It’s comfortable to live in our own political, social and even musical bubble. We forget to think outside the box because our comfort zone feels too valuable and safe. But what is actually happening in the Arab world, which musicians are currently gaining fame, have long been considered icons or are fighting underground for women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, against grievances and violence? You should know these ten musicians – for very different reasons.
Mashrou’ Leila
The lyrics of the Arabic band Mashrou’ Leila spark controversy; frontman Hamed Sinno, who is open about his homosexuality, fearlessly sings about same-sex lovers, a defective Lebanese society and war in the Arab world. Mashrou’ Leila was banned from the stage in Egypt, and a little later in Jordan. And when a concert took place on Egyptian soil a few years later, fans were arrested while waving the Pride flag. Mashrou’ Leila stand up for the rights of people in the Arab world; The musicians recently released a video that powerfully denounces Palestinian grievances.
Bu Kolthoum
The Syrian rapper Bu Kolthoum writes reports about the catastrophic conditions in his country and hymns about women.
Amr Diab
The superstar with Egyptian roots won the “World Music Award” four times and was considered the best-selling singer in the Arab world four times. In 1996 he scored the hit “Nour El Ein”, whose refrain hit not only in Egypt, but in the Middle East, Spain, India and South America. To this day, Amr Diab enjoys legendary status.
Nancy Ajram
She is considered the queen of Arabic pop. For the past decade, she has been the highest-earning woman in the Middle East music business. Nancy Ajram is often objectified as a sex symbol, but she is much more than that: a woman who fought her way to the top.
Elissa
Another singer who is bursting with power: Elissa. Also incredibly successful, incredibly well known. After selling more than 30 million long-players, the Lebanese artist is going one better and is currently working on her twelfth studio album.
Ghalia Benali
Ghalia Benali isn’t known for selling a lot of albums or anything like that. In fact, she plays a much more significant role: the Tunisian singer and graphic artist is deeply rooted in Arabia’s LGBTQIA+ community – her lyrics talk about free people, regardless of their gender, regardless of their sexual orientation. She is particularly known for her tracks “Hayamtni”, “Lamouni Li Gharou Meni” and “Awaddu” – songs that empower women.
Fairuz
Fairuz is now 83 years old and is still played on morning radio shows and in the homes of many people around the world. She is literally adored. Rightly so: Not only is she considered an ambassador for the Arabic-speaking world, her extraordinarily beautiful voice, which sets her brothers’ music and lyrics to music, has made her an icon.
Umm culture
The woman known as Egypt’s fourth pyramid, the planet of the East, is revered for her outstanding vocal achievements. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but she must have been born sometime around the turn of the century in 1900. When she died in 1975, her coffin passed from shoulder to shoulder of thousands of admirers – until it arrived at Cairo’s Sayyidna al-Husain Mosque. Umm Kulthum was an influential, strong woman who remained an important part of Arab culture even after her death.
Yasmine Hamdan
With her guest appearance in Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive”, Yasmine Hamdan sang for the vampires of today and earned a lot of attention. She is a role model in Lebanon’s underground. Their first band Soapkills, one of the first electronic indie bands in the Middle East, certainly contributed to this.
Dina El Wedidi
Arab women have always been very active in shaping cultural content: as choreographers, dancers, producers, singers and musicians. Women in the modern Arab world have strong role models – and yet they still have many grievances that need to be fought against. One of the rebels is Dina El Wedidi, who reflects on the concept of relationships and the role of women in the Arab world. It becomes the anchor point for many women who do not have the freedom to lead a self-determined life.