Khaberni - The body of the late Egyptian artist Hani Shaker, the Prince of Arabic Singing, arrived at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday evening from the French capital, Paris, on an EgyptAir flight, in a scene of official and public mourning.
Receiving the body at the forefront were the Egyptian Minister of Health, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El Hefny, along with the Head of the Musicians Syndicate, Mustafa Kamel, actor Ashraf Zaki, businessmen, and friends of the deceased, most notably Ahmed Issa and Yahya Al-Bustani, along with other public figures.
Mustafa Kamel, Head of the Musicians Syndicate, announced the arrival of the body at Cairo Airport, stating that the body is currently being received in preparation for completing the burial procedures.
A delegation from the Egyptian Embassy in France accompanied the late artist's family, consisting of his wife and son, to Charles de Gaulle Airport to facilitate their return to Cairo in full coordination with the concerned authorities.
The artist Hani Shaker passed away last Sunday at a hospital in Paris at the age of 74, after a long struggle with illness.
His health crisis began with colon problems that led to severe bleeding, which then developed into respiratory complications, after which he was transferred to France for treatment.
Hani Shaker is considered one of the most prominent voices in modern Arabic singing and was titled the "Prince of Arabic Singing" due to his unique voice and ability to perform romantic and authentic Tarab songs.
He began his artistic career in the 1970s and collaborated with major composers and poets, contributing to enriching the Arab musical memory with timeless songs like "Ya Ritni" and "Anta Al-Sabab" among others.
The body is scheduled to be transferred to Sheikh Zayed Hospital, with the funeral prayer to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, amid expectations of a large public and artistic attendance to bid farewell to one of the giants of Arabic Tarab.
