By: Yomna Walid
With his Nubian roots and resonant voice, singer Ahmed Ismaiel captured the world&rsquo;s attention during the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Performing alongside Egyptian singer Haneen El-Shater, the duo delivered a soulful rendition of Al-Nil before President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, First Lady Entissar El-Sisi, international dignitaries, and a global audience.
Blending authentic Nubian expression with emotional depth, Ismaiel&rsquo;s performance struck a universal chord. The song&rsquo;s refrain, In Mina Aba Mina, meaning &ldquo;How can I describe what I see?&rdquo;, quickly resonated online, sparking curiosity about its language and message. In an exclusive interview with NileFM, Ismaiel reflected on the meaning behind the lyrics, his artistic journey, and the significance of performing on one of Egypt&rsquo;s most prominent stages.
From Nubia to the World
&ldquo;I was born in Nubia and started singing at a young age,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I learned to play the organ and the oud, and I also write poetry and compose. Over the years, I&rsquo;ve collaborated with many Nubian poets and musicians and produced a number of original works.&rdquo;
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A Historic Call
&ldquo;The nomination came through the organising committee after they reviewed my previous work,&rdquo; he recalls. &ldquo;They wanted genuine Nubian representation in such a historic event. When I got the call, I felt immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility. Performing at the Grand Egyptian Museum wasn&rsquo;t just another concert; it was a moment that will remain in Egypt&rsquo;s cultural history.&rdquo;
Behind the Song
According to Ismaiel, the concept began with the artistic team&rsquo;s ambition to create a song that represented Egypt&rsquo;s diversity, languages, and beauty. &ldquo;When they suggested blending Arabic and Nubian, I was thrilled,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We worked carefully on the dialect, pronunciation, and meaning, with the help of Nubian poet Ahmed Eissa Abdel-Salam.&rdquo;
Under the supervision of Maestro Nayer Nagui and composer Hisham Nazih, rehearsals were rigorous and precise. &ldquo;Everyone was committed to creating something heartfelt and honest,&rdquo; Ismaiel adds. &ldquo;The result came from the heart, and that&rsquo;s why it touched people everywhere.&rdquo;
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The Meaning of In Mina Aba Mina
&ldquo;In Nubian, In Mina Aba Mina means &lsquo;How can I describe what I see?&rsquo;,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an invitation to reflect on the greatness of Egyptian civilization.&rdquo;
The lyrics express wonder at Egypt&rsquo;s landscape and spirit:
In Mina Aba Mina &ndash; How can I describe? Jenaya Aba Mena &ndash; Is it heaven, or a dream come true? Farkiyee Aman Dany &ndash; The valley and the river&hellip; Aba&hellip; Aba &ndash; Could it be? Irky Dessa Gosona &ndash; The land dressed in green, Ei&hellip; Tara &ndash; Yes, it is so. Irkyee Neelonogo &ndash; Our land, Egypt, blessed by the Nile, Jennal Ouskirojona &ndash; Has brought paradise to us.
&ldquo;The song captures how words fall short when describing Egypt; its nature, history, and people,&rdquo; he says. The lyrics are written in the Fadidja dialect, known for its pentatonic rhythm that gives Nubian music its distinctive sound.
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A Defining Moment
&ldquo;It was a mix of pride and awe,&rdquo; Ismaiel remembers. &ldquo;Performing before President El-Sisi and world leaders was a great honour. I felt I was representing every Nubian artist, and every Egyptian who dreams of raising the country&rsquo;s name high. I was proud that the voice of Nubia reached the world from Egypt&rsquo;s most important stage.&rdquo;
Reaction and Recognition
&ldquo;The reactions were overwhelming,&rdquo; he smiles. &ldquo;What touched me most were the messages from people in Nubia who said they felt proud hearing their language celebrated on such a global platform. I also received congratulations from artists and friends across Egypt and the Arab world, which meant a great deal.&rdquo;
Lessons from the Masters
Ismaiel describes himself as a student of Mohamed Wardi and Hamza El Din, icons of Nubian music. &ldquo;I learned from them that Nubian art isn&rsquo;t just singing&mdash;it&rsquo;s identity and message,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Wardi taught me dedication and belonging, while Hamza El Din showed me how Nubian music carries a universal soul. I try to carry both lessons forward, preserving authenticity while reaching wider audiences.&rdquo;
The Future of Nubian Music
&ldquo;The future is promising, especially with young people showing more interest in heritage arts,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Nubian music has everything &mdash; unique melodies, warm rhythms, and a soulful spirit. What it needs now is consistent media support. When given the spotlight, it proves itself as a global Egyptian art form.&rdquo;
Two Voices, One Song
The bilingual duet with Haneen El-Shater became one of the evening&rsquo;s most memorable moments. &ldquo;The idea of blending Arabic and Nubian reflected Egypt&rsquo;s true spirit; unity in diversity,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Haneen and I complemented each other on stage, and the harmony between the two languages created a musical connection the audience could feel, even if they didn&rsquo;t understand every word.&rdquo;
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Collaboration and Gratitude
Ismaiel credits the success to the entire artistic team. &ldquo;Working with Hisham Nazih was incredible; he has a deep musical vision and can translate emotion into melody. Maestro Nayer Nagui focused on every performance detail, and Ahmed Eissa wrote lyrics full of meaning. Everyone brought their own touch, and that&rsquo;s what made the song so powerful.&rdquo;
A Message from the Heart
Asked to describe Egypt in one line, Ismaiel pauses before replying:
&ldquo;Egypt is a story words can never fully describe, a civilization that taught the world and a spirit that unites us despite our differences.&rdquo;
He ends with quiet gratitude: &ldquo;I want to thank everyone who supported me: my audience, who believed in me; the Nubian community, who celebrated my performance as if it were their own, and my family, who have always been my true strength. I hope I&rsquo;ll always be worthy of representing Nubia and Egypt with pride.&rdquo;

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