Egypt is waging a campaign against what it considers a distortion of its history, targeting currents supported, especially by figures from black Americans, who affirm the connection of the Pharaonic civilization with black-skinned Africans.
After a concert by the famous American “rapper” Travis Scott, which was scheduled to be revived on July 28, in the Giza Pyramids complex near Cairo, caused a sensation in Egypt during the past days, and divided the Egyptian street between supporters and opponents, the Syndicate of Musical Professions settled the controversy and announced The concert was banned, justifying its decision by contradicting what the artist presented with the “traditions” of the Egyptian people.
Egyptian artists and businessmen opposed the decision issued by the Syndicate of Musical Professions, which came after the tickets were sold in full, a few hours after the concert was announced.
Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris commented, in a tweet he posted on Twitter, on this decision, saying, “The mistake does not lie in the decision to cancel the ceremony, but rather in allowing it to be held and then retracting it, as this loses Egypt’s credibility in contracting, and the organizer incurred terrible losses and the announcement of the ceremony was accompanied by publicity.” A huge international for Egypt, we lost it with this cancellation, knowing that he sang in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates! For information, I have no interest in this.
In turn, the Egyptian artist, Amr Saad, apologized in a Facebook post from the American “rapper”, and wrote: “Canceling the license for Travis Scott’s concert in Egypt is a grave mistake, and no one has the right to make decisions for the Egyptians or speak on their behalf. I am an Egyptian artist and I apologize to this international singer.” And to the stars of the world and their followers who can see the Egyptians in a retrograde and backward manner, and I tell them that Egypt is much greater than that, and that this people is a loving and generous people, and that Egypt is the land of arts and civilizations.
And on Tuesday, the Syndicate of Musical Professions, which has the right to supervise concerts or broadcast musical works in the most populous Arab country, said in a statement that it “welcomes all kinds of arts and concerts, but it has set conditions and controls to ensure that the customs and traditions inherited by the Egyptian people are not prejudiced.”
The Syndicate added, “After extrapolating and surveying the views of the pioneers of social networking sites, and after what was reported to the Syndicate of Musical Professions” about “news that topped search engines and social media, which included pictures and documented information about strange rituals of the star of this concert that he presents during his performance and harnessing his tools in order to conduct rituals that are inconsistent with our values and traditions.” authentic community”, and it was decided to “cancel the license issued to hold this type of party, which is inconsistent with the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.”
But the statement did not specify what this “ritual” was, which it attributed to Travis Scott, one of the most prominent names in American hip-hop music, who is currently on a world tour.
On the other hand, several Egyptian voices, who had accused the American rapper of practicing “satanic rituals” and inappropriate behavior during his concerts, praised the issued decision and thanked the Professions Syndicate for its keenness to preserve Egypt’s traditions.
The Al-Ahram complex, near the Egyptian capital, regularly hosts concerts by international music stars, including the American hip-hop group “Black Eyed Peas”, in October 2021.
The syndicate rarely opposes holding such concerts, but on the other hand, it has been campaigning for years against types of Egyptian folk singing, especially rap groups and performers of songs known as “festivals”.
Egypt is also waging a campaign against what it considers a distortion of its history, targeting currents supported, especially by black American personalities, who affirm the connection of the Pharaonic civilization with black Africans.
