- Title: UK: World's first Muslim country singer on European tour
- Date: 8th July 2008
- Summary: (MER-1) LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 4, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LONDON'S ROYAL ALBERT HALL/ MUSLIM COUNTRY STAR KAREEM SALAMA AND GUITAR PLAYER WALKING INTO HYDE PARK VARIOUS OF SALAMA AND GUITAR PLAYER WALKING THROUGH PARK SALAMA AND GUITAR PLAYER SITTING ON GRASS AND TALKING
- Embargoed: 23rd July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA4I2ZU6R0NSNAS3P9WJEXKI1TW
- Story Text: Oklahoma's Kareem Salama, who is billed as the world's first Muslim country music singer, finds acceptance working in the American country music scene which is dominated by singers and fans of white, Christian North American origin. But Salama says it is a misconception that the genre does not allow for cultural diversity.
Kareem Salama is not your typical country singer. Although he hails from rural Oklahoma like many of his contemporaries, and speaks in a deep southern accent, Salama was born to Muslim parents who emigrated to the United States from Egypt and many of his songs have Islamic themes or are based on Muslim poems and sufism.
"I got into country music growing up. I was born and raised in Oklahoma and country music is like crickets in the background there. Anytime you go to a festival or if you go to the county fair or anything, you always hear country music. And of course, some of the most famous country music stars are from Oklahoma," says Salama, who was born about 95 miles northwest of Tulsa in Ponca City, a town which has just one other Muslim family.
The presence of Salama in the country music scene is somewhat unusual considering that this particular genre is dominated by singers and fans of white, Christian North American origin. But Salama says it is a misconception that the genre does not allow for cultural diversity.
"It's odd, because people tend to think first of all that the culture that country music comes from is sort of a closed-minded redneck culture and I think it's actually odd that people who say people are close minded are actually closed minded about those people. The people I grew up with are pretty open minded. They may be more conservative but I think they ... I never had a problem personally growing up," he says.
"I'm sure it's maybe interesting to some people that I'm Muslim but I think people know that I am an Okie (a person from Oklahoma) and they judge me just like they judge any other Okie," he adds.
Country music is seen as attracting a nationalistic and flag-waving contingent. The backlash against the Dixie Chicks by many country music stations over the anti-Bush remarks of lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003 continues, and the band are still weathering sluggish concert ticket sales in some American cities when on tour.
Salama's parents immersed him as a child in American culture and took him to see live country music shows and watch local rodeos. They also ensured that he was educated in the ways of Islam and in Arab culture.
"Well, my Islamic heritage influences what I do. I always say a famous Arabic quote which is that the tongue is the interpreter of the heart.
So certainly, the virtues that Islam teaches, I like to think, are in my heart so that it comes out in the music that I write," says Salama, who writes his own songs.
Salama is in London for the start of his European tour which kicked off with a private performance at the U.S. Ambassador's residence as part of the July 4 U.S. Independence Day celebrations.
When asked why he thought he had been selected to perform at the ambassador's residence, Salama said:
"I think that the (U.S.) Embassy (in London) -- and I wan't told this -- I think they do want to show that there is not this conflict that a lot of people tend to think there is. I'm very American and I'm very Muslim and I think they want to show that that is not a problem".
Salama has two albums under his belt, 'Generous Peace' (2006) and 'This Life of Mine' (2007). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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