With Ramadan starting on Friday, the Ministry of Culture has begun releasing concerts in the spirit of the holy month on its YouTube channel.

The latest is a performance by famed Egyptian Sufi chanter Sheikh Yassin El-Tohamy and Syrian ensemble Abu Shaar Bro.

The recording, released online on 22 April, comes from a performance held at the citadel, during the annual Citadel Festival for Music and Singing, an event organised by the Cairo Opera House each summer.

Born in 1949, El-Tohamy’s fan base is spread across the whole Arab region.

Many of his appearances take place during Ramadan.

Formed in the 1980s, with new generations subsequently entering the ensemble, Abu Shaar Bro (El Ekhwa Abu Shaar), are internationally renowned Syrian performers whose music and lyrics focus on a religious repertoire including songs praising Prophet Muhammad.

The Abu Shaar brothers currently reside in Egypt, where they hold many concerts.

According to the ministry, the upcoming releases will include more material in line with the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan.

The ministry's YouTube uploads are part of the “Stay at Home: Culture Between Your Hands” initiative.

The initiative aims to bring theatre performances, concerts and other cultural events to audiences amid the current shutdown of theatres, cinemas and concert halls due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Follow new releases on the ministry’s YouTube channel here

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