Mohammed Abdel Wahab
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Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab with a cümbüş (mandolin)
Background information
Born(1902-03-13)March 13, 1902
Cairo, Khedivate of Egypt
OriginEgypt
DiedMay 4, 1991(1991-05-04) (aged 89)
Cairo, Egypt
GenresEgyptian music
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • composer
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • oud
Years active1917–1991
LabelsMazzika
Websitewww.abdel-wahab.com

Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Arabic: محمد عبد الوهاب), also transliterated Mohamed Abd El-Wahhab, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæˈħam.mæd ʕæbd el wæhæːb] (March 13, 1902 – May 4, 1991), was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer, actor, and composer. He is best known for his Romantic and Egyptian patriotic songs.

He was known for his Egyptian nationalist and revolutionary songs like "Ya Masr tam El-Hanna" (O Egypt, happiness is here), "Hay Ala El-Falah" (The call of duty), "El Watan El Akbar" (The Greatest Homeland), "Masr Nadetna falbena El-nedaa" (Egypt Called us and we Have Answered), "Oulo le Masr" (Tell Egypt), "Hob El-watan Fard Alyi" (Patriotism is my Obligation), "Sout El-Gamaheer" (Voice of the Masses), "Ya Nessmet El-Horria" (O The Breeze of Freedom), "Sawae'd men Beladi" (Compatriot Hands).

He also composed the national anthem of Libya which was adopted from 1951 to 1969 and again since 2011.[1][2]

Life

Egyptian singer and composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab Statue at Bab El-Shariya square, Cairo

Mohamed Abdel Wahab was born in 1902 in Cairo, Egypt,[3] in a neighborhood called Bab El-Sheriyah, where there is now a statue of him. He began his singing career at an early age and made his first public performances at age seven at local productions. He was 13 when he made his first recording. Mohamed Abdel Wahab was a very close friend to compatriot singer Abdel Halim Hafez.

Film career

Publicity still for the Egyptian film Mamnou'a el hub (1942).

In 1933, Abdel Wahab began composing his own style of Egyptian film musical after visiting Paris and familiarizing himself with French musical film.[4] He introduced a lighthearted genre of musical film to Egyptian culture eventually composing eight musical comedies between 1933 and 1949. His films portrayed Western social elite and included music that veered off from the traditional Egyptian tune. He starred in his 1934 film The White Flower which broke records in attendance and still plays frequently in Egyptian theaters. In 1950 Abdel Wahab left film to focus on being a more profound singer.

Contribution to Egyptian and Arabic music

Abdel Wahab composed more than 1820 songs.[4] Abdel Wahab is considered to be one of the most innovative Egyptian musicians of all time, laying the foundation for a new era of Egyptian music with his use of non-local rhythms and refined oud playing.

Despite the fact that Abdel Wahab composed many songs and musical pieces of classical Arabic music, he was notably criticized for his orientation to Western music. In fact, he introduced Western rhythms to Egyptian songs in a way appropriate to the known then very classical forms of Egyptian songs. For example, in 1941, he introduced a waltz rhythm in his song "El Gandol," and, in 1957, he introduced a rock and roll rhythm in Abdel Halim Hafez's song "Ya Albi Ya Khali".

He composed some of the best hits of Nagat El Saghira, including four poems by Nizar Qabbani.

Abdel Wahab played oud before the prominent Egyptian poet, Ahmed Shawqi, and acted in several movies. He composed ten songs for Umm Kulthum. He was the first Egyptian singer to move from silent-era acting to singing.[5]

Abdel Wahab also composed songs for the Lebanese icon Fairuz[6] whom he famously called "Our Ambassador to the Stars"[7] and stated in 1958 that he was the leader of her fan club in Cairo.[8]

Death

Mohamed Abdel Wahab died in his hometown Cairo, Egypt of a stroke on May 4, 1991.[3]

Legacy

Abdel Wahab was fundamental in establishing a new era of Egyptian music in his homeland and across the Arab world. He also left a mark on the Western world by exposing Egyptian music to Western classical and popular traditions.

He composed Libya, Libya, Libya, the Libyan national anthems.[2]

Tribute

On March 13, 2012, Google celebrated his 110th birthday with a Google Doodle.[9]

Filmography

As actor

Honours

Egyptian national honours

Ribbon barHonour
EGY Order of the Nile – Grand Cordon BAR Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile
Commander of the Order of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Egypt)

Foreign honors

Ribbon barCountryHonour
 JordanGrand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
 LebanonCommander of the National Order of the Cedar
Order of the Grand Conqueror (Libya) LibyaCollar of the National Order of Libya
 MoroccoGrand Cross of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
 OmanFirst Class of the Order of Oman
SYR Order Merit 1kl rib SyriaGrand Cordon of Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic
 TunisiaGrand Cordon of the Order of the Republic of Tunisia

References

  1. ↑ About Libya: Libyan National Anthem, National Transitional Council of Libya, archived from the original on July 21, 2011, retrieved August 23, 2011
  2. 1 2 "Egyptian artists contribute in 6 Arab national anthems". egypttoday.com. June 9, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Abdel Wahab: The immortal generations musician". egypttoday.com. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Mohammad Abdel Wahab". Al Mashriq. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  5. ↑ Best Arabic Music Archived February 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Best Arabic Music. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Songs of Wahab Mohamed Abdel - Fairuz | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Lebanese diva arouses emotion, controversy in Syria". Reuters.com. January 28, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Beirut and Fairouz: A path of gold and loss - Heritage special - Heritage". English.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Mohammed Abdel Wahab's 110th Birthday". Google. March 13, 2012.
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