With only a few days left, uncertainty about what will happen to US rapper Travis Scott’s performance in Egypt has grown, prompting a Member of Parliament to ask for explanation.
The planned concert at the Giza pyramids on July 28 was cancelled, according to the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate, on July 18. This was done “to ensure the safety and protection of the audience.”
Live Nation, the event’s promoter, claims that despite the show’s sold-out status, it will still go on.
Live Nation stated: “Any allegations to the contrary are untrue; there have been no modifications to Travis Scott’s event in Egypt. We can’t wait to celebrate Utopia with you in Egypt!”
The issue has now come up in the Egyptian parliament, where MP Freddy al-Bayadi is asking the administration for clarity.
“Will it happen on time or was it cancelled?” Bayadi enquired. “Up to this point, there is confusion surrounding the remarks made following great controversy and several requests to postpone the worldwide musician Travis Scott show that was scheduled for Friday at the Pyramids.
“The government has not announced whether or not the concert will take place. Why have the relevant authorities not yet made a definitive declaration about the situation?
What steps would the ministries of interior, tourism, and local development do to ensure the performance’s organisation and the avoidance of any infractions or accidents brought on by the anticipated congestion if the concert is still going on?
Prior concerts in other nations have drawn large crowds, some of which have been marred by poor organisation, stampedes, and attendance that exceeds the capacity of the venues. All tickets for this concert were sold out as soon as they were available.
The Musicians Syndicate is opposing the rapper, who is slated to debut his upcoming fourth studio album Utopia at the performance, which will take place in the Sound and Light district close to the pyramid complex.
In a statement made on behalf of the Musicians Syndicate, Dr. Mohamed Abdullah said “While the Musicians Syndicate has welcomed various art forms and concerts in recent months, it has set conditions and regulations to safeguard the customs and traditions inherited by the Egyptian people. After examining social media opinions and feedback, as well as the news circulating on search engines and social media platforms, which included authenticated images and information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance, contradicting our authentic societal values and traditions, the syndicate’s president and board of directors have decided to cancel the licence issued for hosting this type of concert, which goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.”
Travis Scott is allegedly engaging in certain rituals, although The Musicians Syndicate has not revealed which ones. Some claim that the musician used satanic iconography as part of his visual presentation at the Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas in 2021, when ten spectators were crushed to death.
According to the Musicians Syndicate, it is essential for governing Egypt’s music business and safeguarding the preservation of cultural heritage. The regulating agency, according to AFP, rarely opposes such gatherings but has recently taken the lead in the fight against musical genres considered unsuitable in Egypt, with hip hop being a common target.
According to AFP, “Egypt has also grown increasingly critical of what it sees as a’rewriting’ of its history, criticising African American movements that assert a cultural connection to the ancient pharaohs.”
Recent criticism of the Netflix series Queen Cleopatra for choosing a biracial woman, British actress Adele James, to play the historical monarch came from many Egyptians, including the former minister of antiquities Zahi Hawass.
Earlier this year Hawas wrote on Facebook:
“Cleopatra was not black; as a Greek, she was similar to the queens and princesses of Macedonia. During the 25th dynasty, the Kingdom of Kush ruled Egypt and those were Kushite pharaohs, but they had nothing to do with ancient Egyptian civilization,”
