Egyptian folk singer Shaaban Abdul Rahim has signed a contract with the Kuwaiti producer and writer Mohammed Al Rashood to act in the new Kuwaiti comedy play “Al Khawaf” (The Coward). The play is currently being performed in Kuwait on the Al Zamarda theater sage, the London based Al Sharq Al Awsat reported.
Shaaban was chosen to participate in the play for his comical way of performing his songs that surely adds laughter to those who listen and watch him, and to introduce his talents to the people of Kuwait. Shaaban is one of the many Egyptian performers to be invited to participate in Kuwaiti shows, to add spice in the mixture of cultures. The play directed by Saudi Amer Al Humood, costars Mohammed Al Ajami and Zahra Arafat.
Well known for his "Anti-Israel" wave, Shaaban's song "Ana Bakrah Israel" (I hate Israel) recorded a hit last year in the market of Cairo and beyond, replacing the typical love songs that people used to listen to. Shaaban’s song "Habattal Al Sagayer" (I Will Quit Smoking) marked his debut in the music video, for the important message it delivered to his young listeners. The video, directed by Gamil Mghazi, was aired on several satellite TV channels, except Egypt's Channel One, which refuses to consider Shaaban as a 'talented person'.
Shaaban's sensational rise to fame, is an unusual Egyptian story. All the more so because he admits he can't even sing. As an ironer – a traditional profession for working-class Cairene men, who use an iron strapped to a shoe rather than the hand-held variety – Shaaban was known for singing while he worked. Over the years, he juggled his day job with an ever-expanding circuit of working-class venues.
By chance one of Egypt's leading television presenters heard his music and thought it would be fun to have someone "local" on her show. The singer rose to prominence after releasing a record called "I Hate Israel", which sold more than five million copies. But his soaring popularity has angered political and artistic leaders. A parliamentary debate brought the spectacle of Egypt's elected leaders spending hours debating Shaaban's ruinous influence on Egyptian society. Catchily subtitled "But I Love Amr Moussa", the ditty catapulted Shaaban into the consciousness of the entire Arab world.
The inspiration of "Ana Bakrah Israel" was sparked after the eruption of the Palestinian uprising (Intifada) in September 2000. His song emerged at a critical time where cultural, political, and social factors all came together in a timely fashion.
The song became so popular that Palestinian teenagers would play cassettes of the track near to Israeli army checkpoints then run away, leaving the annoyed soldiers listening to Shaaban's drone. After the record's success, Shaaban began to release hit after hit, building up such a following that some leading figures felt compelled to act against him.
Shaaban Abdel Rehim favors a wet-look perm and loud suits and who makes more than a dozen live appearances on television each week, and has had pre-recorded versions of his songs banned from the airwaves by the national censor. – Albawaba.com
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
