Pioneer musician Abdel-Wahab commemorated
The Mohamed Abdel Wahab Museum showcases his his life journey through several halls. Memory Hall is divided into two pavilions: the first sheds light on his childhood, upbringing, early steps in the world of Arab music and Egyptian cinema, and his relationships with writers and artists, as well as the awards and honours he received. The second includes the content of several rooms from his house, including his bedroom, his home office, a collection of his favourite pieces of furniture, and some personal belongings that his widow Nahla al-Qudsi, donated to the Cairo Opera House.
The museum also includes a cinema hall that features all the films he acted in, and offers special screenings for visitors. There is also a listening and watching hall that displays a complete library of his works, including music, songs, and photo albums with public figures and artists, which visitors can browse through an an electronic application on touch screens.
As to the second museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, it is dedicated to display rare musical instruments. It includes a collection of ancient instruments that were discovered during the restoration of the museum building; they were finely renovated and are displayed according to their types. There are string, wind, and tempo instruments, with information tags next to each giving a brief about it.
On display as well are rare instruments, such as the three-quarter tone piano, designated specially for Eastern compositions; a Japanese koto; an Indian sitar, and the metal mandolin that was played by Mohamed Abdel-Wahab in the song Aashiq al Rouh (Lover of the Soul) from his film Ghazal al-Banat.
Among the many events dedicated to commemorate Abdel-Wahab's birth anniversary, the Cairo Opera House holds several Arab music concerts that feature a number of his timeless works including Wahabiyatconcert at the Arab Music Institute.
Who is Abdel-Wahab?
Mohamed Abdel-Wahab (1902 – 1991), was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer, actor, and composer. He attained huge popularity and is best known for his romantic and Egyptian patriotic songs. At a later stage in his life, his compositions featured mixes of Egyptian, Arab, and western music.
He was born in Cairo in a neighbourhood called Bab al-Sheriyah, which today hosts a statue of him. He began his singing career at an early age and made his first public performances at age seven at local productions. He was 13 when he made his first recording.
Abdel-Wahab composed more than 1820 songs and starred in seven films. Abdel-Wahab is considered to be one of the most innovative Egyptian musicians of all time, laying the foundation for a new era of Egyptian music with his use of non-local rhythms and refined oud playing.
Watani International
9 March 2025
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