Zoghbi, Nawal al- (1972–)

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Zoghbi, Nawal al-
(1972–)

Nawal al-Zoghbi (Nawwal al-Zughbi) has been a leading Lebanese pop singer since 1991. She has a huge following throughout the Middle East and the Arab-speaking communities of Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Al-Zoghbi was born in the coastal town of Jubayl (the ancient Byblos), Lebanon, not far from Beirut, on 29 June 1972. She was the first-born of three brothers and a sister. It was noticed early on that she had a passion and gift for singing. Her family supported this as a hobby, but took some convincing when she wanted to make it a career. She was a participant in the Lebanese television show Studio al-Fan in 1988, and began singing professionally not long thereafter. Her career truly took off with the release of her first album, Wa Hayati Andak (I promise on my importance to you), in 1992, after she had toured the Gulf states for two years. She has won numerous awards such as "Best Arabic Singer," "Best Album," and "Overall Best Singer."

In 1998 al-Zoghbi became embroiled in a controversy about song copyrights. She and the famous Syrian singer Huwayda both laid claim to a song titled "Mandam Alayk" (No regrets about you). Huwayda had recorded the song previously, but al-Zoghbi claimed that she had the original, and had been holding onto it. In the end the controversy seemed to cause little fallout for either singer, only giving each a bit more air time and publicity. In fact, it seems to have helped al-Zoghbi, as it is now one of her most popular and most requested songs.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

The music of al-Zoghbi, like that of many other Arab singers, was inspired by the legendary Egyptian singers umm kulthum and Samira Sa'id. However, the lyrics al-Zoghbi sings were heavily influenced by the violence of local and regional politics. The star grew up during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975 to 1990. Living near Beirut, she witnessed terrible events, which shaped her outlook. This lengthy and traumatic war instilled in her a deep sense of patriotism and unflinching nationalism, as well as humanitarianism. These attributes can be seen in both her songs and her deeds. She has several songs to her credit, such as "Ya Ummati" (Oh, my people) and "Ya Quds" (Oh, Jerusalem), that are patriotic, as well as others, like "Hikayat Watan" (Story of a nation), that were collaborations with other singers. When asked about her patriotic songs, al-Zoghbi stated that "I have strong feelings towards the relentless violence in the Middle East; I felt the need to do something, so I made this song." "Hikayat Watan" is a call for the liberation of southern Lebanon. She also released a song after former Lebanese prime minister rafiq hariri's assassination, titled, "La Ma Khilsit al-Hakaya" (The story has not ended). Along with these songs, she has dedicated her time to the people of Lebanon in times of crisis.

During the Israel-Hizbullah war in mid-2006, when many pop stars fled the country, al-Zoghbi decided to stay and do what she could for her people. In an article for the English-language monthly Egypt Today, she is quoted as saying that it was her "humanitarian and patriotic duty." (She could have easily left the country as so many others did at this time, as she holds a Canadian passport.) She toured the destruction wrought by Israeli bombing, and traveled to schools and colleges as well. She helped to rally her countrymen as well as sympathizers in the region to the cause of getting aid into Lebanon, and to the people. Mainly she did what she is good at, focusing the media's and the public's eye on the plight of the people. In a step that has inspired others, she decided to donate much of her earnings for her most recent album, Yama Alu (Oh how much people have said!), and organized a concert that was held in Beirut on 5 October 2006 to raise money for those most desperately in need. The concert was in conjunction with Jordanian Queen Rania's Jordan River Foundation.

To help with the recovery after the war had come to an end and the tanks and soldiers had gone, al-Zoghbi recorded two new songs in the "streets of Beirut." One of them, "Adi" (Normal), is an attempt to stress how life in Lebanon is slowly returning to "normal." Al-Zoghbi was the first Arab singer to call for aid from the larger music world, and to stress the need for all forms of aid for her country. She began, at this time, an organization called the Help Lebanon Campaign to distribute necessities to refugees and to ease their burdens.

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Name: Nawal al-Zoghbi (Nawwal al-Zughbi)

Birth: 1972, Jubayl, Lebanon

Family: Husband, Elie Deeb; one daughter, Tia; two sons, Georgy, Joey

Nationality: Lebanese (dual Canadian citizenship)

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

1988: Appeared on Studio al-Fan TV talent show
1992: Releases first hit album, Wa Hayati Andak
1997: Wins Lions Award for best singer in Lebanon and Jordan
1998: Wins award for Best Singer in the United Arab Emirates
2004: Wins awards for Best Lebanese Singer, Best Arabic Singer; Overall Best Song; Best Album
2005: Wins award for Best Arabic Singer
2006: Wins awards for Best Arabic Singer, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Video Clip of the Year, Best Dancing Song of the Year, Song of the Week (10 times); releases songs dedicated to Palestine, liberation of southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation, and assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri; organizes Help Lebanon Campaign in wake of Israel-Hizbullah war

FREE AND HAPPY

When I am singing, I feel that I am no more Nawal, I am transformed into a butterfly that is free and happy. When I feel that my audience is happy, I get my greatest reward…. I want to touch the people's hearts, when I am on stage…. I have strong feelings towards the relentless violence in the Middle East, I felt the need to do something, so I made this song ["Ya Quds"].

NAWAL AL-ZOGHBI ON HER OFFICIAL WEB SITE. AVAILABLE FROM HTTP://WWW.NAWALALZOGHBI.NET.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Global perception of al-Zoghbi has been very positive. She has a large following in the Middle East, and has also gained in popularity in Europe and in the Americas. She has toured through the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Sweden, and Germany, and many times in the Middle East and North Africa. She has released ten albums so far and has appeared in commercials and promotions for Pepsi-Cola since 2001. Fashion is also important to al-Zoghbi, and she has always tried to be at the forefront. Her patronage has furthered the career of the Lebanese designer elie saab.

LEGACY

It is too early to assess al-Zoghbi's ultimate legacy, but as a popular singer, an impassioned patriot, and to an extent a role model, she has left a mark not only on pop music but Arab culture in general and Lebanese in particular.