Hameda Ben Amor
( ar, حمادة بن عمر; born 7 October 1989), better known by his stage name El General (), is a
Tunisian rap musician. His song "
Rais Lebled", released in November 2010, has been described as the "anthem of the
Jasmine Revolution".
Career
Ben Amor has been making mainly political rap songs since 2007. The songs were previously kept underground by the strict censorship of the autocratic regime of Tunisian president
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ( ar, زين العابدين بن علي, translit=Zayn al-'Ābidīn bin 'Alī; 3 September 1936 – 19 September 2019), commonly known as Ben Ali ( ar, بن علي) or Ezzine ( ar, الزين), was a Tunisian politician ...
. On December 24, 2010, two days after his second famous protest song "Tunisia Our Country" was released on YouTube and Facebook and one week after the protests in
Tunisia
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, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
began, he was arrested by Tunisian police. Three days later, Ben Amor was released, after being forced to sign a statement to no longer make any political songs.
Ben Amor's “President of the Country,” a searing Arabic rap song, served as a soundtrack for the revolution. The week before Mohamed Bouazizi’s death, Hamada Ben Amor used a handheld camera to tape himself singing the song, a baseball cap pulled over his eyes. “Mr. President,” he exclaimed, “your people are dead!” Al Jazeera and various social media picked up the video. The secret police arrested Ben Amor, inflaming his followers, and hastening Ben Ali’s exit.
After the overthrow of Ben Ali, his songs enjoyed enormous popularity in Tunisia, particularly "
Rais Lebled" which became known as the anthem of the revolution and gained him international recognition.
Discography
;Albums
*"Malesh?"
*"Sidi Rais"
*"Rais Lebled"
*"Tounes bledna"
* Hor
* Yhebbou Ylezzouni
* 3ammel 3al 3ali
* Mechia w Tzid
* Tfol Sghir
* Mise à jour
* Solo
* Ma Nsina
* Ready
* Hwemna
* Donia
* Tsunami
* Waadi
* Fannen & Ensen
;Contributing artist
*''
The Rough Guide To Arabic Revolution'' (2013,
World Music Network
World Music Network is a UK-based record label specializing in world music.
The World Music Network website features news, reviews, live music listings, and guide sections on world music. It also features an online "Battle of the Bands" competit ...
)
See also
*
List of Arab rappers
References
External links
"Rais Lebled" on Youtube.com(with English subtitles)
Video interview with El Général
21st-century Tunisian male singers
Tunisian rappers
Living people
21st-century rappers
1989 births
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