Menia (Southern Egypt) – He gained fame in folklore singing in general, and in praising Muslims' Prophet in Particular. He is considered an extremely rare case in the field of "Folklore Traditions" for being a Copt; Christian Egyptian. 'Makram Al-Meniawy' who is well known by those celebrating their joyful occasions in Upper Egyptian Governorates, lives in a simple house in a village named "Bani Ahmed Al-Sharkia" in Menia Governorate in Upper Egypt. ‘Al-Meniawy' says that he has become a singer since 1966 and the folklore art was a "hobby" rather than a "profession" for him. The best thing of it is "getting acquainted with people." He said. Orthodox Copts, who comprise about 10 percent of Egypt's 90 million people, are the Middle East's biggest Christian community. He did not deny facing problems and difficulties for being a Copt praising the Prophet especially in period of the nineties which witnessed a spread of the extremist Islamic groups particularly in Upper Egypt. He added, "it is a strange and rare thing to be a Christian and praises the Prophet and gains a great fame and to bequeath that to your children too. According to statistics of workers unions, There are at least four Copts take praising Muhammed as their profession, mainly in Upper Egypt.
