El Sheikh Emam
Egyptian singer and composer (1918–1995)
Imam Mohammad Ahmad Eissa (Arabic: إمام محمد أحمد عيسى) or El Sheikh Emam (Arabic: الشيخ إمام; July 2, 1918 – June 6, 1995) was a famous Egyptian composer and singer. For most of his life, he formed a duo with the famous Egyptian colloquial poet Ahmed Fouad Negm. Together, they were known for their political songs in favor of the poor and the working classes.
Early life and artistic beginnings
Imam was born in Abu al-Numrus, Giza Governorate, Egypt. After losing his eyesight early in life, he pursued religious studies at Al-Azhar, specializing in Quranic studies and Islamic jurisprudence. During this time, Imam developed an interest in music and learned to play the oud. He started performing religious songs and chants in local gatherings, gaining recognition for his distinct voice and musical talents.
Life and career
Imam was born to a poor family in the Egyptian village of Abul Numrus in Giza. He lost his sight when he was a child. At the age of five he joined a recitation class, where he memorized the Qur'an.
“El Sheikh Emam” enters the record as egyptian singer and composer (1918–1995). Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Sheikh, Emam and Egyptian can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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Chronology provides the most reliable spine for this subject; interpretation should follow only after identities and dates are secure. The source revision retrieved here is dated Nov 27, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q305063. VIAF identifies the subject as 314804591. The Library of Congress control number is no98021903. 1 of 3 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1918 and 1995.
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This entry incorporates text from “El Sheikh Emam” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.