RIP Legendary Composer Ammar El Sherei Dies At 64

Ammar El Sherei has not moved to a better place. He will be missed by the working entertainers in Egypt and the audiences who have come to love the man and adore his work. Egypt's living legend and link to the past musical glory, the blind man who helped shape Egyptian music has passed away this morning at the age of 64. While Ammar made classical music, he has also dedicated some time for pop and the young voices he has come to appreciate.

He has been sick for a really long time, and last news item I read was that of the President of Egypt promising to pay for all his medical expenses. He passed way in AlSaffa Hospital after a long struggle with illness.

Among his many achievements for the past 30 years, composing music for more than 50 films, 150 TV dramas, 20 radio shows and 10 plays. His first piece was in 1975. But in 1980 he formed the first pop music band "Al-Asdiqa'a" that owned that era and helped define Arabic pop for many generations to come. Ammar also took interest in kids songs, he has made so many of them through out his career.

From 1991 to 2003 he was commissioned to be the musical director for the October victories celebrations -a huge deal in Egypt. He was also a professor at the Egypt Art academy where he has worked with students on their Masters and Doctorate degrees. His greatest gift was his vision which made up for his lack of sight. He went own to put some of the great and most defining musical pieces and soundtracks.

عمار الشريعي - ذكريات Ammar El-Sherei

Yara Nseir From Theater To Calling For Freedom

Yara Nseir is a Syrian activitst who was detained for handing out political leflets. She was jiled for 18 days and she was only released becasue she is Christian. She is a member of the oppostion and now she is based in Lebanon.

But before she was relased, her freinds made this clip calling for her realese. Yara used to run the Damscus theater company and sh was a force in bring the Arab capiutal of culutre to Damascus. Her stuggle presses on as she contuies her role in the oppostion by helping the activists on the ground.

This is a Fayrouz song, for Yara and for those who were robbed of their live.
Free Yara Nseir الحرية ل يارا نصير

A Show About Arabs, With No Arabs

The Arena Stage in Washington DC latest play is a take on the Arabian Nights, but it does not seem that the most famous Arab story or stories has no actual Arabic in it. It brings Islam and the culture of the Middle East to the art scene here in DC. This play like countless others have been adapted from "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night"

Watch this segment from the actual play and the interviews afterward with the audience. While the concept to bring this play to the stage is noble and might forgive the lack of Arabs in this tale, I feel that this might be another attempt of white washing, where white actor and actress fill in for Arab characters. There are however a list of the cast members who seem to come from different backgrounds and countries. That's a great attempt by the director Mary Zimmerman.

Maybe there are no actors in DC who are Arabs, maybe the company has no Arab talents to tab. Maybe Arabs do not enjoy this tale that is full of stereotypes and mis- characterizations that make is a lot harder to be an Arab in the West. I do know there are many Arabs in the DC area and many of them are talented enough to appear on this stage. I would love to see the show and judge for myself, but everything I read does not help me make up my mind.

"The Arabian Nights" at Arena Stage