The family of legendary Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez has threatened legal action against the organizers of Morocco’s Mawazine Festival after the announcement of a planned hologram performance featuring the late artist.
In a statement issued this week, Hafez’s family expressed “shock and dismay” over promotional material suggesting a hologram concert will be held in his honor during the festival’s 20th edition. The family said the event was organized without their consent or prior knowledge.
“The family was not informed of this project, nor has it signed any agreement with the Mawazine Festival or any other party regarding the use of Abdel Halim Hafez’s name, image or voice,” the statement read. The family added that all exclusive rights related to the late singer are held by a single company with which it has an official agreement.
The statement warned that any unauthorized use of these rights constitutes a violation of intellectual property law and said the family reserves the right to take legal action in both Egypt and Morocco.
In response, Maroc Cultures, the nonprofit organization behind the Mawazine Festival, said in a statement that all legal requirements were met prior to announcing the performance. Organizers said they obtained the necessary licenses from the entity officially authorized to manage Hafez’s image and musical rights.
“Mawazine has always respected the law and the rights of creators and their families,” the statement said, adding that the use of hologram technology is part of a broader artistic effort to innovate while honoring cultural heritage.
Organizers said the planned performance aims to pay tribute to Hafez, a beloved figure in the history of Arabic music, and to revive his legacy for new generations. They noted that a similar hologram concert featuring the late singer Umm Kulthum was held during the previous edition of the festival and drew a large audience.
The hologram of Abdel Halim Hafez was set to be one of the highlights of this year’s Mawazine — one of Africa’s largest music festivals — which attracts international and regional artists and tens of thousands of spectators annually.
The dispute over the concert underscores growing tensions over the posthumous use of artists’ likenesses in digital performances, a trend that has sparked legal and ethical debates around the world.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.