By: Yomna Walid
Ten years ago in Cairo, a bold idea took shape &mdash; to revive a long-forgotten cornerstone of Egyptian pop culture: the musical monologue. The result was Bahgaga, an all-female troupe that reimagines this vintage art form through a vibrant mix of song, theatrical performance and sharp satire, all delivered with a distinctly Egyptian twist. Among the group&rsquo;s earliest voices was actress Asmaa Abouelyazid, who once performed with Bahgaga and continues to hold them close to her heart. While her career has since soared on screen, Abouelyazid often credits the troupe as one of her most formative artistic experiences &mdash; a space where sisterhood, creativity and fearless expression came together in harmony. Nile FM had a deeper look into Bahgaga to trace their journey &mdash; and how they&rsquo;ve managed to put the musical monologue back where it belongs: centre stage.
How It All Began Founded in 2015 by music director and composer Ayman Helmy, Bahgaga quickly carved out a space in Egypt&rsquo;s alternative music scene.
&ldquo;Bahgaga was my way out of depression,&rdquo; Helmy recalls. &ldquo;I wanted to create something that could help deal with sadness &mdash; not just for me, but for the audience too. I&rsquo;ve always loved dramatic songs and old monologues, where comedy and pain coexist. They offer something truly different.&rdquo;
The group&rsquo;s name &mdash; Bahgaga, meaning &ldquo;delight&rdquo; or &ldquo;cheerfulness&rdquo; &mdash; captures that intention. As founding member Samar Galal puts it:
&ldquo;We chose the name because it fits the energy of the group. The goal is to revive the monologue in a way that simply makes people happy.&rdquo;
A Stage for Women, by Women Traditionally, the monologue genre was dominated by male performers like Ismail Yassine and Shokoko. But from the beginning, Helmy envisioned something different.
&ldquo;There were very few women in comedic singing. Back in the day, it was mainly Thurayya Helmy or Soad Mekkawy. Men ran the show. I was determined to change that.&rdquo;
For actress Raghda Galal, the group was a perfect hybrid of theatre and music:
&ldquo;Our first concert was at Rawabet Theater in September 2015, and the energy was unreal. We combined acting and singing &mdash; the essence of the monologue. It lets you deliver emotion, satire, and message in one performance. With modern sounds, it still resonates.&rdquo;
Finding a New Voice Through contemporary arrangements and a dynamic stage presence, Bahgaga has reimagined monologue art for a younger generation. For classically trained singer Nadine Amer, joining the group was transformational:
&ldquo;I used to sing traditional Arabic music at the Opera House. Bahgaga changed everything. I moved from rigid, classical singing to something alive &mdash; something theatrical. It empowered me and helped me rediscover myself.&rdquo;
Reimagining a Cultural Legacy To Bahgaga, the monologue is more than entertainment &mdash; it&rsquo;s cultural preservation.
&ldquo;It was part of our artistic heritage,&rdquo; says Nadine. &ldquo;It started in the early 20th century as satire and social commentary. But over time, it disappeared. Bahgaga aims to bring it back &mdash; not as nostalgia, but with relevance.&rdquo;
Helmy reworks classics with contemporary twists, blending pop, jazz, or even Western genres to keep things fresh and relatable.
&ldquo;A lot of young people don&rsquo;t know the old legends,&rdquo; Nadine continues. &ldquo;So we try to repackage heritage in a way that clicks &mdash; using fun, catchy music that still has depth.&rdquo;
<a href="https://ibb.co/prvZ8bTf"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Z16KPGrB/490124896-1217444526410762-8194491675953513054-n.jpg" alt="490124896-1217444526410762-8194491675953513054-n" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;
A Fusion of Voices and Talents What sets Bahgaga apart is its diversity. Each member brings a unique background &mdash; from acting and voiceover to musical training &mdash; giving the group a rich, ever-evolving chemistry.
&ldquo;I never imagined I&rsquo;d sing a traditional mawwal,&rdquo; says Samar. &ldquo;But Bahgaga made that possible. The song Ana Kefy Keda was created by fifteen of us &mdash; a 15-minute epic that really reflects who we are.&rdquo;
Even when performing a shared theme, each artist brings her own interpretation.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no repetition,&rdquo; Nadine adds. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what Ayman wanted: diversity, not uniformity.&rdquo;
Ten Years On and Still Going Strong As Bahgaga marks its tenth anniversary, their mission remains the same: to make audiences laugh, think and feel &mdash; while preserving a lost piece of Egypt&rsquo;s musical identity.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s something magical about performing live,&rdquo; says Raghda. &ldquo;Seeing people laugh, connect, sing along &mdash; that&rsquo;s where I found myself. That&rsquo;s where I found my voice.&rdquo;
Bahgaga isn&rsquo;t just a band. It&rsquo;s a movement. A revival. A celebration of Egypt&rsquo;s past &mdash; and a bold reimagining of its cultural future.
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