Eritrea: Asmara Music School Graduates 9 Students
Mr. Elias Woldemicael, Director of the School, highlighted the role of music in daily life and its power to motivate public participation in national affairs and promote nationalism. He expressed appreciation to Government institutions and individuals for their support and called on the graduates to continue developing their skills through practice.
Mr. Tesfay Seium, Director General of Technical and Vocational Training at the Ministry of Education, expressed confidence that the students received quality musical education, citing the school's long-standing experience in the field. He also praised the efforts of the teachers and school community for nurturing musicians who can contribute to the development of the country's music industry.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
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Video: 1 dead, 6 injured after fireworks fail at Egyptian star Mohamed Ramadan's concert
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Their guided mentorship matchmaking programme is one of the first in the country and connects up-and-coming female talent with established figures within the industry for a four-month-long, tailor-made scheme. These listening circles and personalised initiatives are key to the success of female musical talent going forward, explains Zaidan. 'To amplify the voices of Saudi women and artists we have to listen to them first,' she says. 'Consciously and actively listening to the needs of the women in our music ecosystem is the only way to make progress. At the same time, it's important to treat these artists as just artists – not female artists – and allow them the space to create and explore without scrutiny or expectations, negative or positive, because of their gender.' As such, more than anything, there is a palpable sense of optimism felt by the country's female musical talent: 'Every problem we had in the past is actively being solved,' states Viva. 'Female DJs are now headlining events, collaborating with global brands, and becoming icons of empowerment and artistic expression. Anyone, male or female, can learn and participate in becoming a DJ.' Hearteningly, 85 per cent of the talent in Sensation Art Collective – Viva's creative brand, which was launched last year – are female. Breaking stereotypes and writing their own narratives But while they have the support of government entities, societal expectations, especially from friends and family, have been slow to shift – especially for women who feel the pressure to balance family expectations alongside creative ambitions. Certainly, when Viva first came to the Kingdom aged 18, 'Segregation was at its highest and music was unheard of in public places. Now, it's like being in two different countries. But people's attitudes remain a barrier… They think that because you're a DJ, you're a party animal who is living a superficial lifestyle. That's not true – the majority of female DJs I know have families and are educated. They have their own businesses, fashion lines and events companies – Cosmicat is a dentist!' For her part, Cosmicat says that while these pressures exist, she wants to highlight that Saudi women can maintain their cultural identity while moving with the times. 'There's this misconception that being cultural and being modern are two different things, and that is absolutely wrong,' she asserts. 'If you go and visit any Arab country, you will see those two things living together in harmony. I'm seeing more ladies every single day going out publicly to the world with their music.' For her part, Zaidan says that MDLBEAST is more than aware that social stigma still exists and acknowledges that more work needs to be done to reassure women that music is a viable and worthwhile career path. 'It's a barrier to passionate women who just want to perform. This means that often women don't take a chance at their full potential due to some cultural hangups. It's not as easy for women to be in these social spaces and participate authentically. There are also misconceptions about female performers where people discount or discredit their abilities just because of their gender – but this is quickly changing as music is becoming more and more celebrated societally.' With the Kingdom's renewed commitment to shine a light on its creative talent, and the plethora of opportunities around, Cosmicat and Viva are full speed ahead. Viva will soon DJ on the first day of this year's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2025, as well as at the Red Sea Games, both in December. And Cosmicat promises more music soon, as well as collaborations with both Arab and international artists. Paving the way for the next generation As well as advancing their careers, both Cosmicat and Viva are keen to pass the baton to the incoming wave of young female DJs. 'I've always tried to prioritise placing female talent in my events. One of my recent initiatives was when I organised a beach festival with an all-women line-up, and it was completely sold out, with a line at the door! Viva says. 'I help and mentor wherever I can,' adds Cosmicat, noting that she was one of the very first established musicians in the nation. 'But I built everything from scratch, and not everyone has to go through the hassle I went through eight years ago now,' she smiles. And so, their advice to the next generation is refreshingly simple. 'What I would say to anyone out there is that it's totally okay to indulge yourself in the creative realm,' Viva concludes. And for Cosmicat, it's all there for the taking: 'No one came up and just gave me instructions on how to make music. Keep on being persistent and don't get dragged down.' Words to live by, for sure. Read more about the Saudi women's DJ space.
