Latest news with #RaghebAlama
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
What is Egypt's musicians syndicate and why has it blocked artists like Ragheb Alama and Travis Scott?
A kiss was enough to get Ragheb Alama suspended from one of the Arab world's biggest music markets. The 63-year-old Lebanese singer is currently banned from performing in Egypt following a decision by the country's musicians syndicate. The move came after footage circulated online showing a female fan embracing and kissing him during a recent concert on the North Coast. The syndicate described the moment as a 'deliberate violation of Egyptian customs, traditions and societal values.' His permit, which is required for any live performance in Egypt, has been frozen pending an investigation. Alama described the controversy as a misunderstanding, speaking in an interview this week with Egyptian broadcaster ExtraNews. 'I have always considered Egypt as my second home,' he said. 'I've worked with the syndicate for over 30 years and there has not be a single issue. I feel that if I were banned from performing in Egypt, it would be a harsh decision. The whole situation wasn't planned and didn't even occur on stage. As artists, our job is to really spread happinness. That's the true meaning of music and live performance.' Alama is not the first to fall foul of the syndicate. From veteran singers to international hip-hop stars, the powerful body has a long track record of intervening in who can perform, where and how. Here's what to know about the organisation. What is Egypt's musicians syndicate? Founded in 1942 as the Syndicate of Musical Professions, it is a state-affiliated body that regulates Egypt's live music industry. Any artist wishing to appear on stage, whether Egyptian or foreign, must be licensed by the body with a remit spanning the approving concerts, issuing work permits, verifying musical credentials and the protection intellectual property. Only Egyptian musicians can become members entitled to healthcare, pensions and legal support. The syndicate holds broad authority to suspend artists, fine venues, revoke performance permits and cancel shows – and it has done so often. How much power does it have? There are several cultural syndicates operating in Egypt, including those representing actors and filmmakers. These bodies aim to function as a bridge between the arts and the authorities, and they take on regulatory roles such as assessing which musician can qualify as a 'professional' – a status that allows them to perform in key venues – as well as regulating what kind of performance is permissible in terms of genre, lyricism and appearance. Working with cultural and tourism bodies, in addition to promoters, artists who perform without approval or cross cultural lines are subject to being barred from the country. Why does it keep banning artists? With a task it deems as preserving artistic standards and protecting Egypt's cultural values, the syndicate is by no means a passive observer of the cultural scene. Its enforcement of these values – based on its own interpretations – has led to repeated controversy. Other artists in the crosshairs of the body include Egyptian pop star Ahmed Saad, who in 2022 was reportedly fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (about Dh1,496) for appearing with a quartet instead of the required minimum of 12 musicians. That action was part of the syndicate's broader campaign against 'flasha' performances – playback sets without live instrumentation – framed as an effort to preserve the livelihoods of its members and maintain the standard of live shows. In the same year, Mohamed Ramadan received a warning after appearing shirtless on stage, which the syndicate described as behaviour 'inconsistent with Egyptian values.' This month's Alama case is only the latest in a pattern of disciplinary measures rooted in the syndicate's evolving definition of what is considered acceptable on stage. Why does the syndicate have a problem with mahraganat? If there's one genre that has been a perennial sour note for the syndicate, it's mahraganat – a style that blends street poetry, autotune and blistering electro synths. Seen as a raw, working-class response to polished pop, the music gained a mass following through YouTube and social media. Its stripped-back production and reliance on DJs instead of full bands challenged the syndicate's musical orthodoxy, creating a visible generational divide between the organisation and its audience. In 2020, the syndicate issued a blanket ban on mahraganat performances. Veteran singer and then-syndicate head Hany Shaker led the charge, stating that the problem wasn't the sound, but the lyrics. 'There are phrases and subject matter to these songs that have never been uttered in Egyptian music before,' he told The National. 'Because something is popular on YouTube doesn't mean it's a good thing.' The ban was later softened. Under Shaker's leadership, the syndicate introduced a new licensing category – first called 'monologist', later rebranded as 'vocal performer' – which allowed some mahraganat artists, including Hassan Shakosh, to return to the stage. Can it block international stars too? Travis Scott is used to running his own show – until he attempted to launch his 2023 album Utopia with a concert at the Giza Pyramids. While promoter Live Nation cited 'complex production issues' as the reason for the cancellation, local reports suggested the syndicate had withheld final approval, reportedly over concerns about the imagery and themes associated with Scott's stage show. Scott went on to bring the corresponding Circus Maximus tour to Saudi Arabia and Qatar without issue. He is scheduled to perform at Etihad Park in Abu Dhabi on November 15, as part of the Asian leg of the tour. Is the syndicate's changing its tune? Since singer-songwriter Mostafa Kamel replaced Hany Shaker as head of the organisation in 2022, there have been reported efforts to improve the syndicate's public image and limit its interventions to cases where it believes customs and traditions are at risk. This has informed its sanction of Alama, as well as its continued oversight of mahraganat artists. Whether such actions preserve artistic standards or stifle creative expression remains open to debate. But in Egypt, long seen as the region's cultural standard-bearer, music is rarely just about sound. It's about maintaining, and at times jealously guarding, that venerated position.
