To talk about my chosen art piece I have to give a quick backstory about my life. In 2011, Egyptians started a revolution to demand the end of Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year presidency, which was notoriously marked by corruption and political oppression. I was 6 years old at the time and had no understanding of the political situation whatsoever. However what I saw was that in the span of a few days, our lives were completely turned upside down; we went from living a relatively normal life to hearing the sounds of gunshots, helicopters and protesters’ chants on a regular basis. My brothers and I weren’t allowed to leave our apartment for weeks because the streets weren’t safe anymore; protesters were sprayed with teargas and shot, buildings were bombed, innocent people were killed and a countrywide curfew was imposed. I recall going to bed every day in fear that things will only keep getting worse. It was during that time that I sought solace in music, but instead of listening to nursery rhymes like a normal 6 year old, I started listening to protest songs, even though I didn’t really understand their meaning. This was what sparked my passion for music.
A lot of protestors and underground artists made music to raise awareness about the situation and express their feelings during the revolution. As I grew up, I was mainly captivated by the narrative of the music, but there is one song in particular I felt deeply connected to and it’s what I chose to center my midterm paper around.
“Sout el Horeya” by Cairokee (The Voice of freedom) was one of the very first songs made during the revolution. I am not so sure why I am so attached to this song, but it always stirs a variety of feelings inside me. It’s been 13 years since the revolution but whenever I listen to this song, I get goosebumps and my heart rate elevates. I feel my lungs constrict and my throat close up. I feel rage and anger about all the brutality, oppression and discrimination Egyptians faced. I feel empowered and inspired that we have each other’s backs. I feel happy and proud that Egyptians were able to overrule the oppressor, but I also feel disappointed and heartbroken about all the hopes and dreams that were crushed and have faded into distant memories since then. We had so much hope for our future rulers and yet, the situation right now is considered worse than prior to the revolution and there’s nothing we can do about it. The song reminds me of all the fear, uncertainty and confusion I had as a kid during the revolution, it seemed like it was never ending, especially not understanding what was going on. It reminds me of how small and fragile I felt as a kid in Egypt at the time and how in a way, my life has been permanently affected by it. It seems so long ago and yet I remember it like it was yesterday. Listening to the song, I am reminded of the happiness and pride I saw in my parent’s eyes the day Hosni Mubarak stepped down, yet the song leaves me heavy-hearted for all the people that lost their lives fighting for a better future for our generation, and yet we still suffer. I’m always left feeling unsettled and queasy after listening to this one song. I am not sure if it is the lyrics, the videos, or the memories associated with it that hit me the most, but I am so moved by the song every time I hear it.