The story of Mohamed Abdel Wahab, one of the pillars of Arabic and Egyptian music The origins of Mohamed Abdel Wahab Mohamed Abdel Wahab was born on March 13, 1902, in the Bab El-Sheriyah neighborhood of Cairo. His career began at a very young age, with his first performances dating back to the age of 7, and he began recording his songs at 13.

From 1933 to 1950, he devoted himself primarily to cinema, appearing in eight films during that period. In 1950, he decided to devote himself solely to music, becoming one of the most versatile artists in all of Egyptian music.

In addition to singing, he also wrote and arranged numerous works, significantly contributing to the success of artists such as Abdel Halim Hafez, with whom he developed a deep friendship. A stellar career Over the course of his long career, he contributed to the creation of over 1,820 songs, collaborating with stars such as Umm Kulthum, Nagat el Saghira and Fairouz, whom he first called “The Ambassador of Stars”, a nickname that later became an integral part of the Lebanese superstar.

Among his most celebrated works, it’s impossible not to mention “La Mosh Ana Elly Labky,” recently reinterpreted by Yasmine Hamdan, and “Libya, Libya, Libya,” the Libyan national anthem for years. The great maestro passed away following a heart attack on May 4, 1991, after having forever changed the entire landscape of Arab and Egyptian music.

Mohammed Abdel Wahab will be one of the protagonists of Medio Oriente e Dintorni’s ‘Guide’ to Egypt, due out on 25 January, so much so that this article was written for the occasion. Follow me on Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram, or subscribe to my Telegram channel or newsletter (released on the 7th of every month); you’ll find all the links in one place: here.

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