This a compilation of an eight part summer series, The Mawazine Sessions. Arts& Life's entertainment reporter Saeed Saeed sat down in Morocco to interview an eclectic array of music artists. Ranging from Arab-pop diva Nancy Ajram and Iraqi music king Kadim Al Sahir to African music queen Angelique Kidjo and influent French rappers IAM. Let's take a look back at some of the insights revealed from these informal chats.
Nancy Ajram
The Lebanese diva hit back critics who slammed her role as a judge on MBC's Arabs Got Talent. "I think those who say that have not watched the show or perhaps watched it but didn't listen," she said. "I didn't get to where I am now with ease. Before I released my first single, Akhasmak Ah, I studied music for nearly 10 years, including composition on the oud, vocalism and music theory. So the people who make these claims about my comments on the show are wrong. If they truly followed the show they would also realise I make comments about the performance in terms of the song, its modes and arrangements. I came to this show to help and not say "You have a great voice" and "I love your hair and make-up". Read more here.
IAM
The legendary French hip-hop collective IAM speak about their Arabic musical influences. "I was reading a book about the history of Arab poetry," says rapper Akhenaton, whose real name is Philippe Fragione. "I was amazed by its description of the poetry, which to me was basically similar to rapping. So all we are doing is continuing that tradition. The essence of poetry and rapping is really about communication." Read more here.
Cigdem Aslan
Cigdem Aslan is leading the charge in the renaissance of rebetiko, a Greek and Turkish sung genre that has been referred to as the Blues of the Aegean "It is the music of others," she explains. "It originated in the suburbs and cafes in Turkey and Greece and it's made by people who can't fit into the norms of society or who haven't been accepted. I won't say it's miserable, but the songs tell you stories of people and the sorrows they experienced." Read more here.
Kadim Al Sahir
The Iraqi singer and The Voice judge Kadim Al Sahir says he is more relaxed in the public eye and longs to return to Iraq and perform. I used to be a bit quieter. It's not in my hands, I grew up as a bit of an introvert and I was never the kind to go out late and party. Even when I am working, after I perform a concert, I immediately go home and start working on more songs. I have to tell you, I pay deep attention and work hard when it comes to creating music. I am always thinking of new concepts and lyrics. The kinds of songs and poetry I am presenting are not easy. Also, the audience are very sharp and they are aware of everything such as the way I pronounce the words and they would point it out when I make a mistake. The Voice helped me break that barrier and be more laid-back. Read more here.
Angélique Kidjo
The world music star speaks about her new memoir and the challenges facing African music. "African music stands where our economy stands," she says. "People just want that single story about Africa they have been told again and again throughout, over centuries. It gives them security and makes them feel strong. They don't want to get out of their comfort zone and confront the truth that the lives they are living is at the cost of many Africans." Read more here.
Jamila El Badaoui
Dubai-based Moroccan singer Jamila El Badaoui's on her pitch-perfect Khaleeji dialect. "Moroccans rarely have problems with understanding or taking on different dialects. If you give us some time, we can have it down 100 per cent," she says. "The reason is that Morocco has many dialects of its own, from the classical Arabic to Berber and Amazegh. Each of these are totally different, so we need to pay attention and understand them in order for us to communicate with each other." Read more here.
Wael Jassar
The popular Lebanese crooner Wael Jassar talks about his soon to be announced television talent show. "The show I want to produce is going to focus more on the positive than the negative," he says. "At the same time, one thing I can assure you is that I am not going to support voices that have no talent. The show is about finding voices that really deserves your support, based on the quality and not the popularity. In terms of my involvement, what I can say is that I always have the public's concern at heart. I want to be fair to the viewer and not just the contestant." Read more here.
Sarah Savoy
Sarah Savoy talks about how Cajun music is an musical expression of a way of life. " It's our music, our food and the way we live and work together," she says. "So no matter where we live, that way of life is still with us. So I live in France, the capital of cheese and bread. But I will call my Cajun friend and say "I am making some Shrimp Etouffee do you want to come over? She would come down and we would eat and then play music together. That's how we live and it becomes contagious once you are part of it." Read more here.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Empires%20of%20the%20Steppes%3A%20A%20History%20of%20the%20Nomadic%20Tribes%20Who%20Shaped%20Civilization
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKenneth%20W%20Harl%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHanover%20Square%20Press%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E576%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
