Mahraganat

Mahraganat (English: festivals; Arabic: مهرجانات‎‎  [mɑh.ɾɑ.ɡɑˈnɑːt]) or electro chaabi is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Cairo. Mahraganat is a combination of popular chaabi music played at weddings and electronic dance music. DJ Figo founded the genre with his single "Ana Baba, Yalla" released during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.

History

The origins of mahraganat lie in the poor neighborhoods and slums of Cairo. In 2007, wedding DJs began combining chaabi music and electronic dance music with influences from reggaeton, grime and Sufi music.[1] In 2011, the Revolution began and the genre took on a political tinge as the founder of mahraganat, DJ Figo, released his first big single entitled "Ana Baba, Y’lla"[2] Initially, mahraganat received no airplay on radio or television and spread online by means of such sites as YouTube and SoundCloud. In 2014, mahraganat DJ Souissy signed a record deal and artists such as EEK brought the genre to the mainstream in Egypt. By summer 2014, mahraganat had become popular throughout all of Egypt. Outside of Egypt, the genre was popularised by alternative culture magazine Audio Kultur and the Cairo Liberation Front. Dance music blog Generation Bass also helped introduce mahraganat to European audiences. In 2014, a group of mahraganat DJs toured the Netherlands.[3]

In 2016, mahraganat DJ Zola was shot and killed on the street during celebrations of the Revolution's fifth anniversary. The government announced Muslim Brotherhood protesters were responsible for the shooting, while DJ Sadat held the police responsible.[3]

The genre is somewhat controversial among older and more conservative Egyptians. In 2016, Nagham FM radio station banned maharagant songs from its programs, citing that they did not "match Egyptian customs and traditions".[4]

In popular culture

In 2013, Hind Meddeb released a documentary about the genre entitled Electro Chaabi.

DJS

References

  1. ↑ Peavey, April (24 June 2014). "In Egypt, 'electro-chaabi' music stirs up controversy". The World. PRI.
  2. ↑ ElNabawi, Maha. "Meet Some of the Major Players". British Council.
  3. 1 2 "DJ Ahmed "Zo'la" Mohsen shot in the head on Egyptian revolution's anniversary". Al Bawaba. January 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Egypt: Radio station bans mahraganat song". Freemuse. May 17, 2016.
  5. ↑ Bordier, Julien (24 December 2014). "Moyen-Orient: Levant nouveau de l'électro". L'express.
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