Rumor has it that controversial singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim visited Kuwait a few days ago to sing at the wedding party of one of the local upper crust.
The visit coincided with a news report by Reuters about an invitation sent by the anti-normalization conference, also held a few days ago in Kuwait, to Abdel Rahim in his capacity as the “Anti-Normalization Singer.”
Artists in Kuwait were cited as saying that Abdel Rahim sang many songs at the wedding party, including Ana Bakrah Israel (I Hate Israel), Umm Mohammed Bitsallem Alal Madam (Mohammed’s Mother Says Hi to the Madam), Hasib Al Maghna Wa Asafer Amsterdam Zay Ibrahim Wahusam (I Shall Quit Singing and Leave For Amsterdam Like Ibrahim and Hussam), Ana Bahib Al Himar (I Love the Donkey), Habattel Al Sagayer Min Awwal Yanayer (I’ll Stop Smoking as of January) and the second part of the song Habattel Al Shishah Wal Edman (I’ll Stop Hubbly Bubbly and Addiction). It has not been confirmed whether Abdel Rahim sang a special song for the Kuwaitis or not.
The Kuwaiti Al Rai Al A’m newspaper cited informed sources as saying that there were plans to arrange a press conference for the singer on his first visit to Kuwait, but his busy schedule in Kuwait and Egypt prevented him from doing so. The anti-normalization singer was prompted to return home and cancel the conference, added the daily.
Abdel Rahim is a popular singer who started his career from Cairo slums in the early 1980s. He used to work at a laundry during the day and as a singer at night, but was unknown for many years during which he suffered from poverty.
His best seller “I Hate Israel, with five million cassettes sold in Egypt, has brought him fame and money and put him in spotlight, moving him from an unknown to the front lines of the local, Arab and international media. His rise to fame attracted the eyes of CNN, which aired a special report from its correspondent in Cairo on the singer. Furthermore, he was hosted by the renowned Egyptian journalist Hamdi Qandil on his program, Editor-in-Chief, for his unique contribution to the art world – Albawaba.com
