Acclaimed Egyptian singer Ahmed Adaweya passed away on Sunday, at the age of 79, after a long struggle with illness, leaving behind a huge legacy of Shaabi songs.
Despite the spread and fame that Adaweya achieved in the early seventies and his record-breaking cassette sales, was the subject of much criticism, especially by intellectuals at the time, who accused him of corrupting the general musical taste.
His music was even banned from the state radio.
Adweya’s first album, “El Sah El Dah Embo,” brought him both praise and criticism, with the singer himself stating that “The music that people attacked me for made me more successful.”
He cited the harsh reaction as evidence of his uniqueness, having chosen a different path than what was common at the time.
Amidst the backlash, there were those who praised him and his talent, such as Farid al-Atrash.
And Abdel-Halim Hafez even sang the song “El Sah El Dah Embo” at a wedding, and prompted Adaweya at the same party to perform his famous song “Khosara”.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
