"Balaha" by singer Ramy Essam
title: أغنية "بلحة" لرامي عصام
subject: Song
description: This satirical song was released in February 2018, criticising the 4-year rule of President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi, telling him that 'enough is enough'. Sisi is referred to as "balaha", which literally means 'date' (as in the fruit) but also refers to the name of a character in a famous Egyptian film of the 1980s. The character, played by actor Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, was committed to a psychiatric hospital because he suffered from a mental disorder and illusions of grandeur.
description: Ramy Essam shot to fame during the 18 days of the Tahrir Square sit-in in 2011, with his song 'Irhal' ('Leave'). Following the military coup of 2013, Essam was forced to leave Egypt.
description: Seven Egyptians were arrested for their association or perceived association with the song, accused of spreading false news and joining a terrorist organization. They included the writer of the song's lyrics (Galal El Behairy), the video director (Shady Habash) and even a former band member, Ramy Sidky, who did not even contribute to the song. Shady Habash died in prison on 1 May 2020.
creator: Ramy Essam
source: https://youtu.be/FjBd_rvZr4U
publisher: YouTube
contributor: Directed by Shady Habash, Lyrics by Galal El Behairy
rights: Standard YouTube Licence
relation: https://egyptrevolution2011.ac.uk/items/show/2
relation: https://egyptrevolution2011.ac.uk/items/show/24
relation: https://egyptrevolution2011.ac.uk/items/show/23
relation: https://egyptrevolution2011.ac.uk/items/show/65
relation: https://egyptrevolution2011.ac.uk/items/show/74
relation: https://fanack.com/music/seven-in-egyptian-jail-links-to-critical-song/
relation: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-filmmaker-jailed-directing-song-mocking-sisi-dies-prison
language: Arabic/English