers from work and to withdraw their annual singing permits, aroused widespread controversy in Egypt.
The list, which was issued by the Syndicate headed by artist Hany Shaker, included 19 names of "Mahraganat Performers" who are prohibited from working, and they are: Hamo Beka, Hassan Shakosh, Kozbra, Hangra, Muslim, Abo Lila, Felo, Ahmed Moza, Hamo El Tekha, Resha Costa, Samara Now, Shawah, welad Selim, El Esaba Band, Ahmed Zaeem, Alaa Fifty, Elkab Elaaly, Magdy Shata, Wezza, Adel Shakal, Amr Haha, and 3enba.
Shaker has posted the Syndicate's decision on Facebook.
"It is strictly prohibited for those who are not a member of the Syndicate and are not authorized to work until their conditions in the Syndicate are edited and the exams are passed." The Syndicate confirmed.
"I'm not against the art of Mahraganat but against bad words and sounds, and that the Syndicate's recent decision to display the names of those banned from singing aims to purify the situation," Shaker said, in a television statement.
He added; "As long as I live, I won't allow mockery."
Profession Protection
In an interview with BBC News, Tarek Mortada, the generic name of the Musicians' Syndicate, justified the recent decision that the Syndicate "plays its role in protecting the profession, its numbering and the general community in Egypt and the Arab world."
Mortada added that the Syndicate "speaks to the YouTube administration to prohibit Mahraganat songs, based on the Egyptian law, which requires the approval of the Musicians' Syndicate for singing."
Mostafa Hamdy, music critic, saw that "no one can impose their view on public taste, and that shaping public taste is more than a mere decision issued by any party, even if it is the Musicians' Syndicate."
Hamdy explained to BBC that Mahraganat "have become a widespread musical genre among large segments of the Egyptian society, and it also has social dimensions."
The critic added that the Syndicate "had a history of such decisions," as it banned singer Hamid Al-Shaeri from singing about 30 years ago because of his reliance on an electronic musical device instead of live music, but Al-Shaeri’s experience later lived and those who made the decision to stop him were forgotten."
Reactions
In response to the decision, the folk artist Hamo Beka appeared in a live video on his Instagram and Facebook accounts, criticizing the decision to stop singing.
The Egyptian festival singer accused unnamed people of being behind this decision.
"I am not a singer, I am a Mahraganat performer, and I know that my voice is bad, but I like it and the people who listen to me like it too," Beka explained
He added: "People welcome us outside Egypt in the best way... you want us to work out of Egypt and leave our country."
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWYp4ECACEg/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=03e06230-f183-4cd5-837e-bcb637d9bcfc
The Syndicate's decision sparked a storm of positive and negative comments, and the names of artists banned from singing topped the trend list on social media sites in Egypt.
The comment of the Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris drew attention, describing the ban decision as shameful, "The first time I see a head of singers who is very proud of banning singing."
In response to Sawiris' words, the Syndicate of Musical Professions indicated that the syndicate's money "is from public money and cannot be wasted."
In a tone that some described as sarcastic, the head of the Musicians Syndicate called on Sawiris to adopt the festival singers and give them the opportunity to sing at the El Gouna Festival, which he founded and financed with his brother Samih.
He added, directing his words to the Egyptian businessman: "As you know or not, its name is the Musicians' Syndicate, not the Syndicate of Singers, it is necessary to clarify."
https://twitter.com/fal3arda/status/1461455850829144070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461455850829144070%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
Following the Syndicate's statement, businessman Naguib Sawiris responded with a new tweet, in which he said: "If it is the Musicians' Syndicate, as you mentioned, what is the matter with the singers, and God willing, I will bring them all to the El Gouna Festival according to your recommendation, and this is private money."
Others criticized what they called double standards in dealing with performers of this type of music, wondering why Mohamed Ramadan escaped from Hany Shaker's censorship. Ramadan has always been criticized for the words and appearances contained in his songs, which many see as "violating the established foundations of Egyptian society."
About the possibility of banning Muhammad Ramadan, Hany Shaker indicated that "he is immune and cannot prevent him, given that he is a member of the Musicians’ Syndicate."
https://twitter.com/NaguibSawiris/status/1461467824837255171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461467824837255171%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
https://twitter.com/AlMasryAlYoum/status/1461413813144764419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461413813144764419%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
On the other hand, Mahmoud El-Aseeli resemles the decisions to ban singing and endowment to "what was happening in the Middle Ages or strict boarding schools."
He considered that "the freedom of creativity and expression is a right guaranteed to anyone, and people are the ones who determine the type of music and songs they will listen to."
https://twitter.com/Esseily/status/1461117879357689857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461117879357689857%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
Although some people did not support the art presented by the banned artists, many agreed that "freedom and giving way are among the elements of art," and that “the advantage of folk art is that it shows scenes from people’s lives without any equivocation or moral claims."
https://twitter.com/AMRTHABET6/status/1461262601388711940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461262601388711940%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
On the other hand, many supported the decision of the Musicians' Syndicate, considering it a "correct decision to prevent the spread of rakish songs."
Others felt that the public is usually affected by what it hears and sees, and therefore "prevention is better than cure."
https://twitter.com/mostafalpacino/status/1461225567387271175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461225567387271175%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
Some stressed the importance of protecting the new generations and spreading their awareness of the distinction between "folk art and audio pollution."
Some used the words of some popular songs by banned artists, which they described as "absurd and immoral" to justify the "rightness of the Syndicate’s decision."
https://twitter.com/Esseily/status/1461117879357689857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461198900661002245%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
Away from supporting and rejecting, many commented sarcastically on the names that some singers chose as their nicknames.
https://twitter.com/The_Ghamrawy/status/1460993392289198081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1460993392289198081%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Farabic%2Ftrending-59336739
Contributed by Israa Farhan
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