MAHRGANAT MUSIC: Recognition vs. Altering Identity and Culture

• In Event: IMET, Law & Policy, Multicultural Studies & Research Divisions - Research Presentation (Virtual)
  In Paper Competition: Research Division - Research-in-Progress Presentation (Virtual)

Abstract

Mahraganat or electro mahragan is a genre of Egyptian electronic dance music. It's a combination of popular shaabi music played at weddings and electronic dance music. This new genre has become very popular lately in Egypt among different social classes despite numerous criticism. The paper in hand seeks to examine Mahraganat music. It seeks to examine the reason behind it's popularity and integration into the modern Egyptian culture and musical scene. What gratifications young Egyptians satisfy by listening to this genre. It also seeks to examine the women portrayal in such songs and how women portrayal are perceived. There are numerous facts taken into considerations such as how this genre was considered vulgar by some older and more conservative Egyptians causing a controversy in Egypt. This is because of the social status of the performers and fans, the controversial topics and style of lyrics, use of obscenities. Yet it has become very popular in Egypt in late years, not only among what may be called a low-status class but also among the upper Egyptian class where it's often played at Universities, nightclubs and public gatherings.
This paper uses 'Uses and gratification theory' to examine what young Egyptians are satisfying by listening to this genre. Quantitative survey is used in the form of questionnaire to investigate why is Mahraganat music became so popular in Egypt among different social class and the reasons behind it's integration in Egyptian.

Author

• Reham Taher Emam, American University in Cairo