Lebanese singer Najwa Karam was surprised when her scheduled performance in Egypt late last month at the Marina Festival was suspiciously cancelled without prior warning. The singer had come to an agreement with the organizers of the festival to hold a concert and had set a condition that her performance be filmed live and aired on Egyptian television.
The singer’s concert was to take place on the August 25,2003, but was then notified that the date has been rescheduled until the end of the festival and that she was to hold the grand finale concert. Egyptian singer Shireen Wajdi’s husband, who is the head of the organizing committee, had notified Najwa of the changes and the singer told him of her previous conditions and both sides ended their negotiations with an agreement.
According to the London based magazine, Laha, the day before Najwa was to leave to Egypt she was in shock to learn that no tickets were provided for her and her band by the festival. The singer did not even receive any phone calls to clarify why her tickets were not sent and kept waiting until she decided that she will not attend the festival even if the organizers themselves came to take her. Until this day Najwa did not receive any apology from the organizers and has not heard one word from them on why they acted in the unprofessional manner they did.
On a different note, this year the organizers of the Jordanian annual summer festival Jarash have revealed that on performance held by Najwa Karam made more money than the two performances held by Egyptian singer Amr Diab. Sources revealed that there were many empty seats at both concerts held by Amr, while Najwa’s performances witnessed a full house.
Najwa’s concert proceeds helped the administration of the festival to make up for losses accumulated from the previous years, and gave a positive sign in the outcome of profits for this year’s festival.
Karam performed at Jarash on August, 7, 2003, after an absence from the festival that lasted 7 years. Najwa held a press conference in which she expressed her joy at returning to Jarash and her longing to sing to her Jordanian fans.
Najwa held a spectacular performance that kept her audience breathless, and had sung a special song dedicated solely to Jordan's King Abdullah II. The singer stressed that it was an honor for her to sing at the festival, especially since it adds greatly to a singer's career, unlike other festivals that hold no significance.
The singer added that her participation this year marked the second time she stands on the Roman stages, the last time being in the summer of 1996. Najwa stressed that the festival had brought her a lot of success, and is one of the main highlights of her career.
Karam previously released her latest album "Sahirni" (Mesmerized), under the music production company Rotana. The album is the singers return to the traditional folkloric Lebanese style. The singer has worked with a number of prominent Lebanese poets and composers to complete the work. The album is to mark Najwa's last album with Rotana according to a contract she has with them, which will be terminated after the release. It is still unclear whether or not Najwa will renew her contract.
Karam made her debut in the music world in 1985, with her participation in “Layali Lobnan” (Nights of Lebanon) performing Asmahan’s song “Layali Al Ons” (Nights of Pleasure). She was awarded the program’s Golden Medal for her outstanding performance at the event. – Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
