4M: The Family That Brought Disco Funk to Egyptian Pop

In late-1970s Cairo, Egyptian band 4M was formed. The group consisted of Ezzat Abou Ouf and his four sisters: Maha, Mona, Mervat and Manal. Against a backdrop of Egyptian classics such as Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez, an experimental undercurrent was forming alongside them.

Following Egypt's opening up after the Nasser era, there was a growing appetite for lighter, youth-oriented culture. This came in the form of bands such as Les Petits Chats, a group formed in 1967 in which Ezzat Abou Ouf was a core member. The rock band covered hits from across the globe and managed to build a cult following despite having no record label or studio albums.

It was this experience with Les Petits Chats that inspired Ezzat to leave medical school and form a disco-funk band with his four sisters. The band initially started with covers before moving on to their own material, eventually releasing eight albums. Their hits included El Leila El Kebira and Dabdoba El Tekhina. Their aesthetic was quintessential disco: flared trousers, big hair, coordinated outfits and synchronised dance moves.

The band went on to launch the career of Ezzat Abou Ouf, who became a renowned composer and actor in Egypt, starring in more than 100 films throughout his lifetime. 4M also helped launch the career of notable musician Mohamed Fouad, who worked with the group early in his career.

4M eventually disbanded as Ezzat moved on to acting and his sisters married and focused on family life. That said, the occasional reunion has kept the band's legacy alive, reigniting nostalgia across the Arab world and cementing their place as one of Egypt's most beloved pop groups.

Words by @smizzowrites