Egyptian rappers suspended for publicly resisting new censorship guidelines

Egyptian rappers Afroto and Marwan Pablo were suspended for failing to comply with new censorship guidelines, put in place by the recently elected head of the Musicians Syndicate, Mostafa Kamel, to regulate the genres’ music, lyrics, and performances.

The new conditions prohibit lyrics that can be deemed offensive to ‘Egyptian family values,’ in addition to requiring artists to perform with a band of twelve syndicate authorized musicians, and obtain a permit from the Authority for the Censorship of Works of Art.

Afroto and Marwan Pablo both ignored the new regulations in their latest performances, prompting the syndicate to suspend both artists from performing, effective immediately, and calling in all Egyptian rappers for a voice assessment, after which they will be registered and held accountable to the syndicate’s new rules.