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Sayed Mekawy
Sayed Mekawy(1927–1997) (Arabic:سيد
مكاوي ) , Egyptian
singer and composer Mekawy was
born in Cairo Sayeda Zeinab district of Al-Nasriya on May 8, 1927. Sayed Mekawy,
became popular in Egypt and the Arab world; his music has become part of Arab
heritage. The great Egyptian composer and singer Sayed Mekawi died on April
21, 1997, aged 70. Throughout
his life, he remained undaunted by modern innovations and the attempts of
rivals to produce another type of music. When his
father died, Mekawy cried for days. Later, the pain eased, but the tears kept
flowing. Doctors were powerless either to diagnose his condition or to stop
the tears. One day, however, he could no longer see. This affliction did not
prevent him from learning the Qur'an or becoming an Azharite scholar. Having been
trained in the art of reciting the Qur'an, Mekawy's voice could soar, gruff
but powerful, to thrill his listeners. He sang solo using his lute at
numerous concerts, though this is not what brought him fame, or confirmed his
status as one of the most gifted and popular composers of oriental music. What brought
him fame, however, was the unforgettable character of al-Missaharati, the man
who announces the pre-dawn meal during the month of Ramadan, that he and Fuad
Haddad created in 1951. A popular figure during the holy month, the
Missaharati was given new life by Haddad's words and Mekawy's music. Composed
to the beat of the traditional "Tabla" (Drum), it stirs up feelings
of patriotism, nationalism and pride in Arab Muslim culture. The Missaharati
represented an entire generation, expressing its suffering, frustrations and
dreams. When Al-Missaharati was aired for the first time on the radio, it
instantly became a symbol of national aspirations. Forty years later, it
continues to help the faithful keep vigil, exhorting Muslims to rise for
their pre-dawn meal. Touching his
audience to the quick, Mekawy in fact, touched on all the important economic,
social, intellectual and political issues directly concerning the less
privileged classes. Critical of any national shortcoming, he was prompt to
deride bureaucracy in his song Al-lstemara Rakba Al-Humara ("The
Questionnaire on a Donkey"). But Ha'n hareb ("We Shall
Fight"), which came out in 1956, and Al-Ard Bitetkalem Arabi ("The
land Speaks Arabic"), composed after 1973, were also true expressions of
pride in his country. More than
anything, however, Mekawi will be remembered for his contribution to Egyptian
folklor music and especially the operetta Al-Leila Al-Kebira ("The Big
Night"), for which he wrote the music to the words of poet Salah Jahin.
First conceived for the radio, describing the last and most important night
of the "Moulid", a saint's festival, it was later adapted for the puppet
theatre and aired on television, becoming an instant and lasting success with
children and grown-ups alike. Mekawy died
on the 11th anniversary of Salah Jahin's death. Of Salah Jahin, he used to
say, "We get along like "Assal" with "Tehina", (molasses
and sesame paste which always go together). His works include
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