Wama Band

Wama Band formed in Cairo in 1992, bringing together Hamdi Al Sayed on vocals and guitar, Khaled 'Kido' Zaki on guitar and vocals, Ashraf Bakir on bass, and Ahmed Risha on drums. They worked with traditional Arabic melodies alongside rock and pop elements, which gave them a different sound than what was common in Egypt at the time.

Their 1994 album 'Albak Wo Alby' included the title track that became widely known. Other songs like 'Arably Men Rouhy' and 'Lama Abeltaha' also found an audience. The band's lyrics sometimes touched on social issues, which led to some friction with conservative voices in Egyptian media and government circles.

They kept recording through the late 1990s, putting out 'Ya Balad' in 1997 and 'Wahad' in 2000. The music stayed grounded in their mix of Arabic tradition and contemporary arrangement, avoiding the more polished pop production that was becoming standard.