Barefoot Bodyguards

Written by: Youssra Essam

Edited by: Nourhan Adel

El-Amshagy known as the modern bodyguard today, used to roam the streets in the old days to protect important figures in the country.

He runs barefoot and in worn-out clothes, not because of stinginess or poverty but just because it was part of their culture. He stands out from all the passers-by. In loose white pants that barely cover his knees, a flowered vest and a Fez on top of his head that has underlying black threads in order not to resemble the upper class people, his gaze fixed somewhere ahead that your eyes can’t reach that his focus makes you anxious. While walking, he does not utter a word at all except for a single phrase that he continuously repeats while raising his voice, “Out of the way, your sir is on his way”.

Picture of El-Amshageya

Amshageya’s job:

“Amshagy” was a recognized profession with the appearance of El-Hantoor(Horse Carriage Rides) in the Egyptian streets. The state was keeping the positions of the elder statesmen by providing them with “El Amshageya” in exchange for money. It was forbidden for them to wear shoes and they had to walk barefoot in the street, but their posture reflected authority and the residence of their owner. This is evident from the strength of his body, his clothes, whip or stick that they held as they ran down the street.

El-Amshageya during work

Origin of the word “Amshagy”:

The word “Amshagy” is a term that the Egyptians knew during the Ottoman rule over Egypt, and it is derived from the term Amsha or Qamsha which means a skin whip, but it has been distorted by the Turkish language and adding to it the “G” because of the owner of the profession and it became “Amshagy” which means the whip holder.

The “Amshagy” today:

Despite the spread of this profession in Egypt in the past, “El Amshageya” were ashamed of it and some of them even hide the fact that their kids work as an “Amshagy” for elites. Over the years, the term “Amshagy” disappeared to be replaced by the term “Body guard” who follows officials and important figures in the country to protect them and keep passers-by away from them. They also increase their footsteps to be next to the cars to make way for them.

A body guard’s job can seem cool and great on the outside, but it requires a lot of effort and skills from them in order to be able to protect the people they are assigned to. It is a job that should be respected and appreciated.