A song that plays on Moon Knight has sparked controversy in Egypt. Marvel Studios faces censorship and political criticism.
An excerpt from vox has detailed how the OST of moon knight has generated great controversy in Egypt after the premiere of the series of Marvel Studios. In the third episode, when Mark Y layla They sail down the Nile, it begins to sound salkaof Hassan shakesh. The genre of that theme, called “mahraganat”, generates a lot of controversy in the Egyptian country. It has been criticized for being too vulgar and political, as it tackles issues that have to do with the working class. The artist has been censored and even banned in the country on numerous occasions. In fact, they are still striving to cancel that genre of music altogether.
Director of moon knight, Muhammad Diab, wanted to show his native country away from stereotypes. This is something that many film projects had done before, but Marvel Studios I wanted to do it in a different way. “One challenge that was essential for me was portraying Egypt,” explained the filmmaker. “We are always seen in a very Eastern way. They expose us in a way that is too stereotyped.” The truth is that the MCU Phase 4 has taken a step forward in its adaptations and in many ways.
On the other hand, the historian dartmouth college, Andrew Simon, explained that this mahraganat genre of music “shows a struggle over what Egyptian culture is and who has the right to shape it.” In that sense, it’s curious that Marvel Studios has consciously employed it in moon knight. In the words of Andrew Simon, “this inclusion came about to the sadness of the Egyptian authorities.” As we have said and Simon himself has revealed, “the country is still actively trying to silence this music.”
The meaning of the song used in the UCM series
The title of the song, salka, roughly translates to “Unhindered.” The song basically describes the strength of the working class in Egypt. heard when Marc Specter Y Layla El Faouly sail down the Nile River to meet Anton Mogart. Although this song that Marvel Studios uses in moon knight It is not overtly political, but it does include strong implications about the economic and social conditions that hold back the development of the Egyptian working class. It also talks about the political culture of the country in a general way.
This was one of the many songs that the director of moon knight included within the genus mahraganat. Many of them are not allowed to practice in Egypt. novelist and critic ahmed naji described this controversy of Marvel Studios related to the songs. At least nineteen musicians were censored in the Egyptian country. All of them were denied music licenses last year. “Most of the songs Diab used on this show are from singers who were banned from working in Egypt,” Ahmed revealed. “This created a lot of controversy, a lot of controversy and a lot of buzz.”