"We have lost one of the most prominent figures in popular music. He [Adaweyah] captured the spirit of the Egyptian street with his unique voice. Through his vast repertoire, he left an unforgettable mark in the history of this music genre," Minister of Culture Ahmed Hanno expressed his condolences in an official post.
"Adaweyah was a true example of an authentic artist; he created art with a distinct identity that many other popular singers followed," he added.
"On behalf of myself and the Ministry of Culture, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late artist and his fans in Egypt and across the Arab world," Hanno concluded.
Many Egyptian and regional artists also expressed their sorrow and condolences to Adaweyeh's family.
Moreover, several of them attended his funeral, which was held on Monday at the Hussein Sedky Mosque in Maadi.
Following the funeral prayers, singer Abdel Baset Hamouda was seen crying as he mourned the passing of his colleague and friend.
"Egyptian popular music has lost a great artist, a creative that has contributed with numerous successful songs and cinematic works to the field," Hamouda told Al-Ahram Gate.
Adaweyah's body was taken to its final resting place at the family tombs in Sayeda Aisha.
The artist's son, Mohamed Adaweyah, a singer in his own right, wrote in a Facebook post: "May God have mercy on you, Dad. May God bless the kind-hearted soul… the compassionate heart… the one who always eased the hearts of others."
Mohamed Adaweyah collaborated with Ahmed Adaweyah in one of his most recent songs, Ala Wadena (As We Are). The music video also features famous actor Mohamed Ramadan.
Ramadan posted several pictures and a video of the two on Instagram, taken behind the scenes of a music video shot in early 2023.
In the video, Ramadan is shown kissing Adaweyah’s forehead as a sign of his deep respect for him.
Commenting on the post, Ramadan expressed his deepest condolences to the late artist's family.
In addition, Lebanese star Wael Jassar mourned the death of Ahmed Adaweyah with a post on his Facebook.
Jassar called the late artist "the symbol of Egyptian popular music, who left us after a career full of artistic creativity that influenced many generations. His work will remain immortal in the hearts of his fans."
Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad also shared a photo of Adaweyah while holding a microphone and singing during one of his television appearances.
In his Instagram post, he also bid farewell to Adaweyah, saying: "Goodbye, beloved of the people."
Meanwhile, composer Modi El-Emam wrote an extensive post: "Goodbye, my very dear friend... one of the kindest and sweetest people God ever created...."
El-Emam described Adaweyah as "the king of Egyptian popular music... the master of spontaneity, wit, and the essence of Egyptian humour, a symbol of simplicity, professor of humility, manners, true human taste, and pure heart."
"Each time I met you in person, by some miracle, my luck suddenly improved," El-Emam continued.
Several other artists, such as singer Rami Sabry and actor Akram Hosni, mourned the late artist, sharing their photos with him or pictures from the concerts and stills from films Adaweyah played in.
The late artist's family revealed that his wake will be held on Wednesday, 1 January 2025 (5-8pm) at the Safa Hall, Al-Moshir Tantawy Mosque, in New Cairo (Fifth Settlement).
Ahmed Adaweyah
Celebrated Shaabi singer Adaweyah passed away Sunday evening in Cairo at the age of 79.
Adaweyah, born on 3 July 1945 in Cairo, was one of the most influential figures in Arabic music.
He rose to fame in the 1970s as a Shaabi musician, beloved particularly among the working class.
His lyrics often addressed love, life, and social issues.
Some of his best-known songs include Zahma Ya Donya Zahma, Essah Eddah Embo, Ya Bent El-Sultan, and Karakashangy.
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