As rap songs and ‘festivals’ have been on the rise in Egypt in the past years, many local bands including the Abdel Halim Nouira Ensemble for Arabic Music, and the Umm Kulthūm Group are seeking to preserve old songs by reintroducing the works of legends like Sayed Darwish, Abdullah al-Hamuli, Daoud Husni, Almaz, Mounira al-Mahdia, Mohammed Othman, Zakaria Ahmed, and many others in concerts that satisfied a large audience.
Among the bands reviving authentic Egyptian songs are “Al Ghouri Band for Arabic Music and Folklore” led by Maestro Omar al-Shehabi. The band includes 35 members, and “presents art and heritage as it’s supposed to be presented” since its establishment in 1971, explains al-Shehabi. It performs on the first Tuesday of every month as part of a regular program at the Al Ghouri Arts Center.
