EGYPT: Egyptian Christian singer Makram al-Minawi performs Islamic Maddah songs, preaches co-existence between Christians and Muslims

Record ID: 437852

  • Title: EGYPT: Egyptian Christian singer Makram al-Minawi performs Islamic Maddah songs, preaches co-existence between Christians and Muslims
  • Date: 12th February 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF CHRISTIAN SINGER OF ISLAMIC SONGS MAKRAM AL-MINAWI SINGING WITH HIS BAND/ VERSES FROM THE KORAN ON THE WALL
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAE0J24MQGBH2H68KZG59RWC0C0
  • Story Text: Makram al-Minawi is one of a small number of Christian "Maddah" singers, who perform religious songs, including Islamic songs of praise. Al-Minawi, who hails from the small, Christian-majority village of Kafr Beni Ahmed near al-Minya, says he sees no contradiction singing about a faith he does not follow.
    There is nothing unusual about Makram al-Minawi's profession. As a "Maddah", or singer of religious songs, al-Minawi has gained a strong following performing at weddings and other parties in villages around the southern Egyptian city of al-Minya.
    What is unusual is that al-Minawi, a Coptic Christian, includes in his repertoire songs of praise about Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.
    Makram al-Minawi, who hails from the small, Christian-majority village of Kafr Beni Ahmed near al-Minya, sees no contradiction singing about a faith he does not follow. However, others are not always so generous and tolerant.
    Egypt has seen occasional sectarian violence between the mostly Sunni Muslim majority and members of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christian minority, who make up about ten percent of the population. Egypt's Copts have also complained of discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority.
    But members of both faiths have criticised al-Minawi's artistic predilections.
    But al-Minawi, who left school to begin singing at age 14 year, says his music is an attempt to foster understanding.
    "I want to plant love between one and the other. I want to acknowledge that there is no difference between Muslims and Christians," he said.
    Singing about Islam has required al-Minawi to study up on Islamic philosophy and also to memorise sections of the Quran. The knowledge al-Minawi has gained in doing so has led him to conclude that there are no real differences between Muslims and Christians.
    But not everyone agrees, and al-Minawi recalls an incident when he tried to enter a mosque.
    "I entered the mosque and I didn't enter with any purpose, just to relax a bit and sit in the shade. Then the mosque's cleaner stopped me and said 'don't go in'. I asked him, 'why?' He said again, 'don't enter'. He said, 'because you are a Christian'. So I told him then you should write above the door, 'Copts are not allowed to enter'."
    There are no rules preventing non-Muslims from entering mosques in Egypt, and it is very unusual for them to be turned away if they wish to visit one.
    Al-Minawi says that in his opinion, Egyptians should stand together collectively against challenges from the outside. The problems between the two faiths are based on misunderstandings, says al-Minawi, who is fond of noting the similarities between Muslim and Christian prayers.
    In the salon where al-Minawi performs with his band, verses from the Koran hang from the same wall that is decorated with a portrait of the Virgin Mary and Illustrations of Jesus Christ.
    Al-Minawi says that the criticism of his unusual career choice does not deter him.
    "I have been attacked from all sides. But I believe in what I'm doing and leave me on my path. I don't care," he said.
    While al-Minawi may have incurred some criticism, he has also found no small measure of success after several decades perfecting his art - not only is he in great demand around al-Minya, but tapes of his songs are available at shops in Cairo's famous al-Hussein district.
    The three sons of Makram al-Minawi have taken on their father's profession, and also sing both Muslim and Christian songs of praise.
    Maher al-Minawi is dismissive of today's popular music in Egypt and of the often racy music videos that accompany it. But he says he wouldn't be opposed to making a music video himself so long as it brought people together.
    "I could do a video clip, gathering Christians and Muslims together. It would be beautiful and everyone would love it," he said.
    Makram al-Minawi and his sons are in heavy demand for weddings around Minya, and to get into al-Minawi's diary requires booking far in advance.
    Taher, a Muslim who came to al-Minawi's office to hire him to sing at his wedding, says it is al-Minawi's talent, rather than his religion that matters to him.
    "Makram is a great artist, as good as the artists from Cairo, maybe even better, in my opinion. Here there is nothing called 'Christian' or 'Muslim'," he said.
    While al-Minawi does not address what, if any, tenets of Islam he disputes, he does concede that he considers Mohammed to be one of the Prophets.
    He also considers it his obligation as a Meddah, particularly one who also sings about Islam, to refrain from drinking alcohol and generally maintaining a clean lifestyle.
    His wife Samira says her husband wants to make all sides happy.
    "There is no difference between Christians and Muslims. He is half Christian and half Muslim - in order to make both sides happy, I'm making things simple. I'm doing this with good intentions, and there is no anger. I had faced this many times," she said.
    Al-Minawi says he has written over 80 original songs, and that some combine both Christian and Muslim themes. He says that he switched to singing religious songs because although he could perhaps make a better living singing love songs, they simply hold no inspiration for him.
    Al-Minawi is a popular figure in Kafr Beni Ahmed, and is greeted as something of a celebrity when he walks about its narrow streets.
    In a time where sectarian differences are causing upheaval in the region, al-Minawi has been using his talents to preach co-existence for some time. And his success is a fitting reward for a man who has chosen an unusual and somewhat controversial career path.
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