| Cheikh Imam a perdu la vue dès la petite enfance. Son art, inspiré à ses débuts des psalmodies du Coran, est à la fois mystique et révolutionnaire. En compagnie d'Ahmad Fouad Negm qui lui compose des textes, il est devenu en Egypte et dans le monde arabe, le "symbole d'un art rebelle à toute forme de récupération". Les deux artistes ont participé à toutes les manifestations sociales et estudiantines en Egypte, et ont payé leurs engagements d'innombrables peines de prison. L'histoire de Cheikh Imam est, en elle-même, dramatique ; mais sa musique est plus forte encore que son destin. Ce "Che Guevara soufi" chante "des choix politiques ou des oeuvres, mais pas des noms". Ses interviews sont d'une profondeur rare. Le souvenir des persécutions dont il a fait l'objet, le récit de tel épisode particulièrement épique de sa lutte, se traduit souvent dans des chansons ou se mêlent satire, ironie sur la dictature corrompue et espoirs de démocratie, dans des lendemains meilleurs pour tout un peuple dont il est, à sa manière, le porte-parole. |
| Cheikh Imam became blind during his early childhood. His art, inspired by Koranic psalms, is both mystic and revolutionary. He also composed his works with the poet Ahmad Fouad Negm, and together they became in Egypt and the arab world the symbol of an art that was not afraid to speak the truth. The two artists were also part of social and student demonstrations and paid their commitment with many prison sentences. The story of Cheikh imam is dramatic but his music is even stronger than his faith. A kind of “Soufi Che Guevara”, he illustrates his political views through poetry and symbolism without pointing the finger or using names. Recorded interviews demonstrate his outstanding mind. The remembrance of the persecutions he has been part of, the story of a particularly epic part of his life, are the subjects of his songs where satire and irony are mixed with his views on dictatorship and hopes in democracy. He’s one of the true musical spokesmen of the Arab world. |