Mazin Hamid

Mazin Hamid (Arabic: مازن حامد) is a Sudanese musician, music producer and sound engineer. Known mainly through his popular music videos and live performances as singer and guitarist, he also has published music videos with political messages and composed the musical score for the award-winning Sudanese feature film Goodbye Julia.

Mazin Hamid
مازن حامد
OriginKhartoum, Sudan
GenresMusic of Sudan, Arabic music
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, music producer
Instrument(s)Singing, guitar
Years active2016–present
WebsiteMazin Hamid on Facebook

Biography and career

Hamid graduated from the Department of Engineering, University of Khartoum, but later turned to Sudanese music through his recordings and live performance as singer, guitarist, composer and producer of music videos.[1] He is considered one of the first Sudanese artist to produce a video clip singing multiple vocal tracks for the same song on YouTube.[2] His personal musical style is known for his contemporary Sudanese pop music style as well as his "Deep vocals and beautiful classical lyrics."[3][4] He has released original songs[5][6] and was invited to perform for the Delegation of the European Union in Sudan.[7]

In 2016, the German Cultural Centre in Khartoum produced his song Al Ghorba Maha Ekhtiyar (Exile is not a choice) for an international project, featuring music videos from Sudan, Egypt and the Middle East.[8] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamid organised an online "Together at Home" concert to help people through the pandemic. He has also been involved in initiatives to raise awareness and support causes such as ending female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sudan.[9] Hamid was also vocal during the Sudanese Revolution. In 2022, the security forces raided his radio studio and took him “with great cruelty” to an unknown destination,[10] and on 14 February 2022, he was released from Soba prison.[11][12]

In 2022, Hamid created the musical score for the feature film Goodbye Julia, the first Sudanese film to be presented at Cannes Film Festival.[13] He recorded it during ongoing clashes between the military and civil society in Khartoum.[14][15] In an interview about the social contrasts he wanted to illustrate by his film and notably the musical score, director Mohamed Kordofani said:[16]

Clearly, through the film’s score, the song producer and composer Mazin Hamid makes us see that instead of spending our lives separated, this is what we could have celebrated. [...] Mona sings a song by a late popular Sudanese singer, Sayed Khalifa in a church, with a composition including African accents. There are numerous songs from North and South Sudan, representing different cultures, and an original song closing the film.

— Mohamed Kordofani, Sudanese film director

References
  1. Salih, Atif Ali (2016-09-15). "كافيه شو - مازن حامد: حكاية موسيقية جديدة" [Café show - Mazin Hamid: A new musical story]. مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  2. "Mazin Hamid". Kushsudan.org. 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  3. Shawkat, Omnia (2017-01-10). "13 Contemporary Sudanese Musicians you Should Know". Andariya. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  4. Damilola, Lawrence (2021-11-05). "Meet African Vibes Top Old And New Sudanese Musicians - African Vibes". africanvibes.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  5. Leena, Qasim (2022-05-12). "حفل كورنثيا كان جميلاً" [Koranthia]. Alnilin (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  6. "فيديو: كنداكة الـ(mbc) سير عابدين تقدم رؤية جديدة للأغنية الوطنية التي شغلت مواقع التواصل خلال الثورة - النيلين" (in Arabic). 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  7. A Happy World Dream - Mazin Hamid, a Sudanese singer performs at the European Union, retrieved 2023-06-03
  8. "Mazin Hamid "Al Ghorba Maha Ekhtiyar" مازن حامد / الغربة ماها اختيار", Goethe-Institut Music room, retrieved 2023-08-01
  9. "Mazin Hamid - مازن حامد". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  10. "في مواجهة الدولة البوليسية القاهرة !!" [Facing the police state in Cairo]. Radio Dabanga (in Arabic). 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  11. "اطلاق سراح الفنان مازن حامد" [Release of Mazen Hamid]. Sudan News (in Arabic). 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  12. "اطلاق سراح الفنان مازن حامد" [Release of Mazen Hamid]. السودان اليوم (in Arabic). 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  13. Sheded, Mona (20 May 2023). "'Goodbye Julia' producer on Cannes' first Sudanese title: "Civil war might destroy the country, but it won't stop us filmmakers"". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  14. Nesselson, Lisa (2023-05-20). "'Goodbye Julia': Cannes Review". Screen. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  15. Gyarkye, Lovia (2023-05-20). "'Goodbye Julia' Review: An Operatic Drama Nimbly Tackles the Story of a Fractured Sudan". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  16. Metwaly, Ati (2023-06-14). "Sudan: Interview with award-winning 'Goodbye Julia' director Mohamed Kordofani". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
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