Franco-Saudi music week unites cultures in Jeddah

Arab News

12 hours ago

JEDDAH: A week-long music festival is celebrating the rich artistic ties between France and Saudi Arabia through a series of talks, musical performances and jam sessions in Jeddah.
Having kicked off on World Music Day – June 21 – the Music Week in Jeddah: A Franco-Saudi Celebration runs until June 27 and is hosted by the French Embassy and consulate in Jeddah in partnership with the Alliance Francaise, Art Jameel, Call of Culture, Music Home, Sout Albalad and Siddharta Lounge.
One of the featured events was a DJ session by French artist SONGE at Siddharta Lounge by Buddha Bar on Tuesday. She told Arab News that through her music she aims 'to break boundaries and create inclusive spaces where diverse voices and energies can connect.'
GUITARRAMA, the Ninth Artistic Music and Music Education Forum, hosted at Music Home on Monday, brought together a number of artists and experts.
It was spearheaded by Anouar Kablaoui, instructor at Music Home Higher Institute and founder of the forum.
Kablaoui said: 'This ninth edition explores how the guitar, a traditionally Western instrument, is being reimagined within Arabic musical aesthetics, jazz vocabularies and local creative industries.'
The forum also featured Saudi jazz guitarist Aqeel Hussein, who reflected on his personal journey with jazz, beginning at an American university and continuing with his efforts to bring the genre into the Saudi musical landscape since 2004.
'This forum was an opportunity to share my story and the passion that drives me to keep performing and educating through jazz. It's about showing how music can evolve when it crosses borders, while staying true to its roots,' Hussein told Arab News.
A performance by the student band Zakharef, formed by students of the University of Business and Technology, captured the spirit of the night. The band's musical debut was a tribute to the Hijazi heritage and the historical charm of Jeddah's Al-Balad, forming an emotional and lasting moment for both the performers and the audience.
Hayy Jameel is set to host an open jam session with French-Moroccan artist Karimouche on Thursday in collaboration with Hayy Sounds.
The performance promises a dynamic fusion of Eastern melodies, hip-hop, spoken word and beatbox — blending tradition and modernity in a truly global dialogue of sound.
Karimouche, the stage name of French Moroccan artist Karima Amarouche, told Arab News: 'It's an honor for me to participate in the emancipation of women in music here.'
She is known for fusing rap, spoken word, and North African rhythms in songs that explore themes of identity and resistance. She revealed that her Hayy Jameel performance will feature songs from both her latest album 'Folies Berberes' and earlier works.
She also shared how her collaboration with Saudi artist Roaa Lam began: 'I saw her on Instagram. I listened and thought, 'Wow, I love this artist. She's amazing'.'
Karimouche is deeply committed to working with women in music, both in France and abroad. 'It's important for me. There's a sense of female solidarity. It's an honor for me to participate in the emancipation of women in music here, and to witness the growing freedom year after year. God willing, I hope to return every year.'
Reflecting on her time in Saudi Arabia so far, she said: 'The music scene here is very rich. The collaboration with the all-female band Siham in Riyadh was magical. We created new pieces together and blended our styles. Now, the same is happening here with Roaa.'
Kosh spoke to Arab News about how he imitates instruments with his unique style of beatboxing.
He explained that his journey began in childhood: 'When I was a kid, I played with toy cars and made sounds … that evolved into beatboxing.'
Over the years, his talents have taken him to major venues, including the Montreux Festival in France. He now mixes beatboxing with humor, spoken word and live music.
Roaa Lam, the Saudi oud player, told Arab News about how she perceives oud and music: 'For me, it's not composition — it's emotional storytelling'
Representing Saudi Arabia in the international collaboration, Lam is a self-taught oud player, singer, and composer who brings authenticity and deep emotion to her music.
'I compose music and collaborate with other artists,' she said.
Lam spoke about one of her most meaningful projects: A piece called Kurd Al-Tha'alib (Kurd of the Foxes), which she composed using field recordings of women's voices in a public garden in Jeddah, before their neighborhood was demolished.
'I used the musical mode 'Kurd' and named the piece after the neighborhood that was called Al-Tha'alib before it was torn down,' she said.
The piece was performed at the Feminist Festival in Berlin — a milestone in her growing international presence.
She also reflected on her musical journey: 'I've been playing oud for about six years. I taught myself. I never studied in a music school — it's all self-expression. That's what music is to me.'
Music Week in Jeddah is a creative crossroads. Through the voices of artists, the festival highlights the richness of cultural exchange and the transformative power of music to build empathy, connection and beauty.
As Karimouche put it: 'My heart is full. The people here are respectful, kind and creative. I've learned so much from the Saudi artists.'
The celebration will conclude on Friday with an energetic Open Mic Night at Hayy Jameel, hosted by Slow Moe and spotlighting the emerging Saudi rap scene. This finale aims to showcase the voices of local youth and their growing impact on the global hip-hop scene.
Reflecting on the celebrations, Larry Lamartiniere, managing director of Alliance Francaise de Djeddah, said: 'Alliance Francaise de Djeddah is thrilled to celebrate La fete de la musique alongside its partners. It is an event that transcends borders and brings people together through the universal language of music.'
Mohammed Nehad, consul general of France in Jeddah, said the event is a 'powerful symbol of the deepening friendship and cultural cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia,' adding that he hopes it will continue to 'energize the local cultural scene in Jeddah.'