Massar Egbari is an Oriental Rock band from Egypt. Check out their profile on triplew.me's Makshoof Music.
MASSAR EGBARI means “Compulsory Detour”, which resembles the society we live in today. The Band specifically chose this title as it explains how people are expected, or rather, dictated to act and behave in certain manners. Both, in title and in spirit, the band pokes fun at typical social trends and ridicules impositions, which is clearly reflected in their music and chosen lyrics.
The sarcastic name was created since the band members felt that the society is trying to imply its power and stereotypical ideologies over people thorough out their entire life leaving no space for personal creation and innovation.
Massar Egbari presents music and songs dealing with, but are not limited to social problems. Love is not their main concern although it is sometimes reflected in their music. Through the members’ different musical backgrounds, the band is presenting a kind of Alternative Egyptian Music, mixing rock, jazz and blues with some Oriental music.
Their music is not classified as merely western or oriental; it is a fusion of both styles! In one song they take you up to the western beat and lead you back to the oriental taste, something that satisfies different preferences.
Massar Egbari in the International Music Scene:
- In 2007, Massar Egbari participated in 2 international festivals: Malta Arts Festival in Valletta-Malta and in Barisa Rock Festival in Istanbul – Turkey
- In 2008, the band participated in the International Biennale of young artist from Europe and the Mediterranean (Puglia 2008) in Bari – Italy.
- In 2009, Massar Egbari was invited as a special guest in the International Biennale of young artists from Europe and the Mediterranean in Skopje, FYROM, and they performed 6 times on different stages in the city. The band also participated in Adriatico Mediterraneo Festival in Ancona (Italy) in 2009.
- In 2010, Massar Egbari performed at the old Fort in Zanzibar (Tanzania) with 40 bands from other African countries in Sauti Za Busara Music Festival. The Festival is considered one of the most important music festivals in East Africa.
- By the end of 2010, the band started to have gigs in the Arab world as they performed at Dubai International Film Festival in December 2010.
- The band started to tour again few months after the Egyptian revolution as it performed in the Arab Film Festival in Amsterdam , Beirut Spring Festival in Lebanon , Tlemcen Cultural Festival in Algeria , and at The Kennedy Center For Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Massar Egbari Awards:
- Massar Egbari won the Prize for The Best Band Performing Original Songs in Arabic in the first Occidental Music & Songs Competition held in Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2006.
- Ayman Massoud won the prize for the Best Keyboard Player in the same competition.
- Ahmed Hafez won the prize for the best Bassist in the Second Occidental Music & Songs Competition in 2007.
- Hany El Dakkak won the prize for the best Vocalist in the same competition.
- Massar Egbari also won a Special Award in Other Songs Contest 2005 organized by the Euromed Café. 104 songs from more than 20 Mediterranean countries participated in the contest and the band's song “Kol El Khal'” (written by Salah Jaheen and composed by Ayman Massoud) was selected to obtain a Special Recognition Award.
- In 2006, Massar Egbari’s song “Taam El Byout” (written by Abdel Rehim Mansour and composed by Ayman Massoud) was selected to obtain a special award in other Songs Contest. And the song maintained the most listened song on the Euromed café website for months.
Special Recognition of 2011:
Massar Egbari has been designated by the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ms. Irina Bokova for the attribution of the title of “Young artist for inter-cultural dialogue between the Arab and Western worlds” for their outstanding contribution to foster exchange and Dialogue between Arabs and the Western Culture through Art. They will be bestowed this title in an official ceremony in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 12 April 2011 in the presence on International Media.
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