The 34th Arab Music Festival opens its activities with Hani Shaker Night

The Arab Music Festival and Conference opened the activities of its 34th session dedicated to the name of the “Prince of Arab Singing,” Hani Shaker, at the Egyptian Opera House in Cairo, on Tuesday, with a night of singing dedicated to honoring the late Egyptian artist, who died last May. The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Acting Minister of Culture in Egypt, Abdulaziz Qanswa, announced that a statue of the late artist will be inaugurated inside the Opera House courtyard “in honor and in memory of his creativity and fine art, which will remain and continue throughout generations.”

Qanswa said that this session “comes with a special humanitarian and artistic significance, as it is dedicated to the spirit and name of the prince of Arab singing, the late great artist Hani Shaker, in appreciation of his rich artistic career and the sophisticated creativity he presented to Arabic song that spanned decades.” In poignant moments that were filled with tears, Nahla Tawfiq, Hani Shaker's wife, received an honorary shield and a certificate of appreciation in his name. She expressed her thanks and appreciation to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for what she described as the "classy obituary" he issued at the time of her husband's death, and said that he "represents great support and support for every Egyptian artist."

The ceremony witnessed the showing of a documentary film about the late artist, and a group of Egyptian singers performed selections from Hani Shaker’s most famous songs, to the tunes of the musical band led by Maestro Ahmed Atef. The artist Anushka performed the song “I Am My Heart for You,” and the artist Nadia Mostafa performed the songs “Mushthariki” and “Keda Barda Aqmar,” from the late artist’s songs.

The activities of the 34th session of the festival extend to October 30, at the theaters of the Opera House, the Institute of Arab Music, and the “Sayed Darwish” Theater at the Opera House in Alexandria, and include 24 concerts with the participation of 91 artists from Egypt and the Arab world.