{"id":18904,"date":"2021-08-30T10:59:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T08:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/?post_type=focus&p=18904"},"modified":"2021-08-30T15:06:39","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T13:06:39","slug":"women-in-egyptian-music","status":"publish","type":"focus","link":"https:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/en\/focus\/women-in-egyptian-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Women in Egyptian music"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This article was written for Music In Africa<\/a>. #AuxSons has translated it in french<\/a> as part of a media partnership agreement.<\/em>\n<\/header>\n

Music industries are often a mirror of the society they exist in, and just as Egyptian society is a patriarchal and male-dominated one, the Egyptian music scene is not much different. Cultural norms and traditions often pose challenges and impose restrictions on women who venture into the music sector, resulting in fewer visible Egyptian women in the music industry than men.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the official religion of Egypt being Islam, Islamic thought and doctrine has a dominant influence on social hierarchies and on governing the place of women in those hierarchies. With some Islamic scholars arguing that a woman\u2019s voice should not be heard, women are often discouraged from pursuing a career in music, as it is not considered respectable.<\/p>\n

Women are mostly absent from the religious music scene and even banned from performing the call of prayer that can be heard echoing through Egyptian cities five times a day. Censorship has a longstanding relationship with the music industry in Egypt, due to political and religious reasoning. All music officially released in Egypt must undergo a rigorous vetting process to ensure that lyrics do not offend neither the governing regime nor religion.<\/p>\n

Works that do not receive approval are banned from being officially released at music stores or aired by government-owned radio and TV<\/span> stations. However, with modern technology and the internet, more and more artists are forgoing physical music releases and focusing on digital releases, allowing them to bypass the process of obtaining government licences to release their works. All performers are also required to obtain licences and permits from the Musicians\u2019 Syndicate for live performances in advance.<\/p>\n

The process of receiving clearance from the censorship committee and obtaining licences to release music affects men and women alike. However, women face more censorship and policing when it comes to live performance. The Musicians\u2019 Syndicate, which all professional musicians and performers are required to be members of, has a strict dress code regarding women\u2019s attire, dictating how short dresses or skirts are allowed to be and how much cleavage may be shown. Female performers found violating this dress code risk being banned from performing live in Egypt, a consequence that singers such as Sherine Abdel Wahab<\/a> and Maryam Saleh have faced for other actions that sparked disapproval from the syndicate.<\/p>\n

It has recently become common for women in the entertainment scene to find themselves charged with inciting debauchery or violating Egyptian family values and morals for their choice of outfits, dancing in music videos, or using indecent language in their songs \u2013 with some facing prison sentences, fines or bans on performing or working in the industry.<\/p>\n

Notable women in Egyptian music - The Golden Era<\/h2>\n

Umm Kulthum (1898\/1904\u20131975) is a name synonymous with Egyptian music. She is nicknamed \u2018The Star of the East\u2019 and often referred to as simply \u2018The Woman\u2019. Despite having died in 1975, her music and legacy are engraved deeply in Egyptian society and her songs can often be heard in cafes, restaurants, taxis and homes across the country. Kulthoum\u2019s story is one of perseverance and defiance. She grew up in a conservative family in a small village in the Nile Delta. Her father and brother were performers of religious songs and chants at events. She learnt to recite the Quran and after discovering her voice, her father would dress her up as a boy and have her perform in disguise as part of his ensemble. Eventually, she went on to become one of the biggest names to come out of Egypt and the Middle East, selling more than 80 million records.<\/p>\n