Jaffa Phonix

Infobox musical artist |
Name =

|Jaffa Phonix|290px]
Img_capt = Faisal Abu Ghaben on stage,cairo 2006
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = |Enflagicongland British Mandate of Palestine,
Origin =
Genre =Hip hop Techno Big Beat
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = None
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/jaffaphonixband / JaffaPhonix@MySpace]
Current_members = Faisal Abu Ghaben MC Ali Feedo
Former_members = Esmaeal Cresent Sharky

Jaffa Phonix are a Palestinian band whose music consists basically of electronica, hip hop and big beat. The current band members are Faisal Abu Ghaben (composer/vocalist), Ali Abu Ghaben (lyricist/vocalist), DJ Feedo (turntablist). They were described by English music critc Richard Woffenden as the first Arabian dance music band.Fact|date=June 2007

The Ghaben brothers are Palestinian refugees who were born in Kuwait and had to flee to Egypt after the Gulf War, [ [http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6004 "Jaffa Phonix: From a Resolution to a Revolution"] , Sarah Ali, "Egypt Today", October 2005.] because of the PLO's support of Saddam Hussein.

The lyrics on their first album, "Resolution 194", dealt with the Palestinian refugees cause and the destruction of the Palestinian society after Nakba. ["Pälastina rockt Kairo", Silke Brandt, [http://www.zenithonline.de/ "Zenith"] , February 2006.] After several live performances the band started to deviate from hip hop bit by bit to a style combining big beat and dance instrumentals with varied lyrical elements. [ [http://www.egyptinsight.com "Jaffa Phonix: The tumultuous rise of the electro-punk band"] , Franshiska Solivan, "Egypt's Insight Magazine", April 2006.]

Jaffa Phonix first emerged from the underground hip/hop scene in Egypt, [ [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=274 "Against the grain—Arab hip-hop bands struggle for recognition and funds"] , Sarah El Sirgany, "The Daily Star, Egypt", December 2, 2005.] and garnered mainstream recognition after a track from their first album, "Osti" (My Story), was played on the Egypt's biggest radio station, Nile FM. [ [http://www.teenstuffonline.com/jul2004-contents.htm "Palestinian phenomena"] , Muhammad Yousef, "Teen Stuff", July 2004.]

The band's most remarkable performance took place in Cairo, November 24, 2006, in front of almost 15,000 people at the second Save Our Souls music festival. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6217440.stm "New talent at Cairo music festival"] , Sarah Loat, BBC News, December 8, 2006.] [ [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4168 "Save Our Souls concert provides young Cairo with musical soul food"] , Alexandra Sandels, "The Daily Star, Egypt", November 27, 2006.] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66qEY5znQgo Interview with Jaffa Phonix on Mazzika TV] ]

References