Hamza Namira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamza Namira
|
|
|---|---|
Namira performing at a concert in 2010
|
|
| Background information | |
| Native name |
حمزة نمرة
|
| Birth name | Hamza Namira |
| Born | 1980 (age 44–45) Diriyah, Saudi Arabia |
| Origin | Egypt |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels |
|
Hamza Namira (Arabic: حمزة نمرة) is a talented Egyptian singer-songwriter. He also plays many instruments, like the guitar and the oud. He has released several albums, including Dream With Me, Insan, Esmaani, Hateer Min Tany, and Mawlood Sanat 80.
Besides singing, Hamza Namira also creates and arranges music. He composed songs for his own albums and worked with other artists. For example, he helped arrange the song Ya Nabi Salam Alayka for Maher Zain. He also helped arrange a fun, cartoony song called Egyptian Jingle Bell's.
Hamza's music often talks about important social topics. Instead of just love songs, he focuses on themes like hope, feeling left out, changes between generations, and fairness. He also loves to bring back old cultural traditions through his music. Many people called him the "Voice of the Revolution" because his songs became very popular during the 25 January revolution in Egypt. He even took part in it himself. His song Dari Ya Alby was very popular online for a long time.
Contents
Hamza Namira's Music Journey
How Hamza Namira Started
Hamza Namira became interested in music when he was 17 years old. He started learning to play the guitar, keyboard, and oud. He enjoyed many different music styles, including Middle Eastern, Egyptian traditional, folk music, light rock, jazz, and Latin music.
From 1999 to 2004, Hamza played in a band led by Nabil Bakly from Alexandria. Even though Bakly wasn't very famous, Hamza said he was his biggest musical inspiration. After that, Hamza started his own band called "Nomaira" with some friends. He also studied business at Alexandria University and finished in 2003.
When Hamza released his first album, many college students became his fans. Some people even compared him to the famous Egyptian musician Sayed Darwish. Hamza included a cover of Darwish's song, Shedd El Hizam, on his album.
Becoming Famous
Hamza Namira's second album, Insan (meaning "Human"), came out in July 2011. This was around the time of the Arab spring, which he said helped him become more popular. He wanted his music to talk about the real issues young people faced, which other artists might avoid.
In February 2011, the British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Egypt. Hamza Namira was one of a few people invited to meet him. They talked for an hour about Egypt's future.
Hamza continued to focus on social and political issues in his music. In January 2014, he released a song called Wa Ollak Eh. This song encouraged people to reject violence and hatred after some big changes in Egypt.
The Remix TV Show
In 2016, Hamza Namira started his own weekly TV show called Remix (Arabic: ريمكس). It aired on the pan-Arab TV channel Al Araby. By December 2020, three seasons of the show had been released, with 34 episodes in total.
On the show, Hamza mixed different music styles with local lyrics. He combined genres like flamenco, electro, and Celtic with Arabic songs from different regions. He also used lyrics in other languages like Amazigh, Kurdish, and Armenian.
Each episode of Remix was about 20-30 minutes long. It explored the history of a folk song or popular tune from an Arab region, or sometimes from nearby places like Armenia. Hamza would interview the original artists, their families, or local experts. At the end of each episode, he would perform a new "remix" of the song. Many of these performances happened in London, where the TV channel is based and where Hamza lives. He often worked with other musicians on the show, like Lowkey and Babylone.
Hamza Namira's Music Albums
Studio Albums
- 2008: Ehlam Maaya (Dream With Me)
* Songs include: Morgiha, Ehlam Ma'aya, Konna Wehna Soghar, Fattah Shababeek 'Eeeneik, Shedd El Hizam, Ya Tair, Wana Fi Tareeqy, Al Taghreeba, Ya Rabb, Ehlam Ma'aya (Acoustic Version).
- 2011: Insan (A Human)
* Songs include: Insan, El-Midan, Hansa, Taghreeba II, Ya Muhawwin, Ewidooni, Ibn El-Watan, Balady Ya Balady, Ya Hanah!, Doori, Haser Hesarak, Ala Bab Allah, Wushoosh, Sout, Hila Hila Ya Matar, Esmy Masr.
- 2014: Esmaani (Listen Up)
* Songs include: Esmaani, Sabah El-Kheer, Ya Lala, Ay Kalam, Dalmet kda leeh, El-Atr, Tesmahy, Ya Sidi, La Tabki, Kollo Beya'addi, Ya Mazloum, Ma'Assalama.
