How the rise of cassette culture changed Egyptian music forever
What is the point of music? If an alien were to come to Earth today and discover this thing that we invest so much time, money and effort into, how would we justify its existence and our complete obsession with it? The truth is, there is no singular answer as to what the point of music is. Some would call it community, others communication, and then, for some, it is a way to express yourself using one of the world’s most limitless and creative art forms.
However, with the ability to express yourself in music also comes the ability to upset people. Censorship in sound has been an issue ever since it became easily accessible. There are constant conversations, debates and legal battles over what is ‘appropriate’ to listen to. Music in the past has been blamed for glorifying addiction, inciting violence and polluting the minds of the youth.
It’s something that is still discussed in Western culture; however, songs surrounding parties, sex and drugs can be heard on the radio pretty frequently. That’s not the case in Egypt, as constant issues around censorship continue to be a problem today.
“Stay here! If you walk away, I’ll call for you,” Hasson Shakosh sings on his 2019 hit ‘Bent el-Geran’. “You’re mine and I’m yours, we’re stuck together. If you leave me, I’ll hate my life. I’ll drown my sorrows in alcohol and smoke hashish”.
The song is one of infatuation and obsession, with lyrics where some people might focus on the unhealthy love that he sings about, whilst others focus on the consumption of alcohol. It was the lines surrounding alcohol that the Egyptian government considered too much, which led to them banning the song and all other forms of ‘mahraganat’ from being played in public places.
‘Mahragant’ refers to a form of Egyptian culture. It blends hypnotic folk rhythms, electronic synths, autotune rap and controversial lyrics together to make music that the masses enjoy. It has also been the epicentre of debates surrounding censorship in music in Egypt for some time now.
This is nothing new; people have struggled to get their songs played on the radio in Egypt since the ’70s. The Egyptian government put an onus on radio stations to help mould model citizens by elevating refined musicians. State-controlled media has never been an accessible channel for musicians who lean into expressionism; therefore, they have always had to find their own way. In the 21st century, that comes in the form of the internet, but the rise of cassettes in the ’70s allowed people in Egypt to continue speaking the truth in their songs and stopped uncensored expression from dying out completely.
The cassette allowed musicians to create their culture outside the state-controlled media. It meant that people could listen to music which was a better reflection of their reality, allowing them to connect with it better, which is arguably the whole point. The radio stations wouldn’t play the music, but the cassettes were inexpensive and could easily be distributed to those who wanted to hear it.
Andrew Simon, the author of ‘Media of the Masses: Cassette Culture in Modern Egypt’ commented on the rise of cassettes, saying, “Audiotapes and their users posed the single greatest obstacle to those tasked with securing the perimeters of public culture.”
What is the point of music? There isn’t one answer, but it should be uncensored and accessible. That can be harder in some places than others, and if a voice is suppressed for long enough, then it will be drowned out completely. The cassette changed Egyptian music forever as it allowed artists to continue writing about what they were passionate about and gave listeners insight into something outside of mainstream media. Without it, the current soundscape of Egyptian music might be very different.
