Ramy Essam is an Egyptian musician best known for his appearances in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. His song “Irhal” (“Leave”) garnered worldwide attention, as the lyrics served as a plea to demand the resignation of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Time Out referred to the anthem as the third-most-world-changing song of all time. Often referred to as the “singer of the Egyptian Revolution,” Essam has faced backlash, with his songs banned in Egypt. Now living in exile, he is a 2019 Laureate of HRF’s Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent.
