Egyptian lyric poet Bakhit Bayoumi passed away at the age of 82 in the city of Mansoura, in the Dakahlia Governorate, after a long career in songwriting for major artists. He was renowned as the creator of the “Thousand Riddles” and the “Thousand Mawals.” The Association of Authors, Composers, and Publishers announced his passing on their official Facebook page, expressing condolences from the board, members, and staff to his family and fans.
The late poet requested that his epitaph read: “Here lies the sidewalk poet Bakhit Bayoumi.” Bayoumi was known for his commitment to engaging with the simple folk, frequently meeting them and addressing their needs. He counted among his friends the prominent figure Dr. Mohamed Ghanem, a pioneer in kidney and urinary tract transplantation.
Even in his final days, the late poet continued to write by hand, cherishing a particular poem dedicated to artists struggling at the outset of their careers, which aimed to add something new to art. His famous compilation “Al-Harif” reflected this dedication, as he dedicated it to a friend who was an artist and passed away, mentioning, “He used to sleep at any local café; the day he died, he died in silence.”
Bayoumi began his career in broadcasting at Middle East Radio, preparing material for program guests, where he learned media from veteran presenters like Sana Mansour, Inas Jawhar, Latifa El-Shafie, and others who left lasting impacts on the station. His first riddle segments at Middle East Radio were produced with the late director Hosni Ghanem and presented by the late artist Mahmoud Shokoko in the late 1970s.
He was the first to fully conceptualize lyrical compositions and devoted 17 consecutive years to crafting riddles, with the artist Nelly as the main star of the episodes. Bayoumi was also the pioneer in integrating culture into riddles, writing pieces about prophets and messengers and creating themed riddles highlighting notable figures; he notably wrote about the handkerchief held by the legendary Arab singer Umm Kulthum.
Bayoumi composed numerous songs, including “I Came at the Right Time My Love” for the late artist Warda, “How Is Your Health” for the late Mohamed El-Azab, and “I Melt in His Love” for the late Sabah. He wrote six songs for the late Fouad El-Mohandis for radio series in the 1970s, crafted songs, monologues, and sports programs for “Voice of the Arabs” for six years, and produced about 15 episodes of the series “Sir Al-Ard” and 66 radio and television series. Some of his most famous works include the series "Welcome to the Residents," "We Won the Case," and "Tomorrow the Flowers Will Bloom," which became famous for Mahmoud Yassine's song "Sweet, Ya Zuba."
