Latest news with #AbdelHalimHafez
Ya Biladi
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Abdel Halim Hafez's family objects to Mawazine Festival's hologram concert
A dispute has erupted between the organizers of the Mawazine Festival and the family of the late Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez following the announcement of a hologram concert featuring the « Dark-Skinned Nightingale» at the festival's sixth edition. The family accused the organizers of proceeding without obtaining prior permission, insisting that the artist's artistic and literary rights are exclusively theirs and cannot be used without consent. Meanwhile, the organizing company stated that the concert is being held under a legal agreement with producer Mohsen Jaber, who they claim holds the rights to exploit Abdel Halim's songs. In response, Mohamed Shabana, the artist's nephew, denied Jaber's ownership of these rights and affirmed that the family plans to take legal action in several countries to protect Abdel Halim's legacy, especially after previous incidents they believe have harmed the artist's image.
CairoScene
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egyptian Superstar Angham to Headline Royal Albert Hall Sep 23rd
Angham will become the first Egyptian female artist to perform at the venue since the late Abdel Halim Hafez in 1967. Apr 29, 2025 Angham is set to perform a headlining show for the first time in London's iconic Royal Albert Hall on September 23rd, becoming the first Egyptian female artist to grace the stage of the prestigious venue since the late Abdel Halim Hafez in 1967. Following in her father's footsteps, Angham made her soulful debut in 1987, re-imagining love songs and establishing herself as one of the world's leading Arab female powerhouses in the music industry. The show is organized by events giant Live Nation. Presale tickets will be available, starting Wednesday, April 30th at 10:00 AM local time and will run until Thursday, May 1st at 10:00 AM local time via General on-sale tickets will then be available on Friday, May 2nd at 10:00 AM local time.
Daily News Egypt
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Bahr Al-Baqar: When Israel Massacred Egyptian Children
On the morning of Wednesday, April 8, 1970, inside a modest, two-room schoolhouse in the village of Al-Salhiya, Sharqia Governorate, children in Egypt were embarking on another day of lessons. Just 110 kilometres from Zagazig, Bahr Al-Baqar Primary School was a place of simple safety, where young minds grappled with the alphabet. But this tranquility was shattered when Israeli Phantom jets appeared in the sky above. What began as an ordinary school day swiftly descended into a documented crime against humanity. Without warning, the Israeli aircraft unleashed five bombs and two missiles upon the Bahr Al-Baqar school, reducing the building to rubble in a matter of moments. Thirty children perished, and over fifty more were wounded or permanently disfigured – a grim testament to the tragedy that unfolded that day. In the aftermath, Tel Aviv claimed its jets had targeted only military installations during the raid on Egyptian territory. Yet this explanation rang hollow, especially as the attack came less than two months after the bombing of the Abu Zaabal factory, a civilian site where 89 workers were killed. At Bahr Al-Baqar, there was no military objective, no strategic asset – only a humble building holding the aspirations of children who knew nothing of war or politics. Their schoolbags contained pencils and notebooks, not weapons or threats. The massacre occurred at the height of the War of Attrition, a period when Egypt was striving to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula following the 1967 defeat. Israel's intent, it seemed, was to deliver a brutal message to the Egyptian state: retreat, or face further suffering. But the attack backfired. Instead of submission, it ignited a wave of public outrage and galvanised national unity behind the Egyptian army in its struggle to restore dignity. Despite widespread international condemnation from numerous countries, Israel has never been held accountable for the Bahr Al-Baqar massacre. No independent investigation was ever launched by an international body. This silence stands as a stark reminder of global complicity, and the impunity that often cloaks the crimes committed under occupation. The Bahr Al-Baqar massacre has not been forgotten in Egypt. It is deeply etched into the national memory and culture. Renowned singer Abdel Halim Hafez immortalised the tragedy in his famous song, 'The lesson is over, they packed up the notebooks'—lyrics penned by the poet Salah Jahin—broadcasting the cry of innocent children who left behind only their books and small bags. The ruined school has been transformed into a symbolic, national shrine – a permanent image in the collective consciousness, reminding generations that the enemy makes no distinction between soldier and child, and that the real war is against identity and life itself. Today, more than five decades later, the Bahr Al-Baqar massacre remains an open wound in Egypt's heart. It serves as a constant reminder that war is not confined to battlefields; it can begin within the walls of a school. The blood of those children, even when dried, still cries out for a justice denied, and for an accountability that is long overdue. The anniversary of this horrific event serves as a somber reminder to Egyptians that Israel was—and, according to some, will always remain—an eternal enemy to Egypt and its people.
