Egypt announced the establishment of an annual Music Day on September 15, the anniversary of the death of the ‘People’s Artist’ Sayyed Darwish. During the opening of the 33rd Cairo Citadel International Festival for Music and Singing, the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henu, stated that this day was chosen to commemorate Sayyed Darwish, who renewed Egyptian music.

The Egyptian Music Day is proposed and organized by the National Center for Theater, Music, and Folk Arts. Each year on this day, the country celebrates its rich musical heritage, supports its cultural identity, and honors symbols who illuminated the art scene.

This initiative aims to enhance the status of Egyptian music as a vital part of national identity and a pillar of Egypt’s soft power. Various events and activities will take place across governorates, including an annual speech by a prominent figure in Egyptian music, similar to the World Theater Day, serving as a cultural and artistic message to society. The day also includes honoring a select group of music icons who enriched the artistic scene with their creativity and left lasting marks in Egypt’s artistic history.

Despite his early death in 1923 at the age of 31, Sayyed Darwish, born in Alexandria in 1892, left a diverse artistic legacy including songs, operettas, and theatrical works. He began by composing most works for theater troupes such as those of Naguib Al-Rihani, Ali Al-Kassar, and George Abyad. Historians gave him the title ‘People’s Artist’ after his death for his songs that expressed all social classes in Egypt. He also composed the Egyptian national anthem with lyrics by Younis Al-Qadi.

During the festival opening, which featured performances by stars of Arabic music and the band ‘Wust El Balad’, the Minister of Culture honored 12 creative figures who contributed to enriching the artistic scene in Egypt and the Arab world, including musician Hani Shenouda, oud player Hussein Saber, percussionist Mohsen Al-Sawwaf, and star Ihab Tawfik. The festival will continue until August 23.

The festival features concerts by artists such as Ali El Haggar, Medhat Saleh, Hisham Abbas, Khaled Selim, and others, along with Egyptian and international musical bands.

Critic Ahmed Saad El-Din noted that the Cairo Citadel Festival is eagerly awaited due to affordable tickets and spacious venue allowing large audiences, offering music and songs that satisfy all tastes and groups.