The Syndicate of Musical Professions in Egypt issued a decision banning 19 popular festival singers from working in the coming period, and withdrawing their annual singing permits.
The union’s decision, headed by artist Hani Shaker, came due to the lack of legalization of their conditions in the union during the last period, and until they passed the exams.
In an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, the official spokesman for the Syndicate of Musical Professions, Tariq Mortada, explained the background of the decision, saying: “In order to play your role as a singer, you must be a member of the Syndicate, and these are not members or affiliated with it, and we must control the rhythm of work and prevent Anyone can sing as long as they don’t meet the requirements.”
Mortada added: “This is a step by the Syndicate to save the Egyptian art and singing scene, and a serious attempt to block the back doors of those without talent who are tampering with the reputation of Egyptian art.”
The official spokesman for the Syndicate of Musical Professions noted that: “There is no profession that does not have its own syndicate, and whoever works in singing must follow the syndicate, whether by obtaining membership or a permit to practice the profession.”
Among the most prominent names that were included in the decision to ban singing, were Hamo Beka, Hassan Shakoush, Magdy Shatta, coriander, throat, Amr Haha, the high heel band, and Ahmed Qassem, famous for Philo.
Speaking about passing the exams, Mortada explained: “Whoever wants to be a member must submit his papers and pass the exams in which senior and artistic industry stars are judged. The committee alone is the one who chooses who is a member and who fails and does not deserve to join the union.”
Mortada continued, “Some of these singers applied to join the union, including Hama Beca, but he did not succeed and failed in the tests evaluated by the Technical Committee.”
Regarding the motives behind the decision, Alaa Salama, advisor to the Syndicate of Musical Professions in Egypt, confirmed that: “In recent years, we have been facing a great war against popular festivals, this color that cannot be the facade of Egyptian singing.”
And Salama added in his interview with “Sky News Arabia”: “During the last period, these singers were finding a large defense front for them, so the right decision was to subject them to proficiency tests and whoever succeeds in them is welcome to work according to the rules and laws regulating singing in Egypt.”
The professor at the Egyptian Conservatoire pointed out that: “Whoever does not join the syndicate is not allowed to sing. The matter is clear. What these singers offer is not the true Egyptian art form. We have important voices and colleges that produce distinguished voices every year. These are the ones who deserve presence and support.”
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