Arab News
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Layali October' – Egyptian flavors in Madinah
If you are craving a little piece of Egypt right in Madinah, Layali October (October Nights) is the place to go. This cozy cafe on Zubairah Al-Roumiah Street is part of the city's growing hub of trendy restaurants and cafes. As soon as you step inside, you will be instantly transported to a classic Egyptian street cafe, the kind you would find in the bustling alleys of Cairo or Alexandria: Picture neighbors gathered around a table, sipping black tea or coffee, playing cards, debating life, and maybe even having a good old-fashioned 'friendly argument.' The cafe's black-themed aesthetic is effortlessly cool. Vintage wooden chairs and outdoor seating let you enjoy the evening breeze while listening to the legendary tunes of Abdel Halim Hafez, Umm Kulthum, and Farid Al-Atrash. If you prefer a little sunlight, the balcony seating gives you a cozy indoor experience with a perfect street view. Layali October serves up some of the most authentic Egyptian flavors in Madinah. Their signature chay talgimah is a must-try, a strong black tea loaded with sugar, meant to be slowly savored by true tea lovers. I went for the authentic Egyptian breakfast tray; it was a feast! The large round tray was filled with smaller steel dishes of foul (fava beans), hummus, labneh with cucumber slices, fresh arugula leaves, Egyptian white cheese, tangy pickles, black olives, crispy falafel, and shakshuka eggs. Served with warm white and brown bread, it was the perfect way to start the day. You may pair it with milk tea. For lighter options, the cafe offers sandwiches such as smoky tuna, grilled chicken, halloumi, and falafel wraps. It also serves iced lattes, Spanish lattes, cortados, lemonades, and more. If you want to try something sweet, you should go for their cream brulee; it is cold, creamy, and absolutely on point. For more details, visit @octobercafe_sa on Instagram.
Shafaq News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Chaqmaqchi: A legacy of music and lost archives
Shafaq News/ Once a gunsmith, Fathi Chaqmaqchi became a pioneer in Iraq's music industry, transforming his passion for sound into a leading record production enterprise that shaped the country's musical heritage. From Guns to Gramophones In 1918, Chaqmaqchi founded a trading company in Mosul, initially repairing Ottoman-era firearms. His passion for music, however, led him to amass a vast collection of records. By 1940, he had relocated to Baghdad, opening a shop in Haydar Khana near al-Mutanabbi Street. There, he established a recording studio for Iraqi singers, with records produced in Sweden and Greece under his company's name. 'In the 1940s, the company began producing shellac records before transitioning to vinyl in 1953,' Najem Abdullah Fathi Chaqmaqchi told Shafaq News. 'At its peak, it produced over 1,950 songs.' The studio, located in Baghdad's Bab al-Sharqi district, was one of Iraq's only two recording hubs, alongside the national radio station. Hub for Iraqi Music Chaqmaqchi Records played a pivotal role in documenting the golden age of Iraqi music, recording many of the country's most celebrated artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Its archives, once a key resource for Iraqi television, have since faded, but the company's influence remains embedded in Iraq's musical legacy. The Chaqmaqchi family recalls hosting legendary Arab artists such as Abdel Halim Hafez and Faiza Ahmed, who reciprocated the visits in Cairo. The company also held distribution rights for major Arab record labels, including Sout El-Fan, Cairophone, Sout Al-Qahira, and Lebanon's Baida Records. 'My grandfather built strong ties with Arab music giants, including composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab and singer Abdel Halim Hafez,' said Najem Chaqmaqchi. 'Hafez visited Iraq in the 1960s with his Diamond Orchestra, led by Ahmed Fouad Hassan, alongside artists like Faiza Ahmed, Karem Mahmoud, Sherifa Fadel, and dancer Nagwa Fouad.' During these visits, the company recorded their performances, including four songs by Faiza Ahmed composed by Iraqi musician Reda Ali, among them the hit Mayekfi Dema' Al-Ain. The label also documented performances by Syrian singers who were active in Baghdad's nightclub scene, including Nargis Shawqi, Nahawand, Rawiya, and Siham Rifqi. Theft of Musical Archive Chaqmaqchi Records suffered a significant loss when a major theft wiped out a large part of its archive, including rare recordings of Umm Kulthum and other Arab music icons. Stolen items also included photographs of Iraqi and Arab stars such as Nazem al-Ghazali, Zuhur Hussein, Wahida Khalil, Afifa Iskandar, Reda Ali, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Faiza Ahmed. Despite the loss, some recordings were salvaged from an off-site collection. Following the theft, Najem Chaqmaqchi relocated the company to Khan al-Mudallal in the Maidan district, closing its Bab al-Sharqi shop in 2009. Despite his age and declining health, he remains dedicated to preserving his family's musical legacy, welcoming visitors, and sharing stories of Iraq's artistic past.
