Ramy Essam

Ramy Essam’s music led him to become one of the lead figures at the Tahrir Square in Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution of Spring 2011. Several of Essam’s songs are based on slogans chanted at the Tahrir Square as the revolution evolved, slogans which, accompanied by Essam’s music, reached an ever broader audience, making them a powerful way of attacking ex President Mubarak’s regime without resorting to violence. The song “Irhal” (“Leave”) was written in a tent in the middle of Tahrir Square, and then performed before hundred thousands onlookers at the Square, before spreading worldwide through Youtube. It was later elected third most world changing song in history by Time Out. 

Ramy Essam was charged and tortured by Egyptian military in 2011 before fleeing to Malmö in 2014.

Essam in Rolling Stone magazine.

May 2015: Portrait and interview with Essam in Buzzfeed: Ramy Essam needs to stay famous so he doesnt get killed