ATWA on stage

Egyptian Rapper ATWA Treats Duke Community to Special Performance

ATWA on stage

Duke students, faculty, friends and family were treated to a unique performance by Egyptian rapper ATWA on October 24th. Approximately 60 members of the Duke community packed White lecture Hall to attend the show which included music videos and live performances.

ATWA, real name Ahmad Moustafa Kamel, is from Cairo and began rapping in 2006. He is a founder of the growing hip hop movement in Egypt and is one of the most famous rappers in the entire Middle East. He routinely appears on TV shows, radio programs, magazines, and in newspapers. His songs have been played more than a million times on Soundcloud.

Duke’s Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) brought ATWA to Duke as part of a broader effort to explore the culture of the region and look beyond the headlines that normally appear in the news.

“AMES invited ATWA to Duke in order to expose students to a different side of the region beyond the dominant headlines on violence, terrorism and social strife. ATWA, as are many young artists in Egypt, embodies the free spirit of creativity, musicality and artistic innovation,” said Arabic Professor Mbaye Lo.

The concert was specifically tailored to Duke in several ways. Most notably, with a special English chorus added to the hit song اتجاه اجباري (One Way Direction). Additionally, Female students from Duke’s Arabic program served as backup singers for multiple songs singing lyrics in both English and Arabic. Their performances drew some of the night’s loudest applauses.

Another popular song was واي فاي (Wi-Fi) which was shown as a music video and directed by one of the foremost directors in Egypt. In the video, ATWA plays three unique characters who each pursue the same love interest while singing the song.

“Wi-Fi was my favorite song because it had unique production and a fantastic flow” said sophomore AG Chancellor.

The joyous evening ended with a reception and spread of Middle Eastern food in the lobby of White Hall.