(Credits: Far Out / Mazzika Group)
Pyramids, oil, and the blistering sunshine: the history of Egypt and its culture as a nation is among the longest and most interesting of any country. Music has incredibly deep roots in the North African nation, going back centuries and influencing countless societies throughout history. However, in more recent times, Egypt and North Africa as a whole seem to have fallen off the cultural radar of many Western music fans, meaning that many people are missing out on the groundbreaking sounds of artists like Nagat El-Sagheera.
El-Sagheera is among the greatest Arabic artists the world has ever seen, certainly one of the most well-renowned singers to ever arise from Egypt. Born in 1938, she first began singing during her childhood, imitating her favourite singers, people like Umm Kulthum. Interestingly, it would not take El-Sagheera very long to make a name for herself as one of Cairo’s premier vocalists, and soon, she became a vitally important figure within the golden age of Egyptian music alongside Kulthum.
From the commencement of her professional career in 1943, El-Sagheera was firmly entrenched in the golden age of modern music in Egypt. Her distinctive and unique vocals became incredibly popular among the wider Arabic music scene. However, the singer was not content with sticking to the somewhat archaic stylings of 1940s and 1950s Egyptian singing. As she matured, so too did her passion for creativity and musical exploration, leading her down some truly brilliant paths.
Growing up, the house of El-Sagheera’s father, Mohammad Hosni, in Cairo had a reputation as ‘the home of the artists’, where countless prominent Arabic musicians would visit and stay. Hosni was also instrumental in fostering the musical talents of his children, none more so than El-Sagheera. The effect of this ‘home of artists’ was that the young vocalist was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles and influential figures, culminating in her own musical career embracing a plethora of different sounds and genres.
In 1980, after decades of perfecting her vocal performance and musical output, Nagat El-Sagheera finally achieved her magnum opus with the release of the album Eyoun El Alb. On the surface, the release is merely a four-track album on a fairly low-quality cassette, but upon listening, El-Sagheera is able to transport you to a vibrant new world, her voice imbued with something of a hypnotic and timeless quality. Featuring heavy influences of funk and even hints at disco, the record is something of a holy grail for collectors of Arabic groove.
Part of the album’s appeal comes from the incredible production by funk legend Hany Shenouda who, with his band Al Massrieen almost single-handedly established the Arabic disco movement. Both Shenouda and El-Sagheera are at their very best on this album, which is likely why it stills sounds so impactful over 40 years later.
Thankfully, Eyoun El Alb has since been remastered and reissued on vinyl by Wewantsounds in France, allowing a whole new audience to discover the unforgettable sounds of the Egyptian vocalist. Although she officially retired from singing and performance back in 2002, El-Sagheera appeared at the Joy Awards in Riyadh earlier this year, affirming the fact that her talent has never waned. Despite her retirement, her role in establishing modern music stylings and vocal performance in Egypt means that her work will likely never be forgotten.
