Tuesday March 19th, 2024
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Hesham Nazih is First Egyptian Composer Invited to Join The Academy

Famed composer Hesham Nazih would be the only Egyptian member on this year's list, which features 397 artists from around the world.

John Bichara

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, aka The Oscars, has for the first time invited an Egyptian composer to become a member in its music category. Famed composer Hesham Nazih would be the only Egyptian member on this year's list, which features 397 artists from around the world.


Nazih's work attracted international attention when it was heavily featured during the Pharaohs' Golden Parade in 2021, when a glorious procession moved the mummies of ancient Egypt's kings and queens from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. His global acclaim was then cemented with the release of Marvel's superhero series, Moon Knight, by Egyptian director Mohamed Diab.


Within the MENA region Nazih required no introduction as his work was prominently featured in several blockbuster films. His score of El Sellem Wel Te'ban (2001) is widely considered his breakthrough work, and his dramatic music elevated several pieces of popular Arabic cinema including Tito (2004), Aswar al-Qamar (2015), the Welad Rizk series (2015/2019) and the Blue Elephant series (2014/2019).