Egyptian musician Hani Shenouda passed away Monday morning at the age of 83, after a five-decade artistic career, during which he left a prominent mark on the history of Arab music as one of the most prominent composers and music arrangers in Egypt.

Egyptian media personality Mahmoud Saad announced the news of his death via his official Facebook page, writing: "Goodbye, Uncle Hani.. a beautiful, honest artist.. you delighted us.. farewell Hani Shenouda.. thank you for what you gave.. sincere condolences to the family and all his fans."

Hani Shenouda is considered one of the pioneers of modern music in Egypt. In 1977, he founded the band 'Al-Masryeen' (The Egyptians), which brought about a qualitative leap in Arabic song by introducing musical arrangement and harmony in an unprecedented way, a project that came with the support and encouragement of world-renowned writer Naguib Mahfouz.

The late musician was born in the city of Tanta in 1943, and graduated from the Faculty of Music Education in 1966, before continuing his studies at the Conservatoire. He then began a rich artistic journey that led him to collaborate with an elite group of top singers in Egypt and the Arab world.

Shenouda is credited with discovering a number of prominent singers, foremost among them Mohamed Mounir, for whom he composed and arranged the first albums. He was also one of the early supporters of Amr Diab's career, contributing to his artistic introduction during his early days, in addition to collaborating with Najat Al-Saghira, Faiza Ahmed, Mohamed El Helou, Medhat Saleh, Ali El Haggar, Anoushka, and other major singers.

The late musician's contributions were not limited to songs, but extended to film scores. He composed music for several famous Egyptian films, including 'Al-Mashbooh' (The Suspect), 'Al-Hareef' (The Pro), and 'Al-Ghoul' (The Ogre), making his works part of the Arab artistic memory.

The departure of Hani Shenouda is a great loss to the Arab art scene, given his contributions that helped develop Egyptian and Arab music, enriching the artistic landscape with timeless works that continue to receive wide appreciation from audiences and critics alike.

Honor in Saudi Arabia

In 2026, musician Hani Shenouda received a special honor in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the stage of Abu Bakr Salem Theater, in a ceremony titled 'Memories' celebrating the Egyptian musician on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

The ceremony was attended by a number of major Arab and Egyptian stars, including Amr Diab, Mohamed Mounir, and Ahmed Adaweya.