- 2018: Hateer Min Tany (I'll Fly Again)
* Songs include: Dari Ya Alby, Sheekayyo, Hateer Min Tany, Wala Sohba Ahla, Bos Bos, Zahra, El Wad El Abeet, Dari Ya Alby (acoustic), Madadd, Shuwayyet Habayeb.
- 2020: Mawlood Sanat 80 (Born in the Year 80)
* Songs include: Mawlood Sanat 80, El Waqaa El Akheera, Esta'eezo, El Saa'a 6 Sabahan, Faady Shuwayya, Mesh Mohem, Yaaba, Ahkeelak Khofy, Ma'lesh, El Essa W Elli Kaan, Ghenwa Leek Min Alby, Feeh Naas.
Remix Series Songs
Hamza Namira's Remix series featured many unique song fusions. Here are some examples:
- Season 1 (2016):
* Inas Inas (Tell him, Tell him) with Reminisce Reggae Band, fusing Reggae with Moroccan folklore. * Ya Zareef Al Tool (O' Statuesque) with 47Soul, mixing Shamstep with Palestinian folklore. * Salma Ya Salama (Farewell O' Salama) with Wraggle Taggle Band, blending Irish music with Egyptian Zajal.
- Season 2 (2018):
* Khlili (My Beloved) with Génération Taragalte, using Tuareg music with Berber music. * Yamma Mwel El Hawa (What's with the Longing, Mother?) with Frankly Jazz, combining Jazz music with Palestinian folklore. * Nazani (Graceful) with Dante Ferrara, mixing Classical music with Armenian folklore.
Extended Plays (EPs)
- 2015: El Mesaharaty (Suhur Waker)
* This EP included songs like Zeina, Zahma, Ghorba, Kora, Helal, Manish Darwish, Wasfa, Iblees, Nabina, Taraweeh, El Omm, Napoleon, Khatma, Intizar, Istighfar, Akher 10 Ayam, Daqqet Tabla, Leilet AlQadr, Akher Leila.
Singles
Hamza Namira has also released many single songs:
- 2009: Asforein (Two Birds)
- 2011: Lessa El'adl Gheyab (Justice Still Lacking)
- 2012: Betheb Haga (You Love Something) - a soundtrack song.
- 2012: Kun 'Awna (Be of Help) - a soundtrack song.
- 2014: Wa Ollak Eh (What to Tell You)
- 2019: Hekayet Tefl (A Kid's Story)
- 2020: Featured in Emlaq (Giant) with Hassan El Shafei.
Hamza Namira's Music Videos
- 2008: Dream with Me (Ehlam Ma'aya)
- 2009: Two Birds (Asforeen)
- 2010: O Israel (Ya Israeel), I'm the Egyptian (Ana El-Masri)
- 2011: Human (Insan), Hila Hila ya Matar (Come Down O' Rain), Mawaweel
- 2013: The Square (El-Midan)
- 2014: What to Tell You (Wa Ollak Eih)
- 2018: Dary ya Alby
- 2019: Hekayet Tefl (A Kid's Story)
- 2020: Mawlood sanat 80, Esta3izo
Hamza Namira's Views and Charity Work
His Beliefs
Hamza Namira has always spoken out for peace and fairness for all people. He has supported the idea of a free Palestine and has spoken about the importance of peace in the Middle East. He was also a strong supporter of the Arab Spring movements. For example, he named his song El Midan after Tahrir Square, which was important in the Egyptian revolution. He also dedicated his song Hila Hila Ya Matar to the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia. In 2019, he dedicated his song Hekayet Tefl to children who were Syrian refugees.
In November 2014, his songs were temporarily not played on Egyptian state radio. This happened because his music sometimes expressed strong opinions about the government. Hamza said that he was just sharing his thoughts, which he had the right to do. He also said he was not a politician or an activist, just a musician.
He has also stated that he is not connected to the Muslim Brotherhood group. He has shown support for the Egyptian Military in their efforts to keep peace in the Sinai insurgency. He also shared his sadness for Ahmed Mansi, an Egyptian colonel who died in a terrorist attack.
After living outside Egypt for several years, Hamza Namira returned to live and perform concerts there in September 2022.
Helping Others
Hamza Namira has used his music to help people in need. He joined a two-day tour in the UK with Human Appeal International. This tour raised money for medical equipment and training for over 10,000 medical workers in Egypt. In October 2014, he also performed in Vienna, Austria, for an event organized by Humanic Relief.
In 2019, Hamza released Hekayet Tefl with United Muslim Relief. This was part of a fundraiser to help children who were refugees from the Syrian Civil War in Jordan. The campaign raised about £E90,000 (Egyptian pounds).
