Sayed Mekawy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sayed Mekawy
Birth name	Sayed Mekawy
Born	May 8, 1927 Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo Egypt
Died	April 21, 1997, aged 70
Occupation(s)	Singer and Composer
Instruments	Oud

Sayed Mekawy (born May 8, 1927, died April 21, 1997) was a famous Egyptian singer and composer. He was loved across Egypt and many Arabic-speaking countries. Sayed Mekawy was special because he always stuck to his own style of music, even when new trends appeared. He is most famous for creating the character of "El-Missaharati" for radio with Fuad Haddad.

The Life of Sayed Mekawy

Sayed Mekawy was born in Cairo, Egypt, on May 8, 1927. His family lived in the Sayeda Zeinab area.

Early Life and Challenges

When Sayed Mekawy was young, he faced a big challenge. After his father passed away, he cried for many days. Eventually, he lost his eyesight. Even though he could not see, this did not stop him from learning. He studied the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. He even became a scholar at Al-Azhar, a very old and respected university in Cairo.

A Voice That Soared

Sayed Mekawy was trained to recite the Quran beautifully. This training helped him develop a powerful and unique singing voice. He often sang by himself, playing his Oud (a string instrument similar to a lute) at concerts. However, it was not just his solo singing that made him famous. He became known as one of the most talented composers of traditional Arabic music.

The Famous "El-Missaharati"

What truly made Sayed Mekawy famous was a special character he helped create. In 1951, he worked with a poet named Fuad Haddad. Together, they brought to life the unforgettable character of "al-Missaharati."

Who is El-Missaharati?

The Missaharati is a traditional person who walks through the streets during the holy month of Ramadan. Their job is to wake people up for their pre-dawn meal before they start fasting. Haddad wrote the words, and Mekawy composed the music for this character. The songs were played with the beat of a traditional drum called a "Tabla."

When "Al-Missaharati" was first heard on the radio, it became an instant hit. It made people feel proud of their Arab and Muslim culture. The Missaharati character spoke about the feelings, struggles, and dreams of many people at that time. Even forty years later, these songs still help people wake up for their meal during Ramadan.

Music for the People

Sayed Mekawy's music often connected deeply with his audience. He wrote songs about important everyday issues. These included economic, social, and political topics that mattered to ordinary people.

For example, he playfully criticized bureaucracy (too many rules and paperwork) in his song Al-lstemara Rakba Al-Humara (which means "The Questionnaire on a Donkey"). He also wrote patriotic songs like Ha'n hareb ("We Shall Fight") in 1956 and Al-Ard Bitetkalem Arabi ("The Land Speaks Arabic") after 1973. These songs showed his great pride in his country.

The "Big Night" Operetta

One of Sayed Mekawy's most important contributions was to Egyptian folk music. He composed the music for the famous operetta called El Leila El Kebira ("The Big Night"). The words for this operetta were written by the poet Salah Jahin.

This show was first made for radio. It described the last and most important night of a "Moulid," which is a festival celebrating a saint. Later, it was turned into a puppet theatre show and shown on television. It quickly became a huge success, loved by both children and adults.

Sayed Mekawy passed away on April 21, 1997. This was also the 11th anniversary of Salah Jahin's death. Mekawy used to say about Jahin, "We get along like 'Assal' with 'Tehina'" (molasses and sesame paste, which always go together). This showed how well they worked together.

Famous Works by Sayed Mekawy

• He composed over 100 religious songs.
• He wrote 30 compositions celebrating the Prophet's birthday, known as Moulid El-Nabi.
• The famous Al-Missaharati radio series.
• The song Ya Messaharni for the legendary singer Umm Kulthum.
• The music for the operetta El Leila El Kebira.
• Music for several television series.
• He wrote music for almost all popular singers of his time, except for Abdel Halim Hafez.
• He also acted in one film called El-Arous El-Saghira (The Little Bride).
• He composed music for the TV series Harun Al-Rashid, working with Mahmoud Al-Saadani and Salah Jahin.
• Some of his most popular songs include Nashid Al-Muqawma Al-Sha'biya (The Popular Resistance Anthem), Gana El-Fagr (Dawn is Upon Us), and Ommal Hafr El-Qanal (The Workers Who Dug the Canal).

See also

In Spanish: Sayed Mekawy para niños