Latest news with #Tunisian-Belgian
Al Etihad
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Timeless songs of Umm Kulthum come to life at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi concert
18 Apr 2025 15:57 AYSHA SHAAYA (ABU DHABI)Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) on Wednesday hosted a concert by Tunisian-Belgian singer Ghalia Benali in tribute to the Arab world's legendary diva Umm Kulthum and in celebration of women's achievements in education, research and the Adhoum on oud, Khaled Abouhegaze on drums and Vincent Noiret on cello accompanied Benali in delivering an immersive musical experience in front of an audience of over 450 at the Zayed Theatre that included Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra. Known for her expressive voice and powerful performances, Benali uses her multicultural influences to fuse classical Arabic music with contemporary genres such as Arabo-flamenco, jazz and world in Belgium and raised in Tunisia, her adoration for the iconic Egyptian singer began in her childhood. "I thought Umm Kulthum was my grandmother. Her presence was always felt in our home, through her music, and the many photos of her hanging on our walls. She is one of us," Benali told Aletihad . Her performance included excerpts of Umm Kulthum's classic Arabic poetry and famous Egyptian Benali's appreciation for Umm Kulthum's work grew, she decided to honour her legacy with her own unique rendition and style of music."I am not singing for Umm Kulthum. I am telling her story through her songs, sharing what she taught me, and what became part of me from her. "When I sing her songs, it is like I am returning to my roots, as if I am yearning to speak to my grandmother," Benali a fan of Ghalia, said: "We have known Ghalia in Tunisia for more than 20 years. She has a unique take on Umm Kulthum's songs." Using only oud, percussion and cello, she rendered an unforgettable performance, he from all ages were taken on a journey of nostalgia, singing along with her and applauding her powerful tribute."Many people say that singing Umm Kulthum's work is hard, but Ghalia is an exception," shared one of Benali's Al Hakim, Chief of Staff at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad the concert aligns with the university's mission of empowering women."Celebrating an icon who was bold in her choices, loved by the public and honoured by all in the Arab world and beyond, gives a strong message to our students about the role that women can play in shaping society, and to pursue their dreams in a world that has considerably evolved," Al Hakim part of the tribute, SUAD officially renamed its iconic Oval Room in honour of Umm Kulthum, designating it as Umm Kulthum Hall, in recognition of her lasting influence as a cultural and artistic icon.
The National
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Reinterpreting a legend: Singer Ghalia Benali on the enduring power of Umm Kulthum
As a child, Tunisian-Belgian singer Ghalia Benali thought Umm Kulthum was her grandmother. Such was the presence of her faded portrait above her parents' bed – with the revered Egyptian singer staring ahead in her signature curved sunglasses – that Benali believed she was a blood relative. "That's where my emotional connection with Umm Kulthum comes from," she tells The National. "It's not about musical awareness or analysis. It's a mysterious, ancient bond – something instinctive, like a longing. I was four years old and remember that picture, and I heard her voice in every room. It was familiar, as if I was born to it." That personal bond will be shared on stage when Benali performs a tribute concert to Umm Kulthum at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The cultural event, which includes concerts and literary discussions, is one of many taking place across the region to commemorate 50 years since the legendary singer's passing. The Abu Dhabi concert is part of an ongoing project that began with Benali's 2010 album Ghalia Benali Sings Umm Kalthoum in which the original, expansive orchestral arrangements are stripped down to oud, double bass, percussion and Benali's expressive vocals. Featuring songs such as Al Atlal and Araftu'l Hawa, the project focuses on the intimacy of the lyrics – a choice Benali describes as the only viable way to approach one of the most prestigious canons in the Arabic songbook. "I will not be singing her – I will be telling her," she adds. "I treat these cherished songs as if I'm narrating a poem or a story I share with the audience. Between these poetic and musical performances, we can create a contemporary moment." And this occasion may eschew some of the material audiences are most familiar with. Benali says the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi stage offers an ideal opportunity to delve deeper into Umm Kulthum's vast catalogue with select pieces introduced by short reflections on their artistic and cultural impact. "In this more academic context, I can choose and present more complex or lesser-known songs – pieces not for dancing, but for deep listening," she says. "I recall that after a show at Dubai Opera, a woman came up to me and said 'but you didn't sing the Umm Kulthum songs we know – the ones we dance to and sing along with'. I replied 'perhaps each of us has our own Umm Kulthum – and this was mine'.' Benali adds that Kulthum's catalogue – said to include between 280 and 320 songs – intentionally avoided direct lyricism in order to resonate widely. 'This is precisely what made her great – she doesn't offer solutions. Instead, she knows how to ask the right questions, ones that gently open wounds and tell people: 'I see you, I hear you, I feel you'.' Another point, Benali, who is also a vocal instructor, wants to highlight with the concert is the rigorous training Umm Kulthum underwent on her path to stardom – an aspect increasingly overlooked in today's modern music landscape. 'It began with Quranic recitation, which allowed her to learn all the possible maqamat (musical modes) and the secrets of Arab sensitivity,' she says. 'I always tell my students in Europe who are learning Arabic singing that the first and deepest school for understanding the language – its spirit, tone, and rhythm – is listening to Quranic recitation. "Umm Kulthum emerged from this school. She came from its spirit and transcended it to become an artistic phenomenon, gathering around her the greatest poets, composers and creatives and crafting a complete artform in every sense of the word.' Tribute to Umm Kulthum by Ghalia Benali at Zayed Theatre, Sorbonne Abu Dhabi on Wednesday; show starts at 8pm and tickets start from Dh200 from the university website
