Ramy Essam
Acting
Biography
Ramy Essam (born 1987, Mansoura, Egypt) is an Egyptian hard-rock musician who became a symbol of resistance during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Performing in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, he used music to amplify calls for freedom and dignity across the Arab Spring and later on international stages. His protest song “Irhal” (“Leave”), demanding President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation, spread widely via YouTube and became known as the revolution’s anthem. In 2011, Time Out ranked it the third most world-changing song of all time. That same year, Essam was arrested and tortured when the army cleared Tahrir Square. Essam’s debut album, Manshourat (2011–2012), captured chants, emotions, and daily realities of the uprising, becoming a landmark in modern Egyptian protest music. In 2014, facing repression at home, he received a two-year safe-city residency in Malmö, Sweden—the first musician granted the program—where he began formal music study and continued his activism abroad. That year he also appeared on Songs from a Stolen Spring, collaborating across cultures on protest music. His later albums expanded his sound and themes: Mamnou‘ (2015) blended rock with poetry from prominent Egyptian writers; Resala Ela Magles El Amn (2017), released under Universal Music MENA, delivered a politically charged rock message; and Metgharabin (2023) fused rock with Egyptian folk and experimental elements to explore exile, identity, and censorship. On January 25, 2025, Essam released “Ra7 Nelte2i,” with lyrics by imprisoned poet Galal El-Beheiry. Throughout his career, Essam has remained a prominent musical voice for resistance, memory, and human rights.
Known For
No description available.
Kulturzeit
På spåret is a popular Swedish TV game show broadcast on SVT since September 5, 1987. The show, which is intended to be humorous yet educational, has remained one of the most popular TV shows in Sweden, attracting an average of 2,150,000 viewers during the 2007 season. The all-time record was set in March 1990, when 3.7 million people tuned in to see the show. This means that nearly every second Swede saw the game show. På spåret is an original format developed by Ingvar Oldsberg for SVT, and he hosted the show for many years. Author and tennis legend Björn Hellberg was promoted from contestant to permanent Oldsberg sidekick in 1995 after winning for four straight seasons. Famous gourmet, restaurant-owner, and former contestant Carl-Jan Grankvist sat in for Hellberg during the 2004 season. In 2009, after 21 years, Oldsberg left and Kristian Luuk took over as the host. Björn Hellberg too decided to leave and was replaced with Fredrik Lindström.
På spåret
10 filmmakers provide 10 separate stories focusing on the 18 days of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Ten stories they have experienced, heard, or imagined.
18 Days
The Square looks at the hard realities faced day-to-day by people working to build Egypt’s new democracy. Cairo’s Tahrir Square is the heart and soul of the film, which follows several young activists. Armed with values, determination, music, humor, an abundance of social media, and sheer obstinacy, they know that the thorny path to democracy only began with Hosni Mubarak’s fall. The life-and-death struggle between the people and the power of the state is still playing out.
The Square
The leaders of Egypt's 2011 revolution discuss the fire, courage and resiliency behind their movement to remove President Hosni Mubarak from office.
Uprising
Months after Hosni Mubarak stepped down, Egyptians country-wide seem determined to maintain the insurgency until their demands are met.
Tahrir 2011 : The Good and The bad and The Politician
Rock artist and human rights defender Ramy Essam's journey from the hub of the Egyptian revolution to the international stage has included viral hits and awards as well as moments of struggle. As the voice of the streets of his country, Essam stands for social justice and human rights worldwide.
Ramy Essam - Millennium Stage
ART WAR is the story of young, creative Egyptians of the Arab Spring who, through the means of graffiti murals, rebellious music, art, and enlightenment, try to salvage their revolution from going under.
Art War
Keizer is a street artist educating the masses about the latest corruption. He fears self-censorship is yet to be undone as "people have created their own prisons." Elsewhere in Cairo, street art is burgeoning in a joyful expression of freedom. "It's the first time that I walk past things like these that express happiness and contentment", an old man explains, smiling. Karima Mansour is a choreographer whose dance expresses the complexities of a society in which there are veiled women, "but we also have women like me. I am a dancer working with the body." She now wants access to state-run theatres, something forbidden to independent artists under the old regime.
The Noise of Cairo
Ramy Essam Band Live Stream: 10th Anniversary of Egyptian Revolution Sunday 24th of January 2021 at 8 pm (CET) Band: Ramy Essam (vcl/gtr), Samuli Kivelä (gtr), Jesper Anastasiadis (bass), Aleksi Kinnunen (drs) Part of #RiskAndRebellion online symposium by Artists At Risk. https://artistsatrisk.org/riskandrebellion-programme-24th-of-januari-2021/?lang=en Setlist 1. Taty Taty 2. Fe Aahd El Zalem 3. Ed7ako Ya Sawra 4. Ana El Sa7y 5. Youm 25 6. E'eish, Horreya, A'adala'h Igtima'iya 7. Ya Askary 8. El ga7sh Wel 7omar 9. Mahnash Mn Dol 10. Mamnou3 11. Resala Ela Magles El Amn 12. Edrabni 13. Saura 14. Eshhad Ya Zaman 15. Ana El Shahid 16. Sa2alony El Nony 17. UA07 18. El Amiis El Karoo 19. Fe 3ahd El 3ars 20. Foul Caviar 21. El Horreya Lel Geda’an 22. Ya Habayebna 23. Lessa Bahinlha 24. Bauabet Taftish 25. No2at No2at 26. A7A 27. Hela Hela 28. Daboura W Short W Cap 29. 7arara 30. Segn Bel Alwan