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Yallah: Arabic word for 'let's go' is a call to action and an encouragement
In Arabic, yallah is used to move things along. It is a call to action, an expression of urgency, encouragement or even impatience. It can be translated to 'let's go', but its meaning is shaped entirely by context. You might hear it when someone wants you to hurry up, when a group is ready to leave, or when a conversation has gone on too long. It can be warm, firm, supportive or exasperated. Yallah is a fusion of two words: ya, which is a vocative particle similar to 'oh' or 'hey' in English, and Allah, the Arabic word for God. It is a contraction of ya Allah, meaning oh God. Over time, it became secularised in daily speech. Its religious weight is not as overt any more, but the word retains the energy of its plea. If you are running late and you would like a friend to hurry up, you could say: yallah taakharna. If you're waiting for them downstairs and want to hurry up and make a move: yallah, ana taht. You could even use it to wrap up a conversation: yallah, binhki baadein – or yallah, we'll talk later. To encourage someone, you could say: yallah, feek taamilha – yallah, you can do it. You could even use it to cheer your favourite sports team, simply by shouting yallah, yallah. Yallah is one of those words that has outgrown its origins, perhaps due to its flexibility. This is most evident by its prevalence in pop culture and music. Nancy Ajram, Cheb Khaled and Ragheb Alama all have songs with yallah in their title, but non-Arab singers have also adopted the word. Romanian singer Inna has a 2015 dance hit named Yalla. Iranian-Swedish singer Arash also has a song with US rapper T-Pain called Yalla.
The National
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama's Egypt concerts suspended following accusation of inappropriate conduct
Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama has been suspended from performing in Egypt for 'violating the country's customs, traditions and societal values' after being kissed on stage by a fan. The decision made by the Musicians Syndicate in Egypt came after the circulation of a video of the incident at his recent concert on the North Coast. Alama, 63, has been summoned to the Musicians Syndicate headquarters for an investigation into what has been described as a 'deliberate violation of Egyptian norms, customs and traditions.' His work permit in Egypt has been suspended pending his appearance. Alama said he plans to attend, and holds the concert organisers responsible for the incident. 'For two days, I have been following shameful behaviour that violates all Egyptian customs, traditions and societal values,' said Mostafa Kamel, head of the Musicians Syndicate in Egypt. 'We have never been accustomed to this in our country before and we will not allow it to be repeated. 'Egypt's stages have been graced by some of the greatest artists in Egypt and the Arab world, both artistically and in value. They have never been, and never will be, a breeding ground for kisses, undisciplined gestures and disgusting hugs. He added: 'With my sincere respect and appreciation to Mr Farid Bou Said, the head of the Musicians Syndicate in our sister country, Lebanon, and to all our brothers and sisters in the beloved Lebanese people.' The syndicate has also contacted officials from the Chamber of Tourism Establishments to arrange a meeting with them or their representatives, with the aim of making a joint decision to summon the owner of the tourist venue that hosted the concert. Alama said in a phone call with Al-Nahar TV: 'What happened was that the girl grabbed me in her joy as I was coming off the stage and kissed me. The kiss wasn't on my mouth. I swear to God, that didn't happen.' He added: 'I hold the organisers responsible because people were going to the theatre. I respect the audience and I am well aware that tourism in Egypt is a great responsibility. 'I contacted the head of the syndicate and I respect the syndicate's decision and place myself at its disposal. God willing, I will visit the syndicate next week.'
Al Bawaba
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Ragheb Alama breaks silence after controversial kiss at Egypt's concert
ALBAWABA - Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama has made his first statement after his controversial video with one of his female fans, who kissed him in a controversial way, sparking anger all over social media. Also Read Video: Fan kisses Ragheb Alama on his lips, sparks controversy The Egyptian Musicians Syndicate decided to suspend him from performing and summon him for investigation, following what the syndicate described as "shameful behavior" at his recent concert on the North Coast in Egypt. Ragheb Alama confirmed that a photo circulating at one of his recent concerts, which sparked widespread controversy, was taken from the wrong angle, where it showed the female fan kissing him on the mouth. However, the Lebanese singer said this is not true. Lebanese artist Ragheb Alama from North Coast party in Egypt. (Instagram) In a phone call to the "Studio Extra" program on "Extra News" channel, the artist said: "The circulated photo showed the matter inaccurately. The fan was not Egyptian, and she was happy with the concert and tried to express her joy. The camera angle suggested that she kissed me on the mouth, but that did not happen at all. She just suddenly grabbed me." He added, "I treat my fans of both genders with the same affection. I don't reject or embarrass anyone. My approach doesn't include insulting or pushing away the audience, but what happened is the responsibility of the concert organizers. They should have organized the interaction or even put up barriers if necessary," adding sarcastically, "They should have installed barbed wire."
CairoScene
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Ragheb Alama Suspended by Musicians' Syndicate After Concert
The Musicians' Syndicate in Egypt suspended Ragheb Alama and called him for investigation after a concert drew criticism for violating social norms, though his team says no notice has arrived. Jul 22, 2025 Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama has been suspended from performing in Egypt, following a decision from the Musicians' Syndicate citing actions during a recent North Coast concert. The statement referenced what was described as behaviour that contradicts Egyptian customs and values, adding that Alama would be summoned for investigation. The Syndicate framed the incident as a breach of the traditions upheld on Egypt's concert stages, referring to the legacies of Arab musical icons such as Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez. The decision sparked immediate debate across social media and news outlets, where users questioned the standards being applied and what precedent this might set for future performances. Khodr Alama, brother and manager of the Lebanese artist, said in a televised interview that they had not received any formal notice about the suspension or the investigation. The artist's team suggested they first became aware of the news through online reports. The Musicians' Syndicate has become increasingly active in recent years, especially in regulating performances and setting conduct guidelines. This case adds to a growing list of public decisions involving regional performers on Egyptian stages.
