Female Islamic chanters challenge traditional norms

Egyptian women artists take to religious singing, popularly known as 'Inshad', in a much male-dominated field, challenging religious edicts traditionally banning them from singing.

STORY: These Egyptian artists challenge traditional

norms by performing 'Inshad'

Locator: Cairo, Egypt

It's a form of Islamic chanting

typically done by men

Neaema Fathy is the founder of Egypt’s

first all-female Islamic chanting troupe

(Neaema Fathy, Founder, Al Hoor)

“What attracted me to religious chanting is that I spent a lot of time in this field and I learned all about musical scales, I worked on myself, I trained with great Sheikhs in the religious chanting field, I learned and benefited from them. When I found that women were underrepresented in this field, I wanted to do something that would benefit them as well as the field, in a way that carries out the message that we want to deliver.”

Fathy said the troupe was

initially met with skepticism

Shaimaa El Nouby faced similar challenges

(Shaimaa El Nouby, Chanter)

“Of course, I heard 'a woman's voice is considered Awrah' (Arabic for nakedness) and 'You want to become a trend.' I started before knowing the meaning of a trend. I heard many things like that, useless words like 'because this was how Umm Kulthum started in the beginning before becoming a singer, why not start singing immediately?', 'are you seeking attention?'. At first these words used to bother me, but not anymore.”

Shaimaa El Nouby, an Egyptian Islamic chanter performing Islamic religious songs, popularly known as “Inshad”, sings on stage with Wael El Fashny, during the holy month of Ramadan at El-Rabaa Cultural Center event at Al Hussein in old Cairo, Egypt, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Fatma Fahmy

Neaema Fathy became fascinated by a form of Islamic chanting known as “Inshad” after first hearing it at the religious festivals she attended as a child with her family in Egypt.

Then at the age of 17, her mother encouraged her to learn “Maqamat” – the art of singing Arabic music melodies which would prepare her for Inshad chanting. She sought help from singers from the Cairo Opera House.

Now 27, she is the founder of “Al Hoor” – an all female Islamic chanting troupe in Egypt.

“I felt women were underrepresented in this field and I wanted us to take part in developing the art form of chanting,” she said. Inshad chants are songs that praise God or the Prophet and his family.

The troupe was initially met with skepticism as Egyptian society was accustomed to chanting by the male voice, Fathy said. “Some people were waiting to see if these girls will deserve to be celebrated or will they disappoint,” added Fathy.

z Shaimaa El Nouby, another Egyptian female chanter, said she faced similar challenges. “I was told that the female voice is forbidden and that I’m only looking for attention.”