Hamza Namira

Hamza Namira

Namira performing at a concert in 2010
Background information
Native name حمزة نمرة
Birth name Hamza Namira
Born

November 1980 (age 36)


Saudi Arabia

Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
Years active 1999–present
Labels Awakening
Associated acts Maher Zain, Mesut Kurtis, Raef Humood Alkhudher, Harris J

Hamza Namira (Arabic: حمزة نمرة‎‎; born November 1980) is an Egyptian singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He sings on Arabic modern culture, discussing relevant social and humanitarian issues through his songs and has released three albums; Dream With Me, "Insan", Esmaani and "El - Mesaharaty produced by Awakening Records.

Career

Beginnings

Namira has family origins from Mansoura, Egypt, he was born and grew up in Saudi Arabia until the age of 12 when his parents returned to Egypt. His father worked as a doctor and an amateur artist. He stayed in Alexandria to attend school and college.[1] Namira started to develop an interest in music when he was 17 years old, and he set about learning the guitar, keyboard, and ‘Oud. He also developed interests in several musical styles: Middle Eastern, Egyptian traditional and folk music, light rock, jazz, and Latin music. From 1999 until 2004, Namira played in a band headed by the Alexandrian artist Nabil Bakly and went on to form his own group. He composed his first songs and succeeded in getting a few like-minded friends together and established the band "Nomaira"[2]

Namira studied accounting at the University of Alexandria as he took Bakly's advice; to earn a large enough independent income to pursue his musical career without fear that he would have to one day choose between earning a living and compromising his values.[3]

Breakthrough success

In 2007, Namira signed with Awakening Records; the British-based Record label and released his debut album Ehlam Ma’aya (Dream With Me)in 2008. The album became an instant hit especially with university students, and reached the Top 10 list in Virgin Megastore. In the months following President Mubarak's resignation after 25 January Revolution, Namira emerged as a major public figure.[4]

Namira's second album, Insan [Human] was released in July 2011. It had 16 songs that touch on issues as diverse as ethnic relations, hypocrisy, the poor state of Egyptian education, and immigration. While the album is mainly traditional Egyptian pop music with lyrics in Egyptian colloquial Arabic, there are also a host of musical styles that reflect Namria's eclectic background and interests. Three songs on Insan are inspired by rock, one is inspired by jazz, and another incorporates funk, disco, and dance music.[5]

The Egyptian society has taken note of Namira's fame. His Twitter engagement is one of the highest in Egypt, breaking the top ten most popular accounts in the country. When British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Egypt on February 21, 2011 (only ten days after Mubarak left office), Namira was one of a select group of people invited to meet with him and to participate in a one-hour discussion about the future of Egypt.[6]

Namira held many concerts including at Library of Alexandria and at the American University in Cairo (AUC). He has also performed in many Arab countries.[7]

Namira said his main musical influence is Nabil Al Bakly; a relatively unknown musician, whose group Hamza joined from 2000 to 2001. Hamza Namira is being hailed as the "new Sayed Darwish[8] He is often compared to Mohamed Mounir and Ahmed Mounib.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Track list
2008 Ehlam Maaya (Dream With Me)
  1. Morgiha - Swing
  2. Ehlam Ma'aya - Dream With Me
  3. Konna Wehna Soghar - When We Were Young
  4. Fattah Shababik 'Eineek - Open Your Eyes
  5. Shedd El Hizam - Tighten Up Your Belt
  6. Ya Tair - O' Bird
  7. Wana Fi Tareeqy - While I Was Running
  8. Al Taghreeb - Alienation 1
  9. Ya Rabb - O' Lord
  10. Ehlam Ma'aya (Acoustic Version) - Dream With Me
2011 Insan (A Human)
  1. Insan - A Human
  2. El-Midan - The Square
  3. Hansa - I'll Forget
  4. Taghreeba II - Alienation 2
  5. Ya Muhawwin - O' Clement
  6. Ewidooni - Promise Me
  7. Ibn El-Watan - O' Son Of This Country!
  8. Balady Ya Balady - Homeland .. O' Homeland
  9. Ya Hanah! - Oh, How Lucky!
  10. Doori - Revolve Around
  11. Haser Hesarak - Besiege Your Siege
  12. Ala Bab Allah - Standing By Allah's Door
  13. Wushoosh - Faces
  14. Sout - Voice
  15. Hila Hila Ya Matr - Come Down O' Rain!
  16. Esmy Masr - My Name's Egypt
2014 Esmaani (Listen to Me)
  1. Esmaani - Listen To Me!
  2. Sabah El-Kheer - Good Morning
  3. Ya Lala
  4. Ay Kalam - Empty Words
  5. Dalmet kda leeh - Why It Darkened?
  6. El-Atr - The Train
  7. Tesmahy- Can You Please
  8. Ya Sidi - My Master
  9. La Tabki - Don't Cry
  10. Kolo Beya'addi - It All Pass
  11. Ya Mazloom - O' Oppressed One
  12. Ma3a EL-Salama - Farewell

Videography

Year Title
2008
  • Dream with Me (Ehlam Ma'aya)
2009
  • Two Birds (Asforeen)
2010
  • O Israel (Ya Israel)
  • I'm the Egyptian (Ana El-Masri)
2011
  • Human (Insan)
  • Hila Hila ya Matar
  • Mawaweel
2013
  • The Square (El-Midan)
2014
  • What to Tell You (Wa Ollak Eih)

Political views

Namira has taken part in 2011 protests at Tahrir Square, being claimed as one of its youth. In his patriotic song on "Insan" album; "El-Midan", Namira repeatedly tells his listeners to "Raise your head because you are Egyptian."[9][10]

In November 2014, his songs were banned from the military-controlled Egyptian state radio for "criticising the authorities" [11]

Philanthropy

Hamza Namira at Ottawa, Canada fundraiser concert (27 October 2013)

References

  1. ↑ "Hamza Namira Al'ashira Masa'an Part1". YouTube. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Foley, Sean. "The Artist of the Revolution: Hamza Namira, the Arab Spring, and the Dream of a Free Egypt". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Hamza Namira Al'ashira Masa'an Part1". YouTube. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/HamzaNamira/status/225689858901958656
  5. ↑ "Hamza Namira: Insan". Cairo360. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Watt, Nicholas (21 February 2011). "David Cameron arrives in Egypt to meet military rulers". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Hamza Namira to perform latest hits at Al-Azhar Park". Ahram Online. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Hamza Namira's "Dream With Me" restores Sayed Darwish". almustaqbal. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Foley, Sean. "The Artist of the Revolution: Hamza Namira, the Arab Spring, and the Dream of a Free Egypt". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hamza Namira interview with Al Arabiya". YouTube. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Egypt radio bans popular singer Hamza Namira for 'critical' songs". BBC News. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Send A Little Hope Concert - London 14th April 2012". YouTube. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Elkamel, Sara (27 January 2013). "Hamza Namira performs in UK fundraiser for medical equipment for Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Art Alert: Egyptian musician Hamza Namira to perform in two UK concerts". Ahram Online. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  15. ↑ http://namiraincanada.ca/
  16. ↑ "Opferfest-Veranstaltung". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.