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Khater Dawa, Cairo-trained Syrian oud player to perform at El-Genaina Syrian singer and oud player Khater Dawa speaks to Ahram Online on his background and how he chose Egypt for his musical development
Syrian singer and composer Khater Dawa has been living in Cairo since 2010 and currently studies at the Arab Oud House academy. For the Egyptian audience, his concert scheduled on 28 June at El-Genaina Theatre will be an opportunity to see the young artist's development. Dawa was born in Masyaf, Hama in Syria where he worked as a mechanic for eight years. In parallel, however, he was also involved in the Syrian arts scene and moved to Abu Dhabi in 2008 to look for a job until he met saxophonist, flutist and old friend, Hussein El-Sheik, who encouraged him to move to Cairo. "I chose Egypt because it's one of the best Arabic countries where I can gain good musical experience. I also wanted to join The Arab Oud House, a school run by the oud player Naseer Shamma," Dawa explains to Ahram Online. Since 2010, Dawa performed in several venues in Egypt, including El-Sawy Culturewheel, Talaat Harb Cultural Centre, the Poetry House and the Ahmed Shawqi Museum. He also held several concerts at festivals in Syria, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and has hosted several charity concerts benefitting Syrian refugees in Cairo and Istanbul. One of his important appearances was within The International Samaa' festival for Sufi music and chanting held in Algeria, which was chosen as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2011. In 2012, Dawa won the production Awards Programme for Young Creative Arabs, designed to support young Arab artists under the age of 35 in the fields of literature, music, video, film, theatre and visual arts. Dawa received financial support for the production of his first album titled We Are the Sunrise. According to Dawa, the album will include works in support of Syrians in a humanistic way and bring attention to their suffering, activating the role of art, word and melody in the struggle for victory in the Syrian Revolution. Al Mawred Al Thaqafy (The Culture Resource) also promoted him and advised him on how to manage his productions. "I have ten singles ready and I hope to release the complete album soon," Dawa told to Ahram Online. Watching what's going on in Syria from Cairo, Dawa says: "What's happening in Syria is very painful, this war must stop. Knowing that there is a dictator killing innocent people leaves me speechless." Programme: Friday, 28 June at 8pm Noha Taha (first half) Syrian musician Khater Dawa (second half) El-Genaina Theatre, Al-Azhar Park http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/74966.aspx
