Abdullah Miniawy (born 1994) is an Egyptian expressionist, writer, singer, composer, 3D generalist (programmer) and actor. Over the years, he has shared the stage with celebrated artists like Erik Truffaz, Kamilya Jubran, Yom, Médéric Collignon, Aly Talibab, A Filetta, Hvad, Ziur, Zuli, Simo Cell, Maurice Louca, and many others.
Abdullah has performed at prestigious international venues and festivals, including the 72nd Festival d’Avignon, French national theaters, the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Haus der Kunst in Munich, MAO Museum in Turin, Philharmonie de Paris, and even the Louvre in Paris.
Beyond his music, Abdullah showcased his acting talent in Ala Eddine Slim's Tunisian feature film Tlamess, which premiered at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival in 2019. The film received critical acclaim, winning Best Full-Length Feature Film at Kino der Kunst 2020 and Best Director at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2020. Abdullah was shortlisted for Best Actor by the Arab Cinema Center at Cannes. He also directed his first short film, Rain Ticket in 2021.
As a composer, Abdullah has composed soundtracks for dance, theater, and exhibitions, including Wael Shawki’s Cabaret Crusades III, premiered at MoMA PS1; Kirsten Dehlholm’s AMDUAT, premiered at Hotel Pro Forma; Insurrection by Jilani Saadi; and On the Hill by Belhassen Handous.
His influence extends beyond the arts. In 2021, the European Parliament in Strasbourg selected Abdullah as one of three "change makers" from the Schengen area, inviting him to share his French-Egyptian perspective on contemporary issues at the European Youth Event’s “Live Fully” section. He also took part in "Europe Takes Part," a forum of 30 diverse speakers discussing economic models and digital solutions for artists in a post-pandemic world.
Since 2016, Abdullah has collaborated with the German trio Carl Gari, blending avant-garde electronic sounds with his poetic lyrics. Their debut album, Darraje, was named one of the top 50 albums of 2016 by NPR. Their follow-up, The Act of Falling from the 8th Floor, received acclaim from Pitchfork, The Quietus, and Wire Magazine, while the track "Zawaj" topped Resident Advisor’s list of "Deep Listening" tracks in 2019.
In 2023, Abdullah’s album Le Cri du Caire, featuring Erik Truffaz, won the Les Victoires du Jazz award—the French equivalent of the Grammy Awards—achieving global distribution and acclaim.
As a writer, Abdullah's lyrics resonate deeply across the Middle East, especially during the Arab Spring, where they were displayed in places like Syria's Yarmouk Camp, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab and Western countries. In early 2022, he released his first collection of stories, Extinguishing The City of Lights.
To date, Miniawy has created or collaborated on nearly 700 shows and cultural exchanges across Europe and beyond, with up to 80 live performances scheduled worldwide for the 2023-2024 season. Each performance has been met with standing ovations and has left audiences with unforgettable moments.
Touring Projects for 2023/2024:
Le Cri du Caire
Abdullah Miniawy & A Filetta
Abdullah Miniawy Solo
Abdullah Miniawy Trio
Touring Projects for 2024/2025:
Abdullah Miniawy & Maurice Louca
Abdullah Miniawy Solo
Abdullah Miniawy Trio