What is Shaabi?
1.
Shaabi, as it's usually transliterated, or more accurately, sha'bi, is an Egyptian music genre developed in the first half of Twentieth century that thrived in 1960s-80s.
Though shaabi music is exclusively urban music of Cairo, it originates in Egyptian folk rural music, esp. of Delta's fellaheen (peasants).
Etymology: Arabic sha'bi (popular, folk, of common people) ultimately from sha'b (people).
Egyptian shaabi singers rock, but you must admit their music is pure
kitsch .
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