The biggest names in the oriental stage with the rising Moroccan stars, in the first parts of the concerts.

Rabat, Sunday, May 12th 2019: The Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World, placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is pleased to present for its 18th edition, the full program that will take place on the Nahda stage.

Dedicated to oriental music, no stage better illustrates Mawazine’s passion for Arabic music. This year, no less than eighteen renowned artists will perform there, from June 21st to the 29th, offering the most beautiful repertoires from the Arab world.

The biggest names of Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates will perform for the Mawazine public. In the first parts of each concert, performances will take place by talented Moroccan artists, known in the Middle East, and whose registers are close to oriental sounds.

The opening of the Nahda stage will be celebrated with the Lebanese diva Carole Samaha. Multi-talented artist, Carole Samaha will perform her most beautiful songs that have made the success of her prestigious career over the past 20 years. Carole has released many singles and albums for which she has received a multitude of awards, including the “World Music Award”, as best performer of the Middle East (Monaco 2014) and the “Murex d’Or” for the 2013 best female artist.

On the same night, the singer Mohamed Réda will ensure the first part of the evening. This native of Marrakech represents the new generation of modern Moroccan music. Mohamed Réda currently has two albums to his credit and multiple concerts in Morocco and abroad.

On Saturday, June 22nd, the Nahda venue will vibrate with the inimitable voice of the Lebanese singer Assi El Hallani. Nicknamed “Knight of Arabic Music”, Assi El Hallani specializes in jabali music. The artist has to his credit, more than 25 albums and numerous concerts in prestigious international stages.

Yousra Saouf will be the Moroccan talent performing in the early evening. Yousra became famous at the age of 20 years old and made a name for herself during the second season of Arab Idol. Her career was launched with the single Bghitou Yahlali followed by other successful titles such as Habibi Mokhtalif and Ma Hibak.

On Sunday, June 23rd, the public will get to live an exceptional show with Myriam Fares. Queen of the stage, the Lebanese singer has accumulated success by varying styles, between modern, popular and oriental Arabic music. Always oriented towards creativity and new trends, Myriam Fares collaborates for each of her albums with great composers and producers of Arabic music.

In the first part of the evening, the Egyptian duo Oka Wi Ortega will perform to enliven the crowds. The artists Mohamed Salah and Ahmed Metwali will offer an astonishing mix of Egyptian folk music and hip-hop culture. Very present in social networks, the Oka Wi Ortega duo attracts millions of views and perform in the most popular Egyptian festivals.

On Monday, June 24th, the public will undoubtedly be delighted with the presence of Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf. The winner of the 2013 edition of Arab Idol has produced four successful albums and offers a repertoire ranging from jabali songs to modern titles. Acclaimed in the Arab world, he was appointed Ambassador of Culture and Arts in Palestine.

The evening will start with one of the best representatives of popular Egyptian music, singer Saad El Soghayar. Nicknamed “the prince of chaâbi”, El Soghayar perfectly combines oriental pop influences with traditional Egyptian styles. Among his most famous songs: Bel Arabi, El Kalam Ala min, Bat Bat, and Sabah Elshaqawa.

On Tuesday, June 25th, it is the Lebanese singer Elissa who will perform on the Nahda stage. Considered one of the greatest artists in the Middle East, Elissa has sold more than 45 million albums to date. In 2005, 2006 and 2010, she received the Middle East’s Best Singer Award at the World Music Awards.

Hamid Hadri will perform in the first part of the evening. This native singer-songwriter from Chefchaouen won first place at the Star Academy Maghreb and created his fusion group “Al’Ma”. He then joined “Mazagan” before embarking on a solo career.

On Wednesday, June 26th, Lebanon and Jordan will be in the spotlight with artists Walid Toufic and Diana Karazon.

Lebanese singer and actor, Walid Toufic has spent most of his career in Egypt. He is widely known for his performances and his music videos. His passage in 1973 on the famous Lebanese TV show “Studio El Fan” sparked a long artistic career. Walid has played various roles in great Egyptian films. His greatest concerts took place in Carthage, Tunisia, but also in Jordan, Morocco, Syria and Egypt. The artist holds a rich repertoire of nearly 600 songs written and composed by reputable writers from the Arab world.

As for the Jordanian Diana Karazon, she became famous after winning the first season of SuperStar in 2003 (Arabic version of Nouvelle Star). Diana is at the same time a singer, a TV presenter and an actress. She has released 4 albums to date. She is currently one of the most famous singers in Jordan.

The evening of Thursday, June 27th will vibrate under the sounds of Lebanese singer Ramy Ayach. Winning the most prestigious pan-Arab awards, the one that is at the origin of great successes such as Albi Mal and Majnoun, is one of the most adulated artists in the Arab world. Ramy is also an actor. His most recent role was in the series “Amir El Leil“. Ramy is the founder of the NGO “Ayach Al Tofoula Foundation“, dedicated to the education and empowerment of children.

The Moroccan Hasna Zalagh will perform in the first part of the evening. Revelation of the show Studio 2M in 2005, she released her first album “Waffar Kalamak” with Rotana in November 2009. With a beautiful tone of voice and good musical choices, Hasna has a rich list of songs and collaborated with big names of Arabic music.

The two concerts on Friday, June 28th on the Nahda stage will mark the spirits. Audiences will meet the Lebanese diva Najwa Karam. Nicknamed “The Sun of Arabic Song”, Najwa Karam is one of the most popular artists in the Middle East. Trained at the Beirut Music School, she started on the Arab scene in 1989 with titles such as Ya Hbayeb, Ma Bismahlak, Naghmet el Hob and Hazzi Helou. Najwa Karam has received a large number of titles and awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide, with each of her albums becoming a bestseller.

The early evening will be marked by the presence of the Egyptian artist Abu. Talented composer and performer, Abu joined a choir in his early years before starting a career as a singer in 2013. Outstanding in writing, he became a true pan-Arab phenomenon thanks to the hit “3 daqat“, voted song of the year in 2017, and recorded with the Egyptian actress Youssra.

On Saturday, June 29th, Mawazine will offer a closing concert with the great Emirati artist Hussain Al Jassmi. At just 39, Al Jassmi celebrates 15 years of an amazing career. Hussain Al Jassmi has been instrumental in spreading the musical culture of the United Arab Emirates well beyond the Middle East. In 2008, he received the Golden Murex Award for Best Arab Singer and was nominated three times at the World Music Awards. His talent and human commitment make him an ambassador for good causes.

This great evening will begin with the melodious voice of Zinab Oussama. The young artist started her career by winning the first prize in the singing competition of the Egyptian Opera House. She also participated in the X-Factor show (2013) before finding success in the 9th season of the Arabic edition of Star Academy.