Ramy Essam
Acting
Ramy Essam (born 1987, Mansoura, Egypt) is an Egyptian hard-rock musician who became a symbol of resistance during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Performing in Cairoâs Tahrir Square, he used music to amplify calls for freedom and dignity across the Arab Spring and later on international stages. His protest song âIrhalâ (âLeaveâ), demanding President Hosni Mubarakâs resignation, spread widely via YouTube and became known as the revolutionâs anthem. In 2011, Time Out ranked it the third most world-changing song of all time. That same year, Essam was arrested and tortured when the army cleared Tahrir Square. Essamâs debut album, Manshourat (2011â2012), captured chants, emotions, and daily realities of the uprising, becoming a landmark in modern Egyptian protest music. In 2014, facing repression at home, he received a two-year safe-city residency in Malmö, Swedenâthe first musician granted the programâwhere he began formal music study and continued his activism abroad. That year he also appeared on Songs from a Stolen Spring, collaborating across cultures on protest music. His later albums expanded his sound and themes: Mamnouâ (2015) blended rock with poetry from prominent Egyptian writers; Resala Ela Magles El Amn (2017), released under Universal Music MENA, delivered a politically charged rock message; and Metgharabin (2023) fused rock with Egyptian folk and experimental elements to explore exile, identity, and censorship. On January 25, 2025, Essam released âRa7 Nelte2i,â with lyrics by imprisoned poet Galal El-Beheiry. Throughout his career, Essam has remained a prominent musical voice for resistance, memory, and human rights.
