Mahmoud Abdulaziz

Mahmoud Abdulaziz (Arabic: محمود عبد العزيز‎, 16 oct. 1967 – 17 jan. 2013, Khartoum, Sudan) also transcribed as Mahmoud Abdel Aziz and affectionately known as Elhoot or Al-hoot (The Whale), was a popular Sudanese singer-songwriter. Called "Sudan’s idol of the youth”, he was a central figure for Sudanese music fans, opposing the military government of the day.[1]

For the Egyptian actor, see Mahmoud Abdel Aziz.
Mahmoud Abdulaziz
Background information
Born16 October 1967
Khartoum
OriginSudan
Died17January 2013
GenresMusic of Sudan, Arabic, African
Occupation(s)singer-songwriter
Years active1994-2013

Life and artistic career

Mahmoud Abdulaziz was born in the Bahri district of Khartoum in 1967, and died in hospital in Amman in January 2013.[2][3] His music was a blend of modern urban music from Sudan and Western pop music, with occasional other African influences. Even though his songs were banned on Sudan’s national television and radio during the years of Sharia-inspired Public Order Laws, when many singers, artists and politicians had to flee the country, because of conservative religious intolerance against popular music, Abdulaziz stayed in Sudan and continued to perform, risking arrest.[1][4]

At the time of his death, he had become a symbol for those wanting a more secular and less repressive Sudan.[5] Abdulaziz recorded more than 30 albums, widely available in Sudan on cassette tapes or bootleg CDs.[3][2] Several of the many YouTube videos with his music have more than one million views.[6] An example for his great popularity is the attendance of several tens of thousands of his fans at the fourth anniversary of his death in Khartoum in January 2017.[7][8]

Trivia

During a concert, a disabled fan, who could not get as close to the stage as he would have wanted, sought to catch the attention of his idol, and started waving his hands. This worked, and Abdulaziz mimicked his movements, and also came to greet the fan. Later, it became habitual for the artist to greet his devoted fans in this way, at every concert. Subsequently, crossed arms with index fingers pointing outwards became his symbol, and was in turn taken up by other fans. Even on his deathbed, Mahmoud was photographed in this pose.[5]

Select Discography
Albums
  • 1994: Khalli Balak
  • 1995: Sakat Al-Rabab
  • 1996: Jawab lilbalad
  • 1996: Seb enadak
  • 2001: qaed al istul
  • 2002: Fi bali
  • 1998: lahib alshoug
  • 2000: Noor Alain
  • 2000: alaa alnajeela
  • 2000: ma tishly ham
  • 2001: ash man shafak
  • 2001: bartah liek
  • 2002: Shail Jarrah
  • 2002: Aktubi eli
  • 2003: adaat sanna
  • 2005: marat alayam
  • 2005: saab albalad
  • 2005: Khof alwajaa
  • 2007: Alhaneen
  • 2008: ya zoul ya tieb

See also

References
  1. Beaumont, Peter, and Zeinab Mohammed Salih (2019-02-07). "The dead Sudanese singer inspiring revolt against Omar al-Bashir". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. "Sudan in mourning". Al-Ahram Weekly. 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. Shimkovitz, Brian (8 December 2014). "The Sudans on cassette: Awesome Tapes from Africa's collection". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. "Al Hoot: Remembering Mahmoud Abdelaziz & His Progressive Politics". 500 Words Magazine. 2019-10-03. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  5. Ibrahim, Ayman Elias (2013). "Mahmoud Abdulaziz pronounced clinically dead". Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. "محمود عبد العزيز". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  7. "Fans mark fourth anniversary of death of Sudanese singer with songs and tears". Dabanga Sudan. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018. 'Khartoum Stadium, which can accommodate up to 45,000 people, was overcrowded with young men and women on Tuesday. Mahmoud Abdelaziz fans chanted a large number of his songs, with tears flowing from their eyes saying “we will not forget you”.+ '
  8. "Mahmoud Abdel Aziz The story of an artist who inspired". Khartoum Star. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
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