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NILE NEW WAVE: How Egypt Forged a Revolutionary New Sound

Bandsplaining | December 21, 2025



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Despite being a vast region with a rich history, the pop culture of the Arab world is virtually unknown in The West. One might assume that religious conservatism is the culprit, hampering creativity, gender equality and commercialism. Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered that Egypt’s most celebrated singer is a lady who, over 60 years ago, captivated the nation with romantic and existential verses. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Egyptian composers and bands produced mindblowing jazz and rock fusions, infectious synthpop, and a new wave movement called “Al Jeel” that had the cultural establishment fuming. Please enjoy this brief but action-packed overview of what turned out to be an incredibly exciting country.

Songs featured in this video:
0:50 Love & Peace (فرقة الحب والسلام) – “Just a Coincidence”
1:29 Umm Kulthum – “Arak Assi Al-Dam”
2:09 Umm Kulthum – “Howa Saheeh El Hawa Ghallab”
4:15 Mohamed Abdel Wahab – “A Bullet In The Heart” Theme Music
4:22 Umm Kulthum – “The Days Passed”
4:37 Baligh Hamdi – “Ennai”
4:47 Baligh Hamdi – “Ghada”
5:13 NordVPN
6:13 Ahmed Adaweyah – “Zahma”
7:04 Ahmed Adaweyah – “El Sah El Dah Embo”
8:48 Ahmed Mounib – “Ya Waady Al Ayam”
9:24 Mohamed Mounir – “Al Kon Koloo Beydoor”
9:32 Mohamed Mounir – “Ashkee Lemeen”
10:00 Mohamed Mounir – “Shababeek”
11:20 Love & Peace (فرقة الحب والسلام) – “Just a Coincidence”
11:46 Love & Peace (فرقة الحب والسلام) – “Samra”
11:54 Love & Peace (فرقة الحب والسلام) – “Aadi”
12:23 Al Massrieen – “Mafatshi Leh”
13:07 Al Massrieen – “Sah”
14:46 Hamid El Shaeri – “Oyoun Houriyat”
15:02 Hamid El Shaeri – “Ayonha”
16:01 Ali Hemeida – “Lolaki”
16:44 Alaa Abdel khalek – “Nahar Hawana”
16:55 Amr Diab – “Ashoof Aneky”
17:07 Hanan – “Basma”

Check out reissues by Habibi Funk
Al Massrieen: https://habibifunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/habibi-funk-006-modern-music
Hamid Al Shaeri: https://habibifunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/habibi-funk-018-the-slam-years-1983-1988

Check out the AudiOz archive of rare Egyptian & Arabic music: https://www.instagram.com/audi.ozoz/

Playlist & Follow-up podcast coming soon!

Edited by @sedatephobe

Written by Bandsplaining

Comments

This post currently has 34 comments.

  1. @Bandsplaining

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Humbled by the supportive comments, everyone! I think it's helping. Also, please keep dropping your recommendations of other Egyptian or Arabic artists we missed, or that should check out. Follow-up podcast will be coming soon. Thanks again!!

  2. @zeusfriends

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Music industry in general is dying …. In the west in the east what you see around of music is an attempt from professional musician and producers to find new rythmes make success … but unfortunately the generative AI killed completely the industry … wide world by the way not only in Egypt … I am an Egyptian and à jazz fan and i discovered that best jazz blues singer now is enily blue and it is an AI … who why I bother try to discover talents and music while everything could be generated in my own home! …. So yes you tried but I am sorry wrong conclusions

  12. @madoaref

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Please don’t forget how the Egyptian rap scene fired up in 2018 and 2019, speak about red bull symphony concert with Marawan Pablo.. and wegz who got famous in the covid 19 phase where all genZ and millennials Egyptians listened to his music.

  14. @DelmiraVesna

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Love this video! You should do a series on Middle East! Yemen would be fascinating to explore- they got interesting music and culture! Plus, as usual, the Western media in its usual fashion only covers the negative side of it and demonises Yemeni people.

  15. @princessak1

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Waiting for part two :3 you should also go up to modern day in part two featuring the artists of this generation too, like massar egbari, cairokee, and even the Egyptian rap scene, there are a lot of artists popping up everyday now

  21. @aetataureate

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    It took me a few days, but this is a wonderful video that we ATE UP, I'd absolutely love for both a part 2 and more on other music markets like this! And I just became a patron as well. Your stuff has been a balm this year and a lot of fun.

  22. @sarahboctor5679

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    PART TWO PLEASEEEEE.

    Also, there is so much more worth exploring from the Levantine to Algeria/morocco/tunisian , Iraqi, Yemeni, Saudi, Kuwaiti, etc. we certainly all love our music

  24. @mahino420

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    adaweh was really hated during his time, my grandma loved his music but she had to hide the tapes from my grandpa cause he would get mad if he saw her listening to his music

  30. @ghadaamer6148

    December 21, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    I'm Egyptian myself, and I am impressed by the amount of effort put into this video to come out this good. First time I see English content covering our music history in such a fair way. Definitely will be waiting for part two. Keep up the amazing work!

Comments are closed.

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