The anonymous advocate

He is the most famous anonymous person in Egypt. He phones me from New York and Tokyo, Paris, London. A couple of days ago he phoned from Kuwait, happy about what the newspapers published concerning him. He did not know that even Israeli newspapers had run his pictures in the company of Saudi football enthusiasts -- even though he was at the centre of the picture, with a fez on his head, embracing an 'oud (oriental guitar) into whose wood his name was inscribed: Ali El- Seba'i, Egypt.

This man is a work of art unto himself; he is a peculiar phenomenon, rallying much enthusiasm in his own right. He goes anywhere where groups of Egyptians gather to play or support the playing of football, in order to play the 'oud as if he was conducting an orchestra -- forgetting that, in the middle of the customary din, it is impossible to hear him. Yet his aspect and voice indicate his immense happiness with his condition. What might be his condition?

He is no maestro conducting a philharmonic orchestra. In fact the concert halls in which he performs are equally unusual -- football fields, or Liberty Square in Manhattan, or the Place de la Concorde in Paris. He never cares whether or not someone will listen to him. His concern, rather, is the people see him and ask who he is, what he is doing and why he is doing it. Such, indeed, are the questions we must answer about him.

As for his identity, I know no more than the fact that he is the Egyptian-American citizen, or rather citizen of the world, Ali El-Seba'i. What he is doing is drawing attention to his Egyptian identity. And why? Because he wants millions of hands to applaud Egyptians -- in his image. It makes him happy enough to see his pictures in newspapers, and particularly when it is said that he is an Egyptian musician holding a historical musical instrument. It doesn't matter how he earns his living. What matters, rather, is that he is at the head of a long line of people that begins with him and never ends -- cheering Egypt and Egyptians at every musical pitch. When he called me he was overwhelmed by happiness at the fact that he was identified and publicised. He said he was in Kuwait today, and would move to Saudi Arabia tomorrow to watch and cheer the Egyptian team.

He is the anonymous happy man, treading oceans and continents to sing his beloved country. Thank you, Sheikh Ali.