Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A language that knows no boundaries
Published in Daily News Egypt on 28 - 01 - 2008

I remember when I was young I used to arrange a mise en scene with my dolls and sing to them, imagining that they were my audience, Moroccan singer Karima Skalli recalled as she gazed from the Grand Hyatt balcony into the amazing view of the city.
Skalli is one of the rising stars of the new Moroccan indigenous scene. Her unique voice has rendered her a regular performer at major music festivals around the world. She is currently visiting Cairo to work with renowned Egyptian composer Omar Khairat on a new project.
"What attracted me to singing was the great happiness it gave me, she said. "Singing chooses you; you do not choose to sing.
Despite her passion for music and her notable skills, Skalli didn't pursue a professional career in music until after she got married and became a mother of two. November 1999 marked her first appearance in the Arabic Music Festival at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. Shortly afterwards, she participated in the Spiritual Music Festival in Fas in June 2000.
Ever since she performed in the Spiritual Music Festival in Fas, Skalli - whose Sufi-inspired songs are a fixture in her concerts - became convinced that spirituality, Sufism and music were tightly connected.
"I believe Sufism is in every one of us, we always turn to God in every day situations as in happiness, grief or sickness, she said.
She believes that Sufism is embedded in all different forms of music.
"Christian hymns, Quran chanting and Mozart's and Bach's music are all religious and Sufistic in a way.
When asked about whether religious songs should be expressed directly or not, she replied, "Religion is life; it is in the nature of people, love and social issues.
"I sing to share a true moment with my audience and not to impose a certain belief and God said in the Holy Quran that one should share the gifts he/she receives with others, she added.
"I was lucky to attend Omar Khairat's concert yesterday at the Cairo Opera House, and if you had seen how truly ecstatic the audience were, you would have understood what I am saying. Music is a dialogue of the soul between the artist and the audience.
In addition to her love for music and Sufism, she contributed to the International Women Festival in Marrakech in March 2000.
"I believe that singing frees women and empowers them, she said. "What's even more interesting is how music affects children. My daughter plays the piano and my son plays the Indian drum. And I realized that music brings some kind of equilibrium in the relationship with one another, in addition to the fact that they became more aware of which music is refined and which is commercial.
Earlier, she was humming some old tunes by Asmahan, one of her many favorite artists - a list that includes Um Kolthum, Laila Mourad, Soaad Mohamed, Sayed Darwish and Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
"Although I am Moroccan, I enjoy listening to artists from different nationalities. Music is a universal language, born within every human being.
Even back in ancient times, [pre-historic] man used to make different sounds when he was trying to say something, she said.
"I recall an interesting incident when I walked into a church and there was a Christian American woman by the piano. As soon as she started playing, I immediately started to sing as if we had rehearsed before together. It was amazing how music brought us together despite our different nationalities and religious beliefs.
"To me, the power of music is enormous; it is the power to convey feelings, sincerity and happiness, she added with a smile on her face.


Clic here to read the story from its source.