Muslim, Coptic, Nubian...Yes, I am all that
Ana Masri (I am Egyptian) is the name of both a song and a fairly new musical band. New, but famous enough to draw an audience of hundreds to their Ramadan concert in the British Council Garden in Agouza, adorned for the occasion with brightly-coloured lights and khayamiya. Formed in 2005, Ana Masri is a very Egyptian band whose songs and Christian music reflect the distinctive national character and ensure its special identity. Most of the band's songs are written by the group's founder, Ihab Abdu. Almost half of Ana Masri's members are professional musicians, while a few are amateurs and, as such, possess a freshness that makes their music sound more spontaneous and entertaining. Unlike many bands that consist of four to five members, the number of musicians in this group is quite large: four or five musicians and ten or so singers. They sing with great enthusiasm and with a sincerity in which their belief in themselves shines through. "Ana Masri itself is a message to demonstrate the wealth of the Egyptian identity and how much we love and appreciate this diversity," Abdu says. The warm, genuine and beautiful voice of Janine Zaki singing gospel songs strikes an original and different note. Her contribution to the genre is unprecedented in the modern history of vocals in The idea of the band came about by mere coincidence. Abdu obtained a first degree in business administration from the In addition to Islamic and Christian tunes and contemporary songs written by Abdu, the band's repertoire includes Egyptian heritage music such as Oum Ya Masri (Stand Up, Egyptian) by Sayed Darwish, as well as Nubian songs performed by the young Egyptian singer Mohamed Dawoud. Abdu believes his band was born to fill a certain gap in the Egyptian artistic scene. "There is a fairly large number of music bands in "In the 1970s and 1980s national songs were a lucrative business," Abdu says. "Since the beginning of this century, the sense of nationality has faded in contemporary songs, except for formal military feats like the Sixth of October. Yet they do it superficially, and they ignore the fact that our identity is really rich and diverse." Ana Masri has played in several venues in Zaki, who also sings with the Better Life band at the Zaki is well aware of the tolerance that existed in the past. In the 1920s her grandmother took dancing lessons from a Jewish teacher. "If I mentioned this small thing nowadays I would be cursed by both Muslims and Christians," she says. "Society has become more fanatic and intolerant than ever before, and this is what encouraged me to carry on with the band. "It might seem odd to some people to see me singing gospel alongside an Islamic Sufi chanter, but my mom is very supportive, and she attends all the concerts." Abdu complains that producers are not willing to produce and promote new songs, and bemoans the fact that in Zaki, however, is more optimistic, "Ana Masri is a mood that needs to be experienced," she says. "Roaming the remote areas of |
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