Hamza Namira

Beginnings

Namira has family origins from Mansoura, Egypt, he was born and grew up in Saudi Arabia until the age of 12 when his parents returned to Egypt. His father worked as a doctor and an amateur artist. He stayed in Alexandria to attend school and college. Namira started to develop an interest in music when he was 17 years old, and he set about learning the guitar, keyboard, and ‘Oud. He also developed interests in several musical styles: Middle Eastern, Egyptian traditional and folk music, light rock, jazz, and Latin music. From 1999 until 2004, Namira played in a band headed by the Alexandrian artist Nabil Bakly and went on to form his own group. He composed his first songs and succeeded in getting a few like-minded friends together and established the band "Nomaira".

Namira studied accounting at the University of Alexandria as he took Bakly's advice; to earn a large enough independent income to pursue his musical career without fear that he would have to one day choose between earning a living and compromising his values.

Breakthrough success

In 2007, Namira signed with Awakening Records; the British-based Record label and released his debut album Ehlam Ma’aya (Dream With Me) in 2008. The album became an instant hit especially with university students, and reached the Top 10 list in Virgin Megastore. In the months following President Mubarak's resignation after 25 January Revolution, Namira emerged as a major public figure.

Namira's second album, Insan [Human] was released in July 2011. It had 16 songs that touch on issues as diverse as ethnic relations, hypocrisy, the poor state of Egyptian education, and immigration. While the album is mainly traditional Egyptian pop music with lyrics in Egyptian colloquial Arabic, there are also a host of musical styles that reflect Namira's eclectic background and interests. Three songs on Insan are inspired by rock, one is inspired by jazz, and another incorporates funk, disco, and dance music.

The Egyptian society has taken note of Namira's fame. His Twitter engagement is one of the highest in Egypt, breaking the top ten most popular accounts in the country. When British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Egypt on February 21, 2011 (only ten days after Mubarak left office), Namira was one of a select group of people invited to meet with him and to participate in a one-hour discussion about the future of Egypt.

Namira held many concerts including at Library of Alexandria and at the American University in Cairo (AUC). He has also performed in many Arab countries.

Namira said his main musical influence is Nabil Al Bakly; a relatively unknown musician, whose group Hamza joined from 2000 to 2001. Hamza Namira is being hailed as the "new Sayed Darwish". He is often compared to Mohamed Mounir and Ahmed Mounib.

Political views

Namira has taken part in 2011 protests at Tahrir Square, being claimed as one of its youth. In his patriotic song on "Insan" album; "El-Midan", Namira repeatedly tells his listeners to "Raise your head because you are Egyptian."

In November 2014, his songs were banned from the military-controlled Egyptian state radio for "criticising the authorities"

Philanthropy