Ibrahim Eissa: The Nightingale of the Nile Didn't Exceed the Limits of Influence in the Arab World

Egyptian artist Amr Diab - from his Instagram account 

Ibrahim Eissa Sparks Controversy: "Amr Diab is More Important Than Abdel Halim"

Following renowned musician Hani Mehanna's statement about artist Amr Diab, deeming him "not a singer," writer Ibrahim Eissa stirred controversy by asserting that the singer of "Nour El Ain" is more important than Abdel Halim Hafez.

During his podcast "Your Right to Know," Eissa described Amr Diab as a "universal phenomenon," highlighting his immense importance. He added, "Amr Diab is the third institution, alongside Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim, in the music industry; he is a musical phenomenon." He further stated, "He is far more important than Abdel Halim, and I know this statement might upset many people."

A Global Singer... and 175 International Songs

Issa believes that Amr Diab's importance lies in his "openness to contemporary music and its significant evolution," emphasizing that despite Abdel Halim Hafez's international connections, his performances in European cities like London, and the substantial state support he received, his influence remained largely confined to the Arab world, unlike Amr Diab.

Ibrahim Issa stated, "Amr Diab has over 175 songs sung in various languages. He even topped the charts in Greece with songs sung in Greek. Amr is a global phenomenon; he has songs in Russia, Japan, Korea, India, and is present all over the world. In Greece, he's known as the 'Singer of the Mediterranean.'"

Issa believes that Amr Diab is not truly appreciated by the Egyptian music scene, asserting that some consider genuine art to be limited to classical music. He added, "I worked on Amr Diab's experience because it's a unique and human experience that expresses Egypt and reflects its history."

Not Happy Despite His Success

The renowned writer pointed to Amr Diab's immense and impactful success, which he never exploited politically, adding, "He didn't use his fame and influence to mobilize the masses or sell dreams or illusions," considering this a point worthy of serious consideration.

Ibrahim Eissa believes the secret behind the success of the "Tamally Maak" singer, and its continuation for four decades, lies in his self-discipline, his keen sense of time, and his complete dedication to his work. In an unexpected statement, Eissa said that Amr Diab is not happy in his life, emphasizing that the reason is his constant feeling that there is something new he must offer and strive for.

It is worth noting that writer Ibrahim Eissa has finished his latest novel, "Amr... Where He Is Alone," which presents, for the first time, the life story of the Egyptian singer Amr Diab through a literary work that combines narrative fiction with historical, social, and artistic dimensions.

Issa spoke about the novel as representing an exceptional project, as he began by recording more than 16 hours of conversations with Amr Diab, in which he talked about his upbringing, his career and his artistic life, which Issa saw as something worth delving into the details of to find out how Amr Diab reached this exceptional position.