TUNISIA: Lebanese singer Dina Hayek performs at Tunisia's Carthage Festival

Record ID: 591788

  • Title: TUNISIA: Lebanese singer Dina Hayek performs at Tunisia's Carthage Festival
  • Date: 19th July 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RAGA FARHAAT, MANAGER OF EVENT, SAYING: "These charity events are of the most noble kind, because they bring together good music and the audience of course, and the income from these events is directed towards finding employment for the handicapped, as is the case this time, or on another night, to help the children of immigrants who come to Tunis an
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tunisia
  • Country: Tunisia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAB478H6N8UG74VZJ3FBR36PRA
  • Story Text: Lebanese singer Dina Hayek performed at the 43rd edition of Tunisia's Carthage Festival on Tuesday (July 17). Hayek's performance was an outdoor event at the historical Carthage amphitheatre, a concert which allowed its audience to enjoy the music underneath a clear night sky and raise funds for charity.
    Hayek told a news conference a day before the concert she was honoured to be attending the festival for the second time.
    "I haven't been to Tunisia in a long time but I've missed you and I hope you have missed me," she said.
    "To attend Carthage for the second time is an honour for me, and a dream," she added.
    This year's Carthage Festival had a particular aim in mind and that was to raise money in aid of the employment of disabled people, a cause which Hayek was very happy to support.
    "As an artist, one is able to benefit society with regards to this matter and why not? I like to encourage such events because just as I give my smile to those who come and see me, if I can give to those who need me, than why not?" she said.
    Located on the outskirts of the city, the old amphitheatre was restored at the beginning of the 20th Century and seats up to 7, 500 people. 1964 saw the founding of the Carthage Festival which, since its establishment, has attracted a number of famous Arab artists such as Warda, Feyrouz and Sabah Fakhri to name but a few.
    However, its pull is not only to those from the Middle East but also further afield. The theatre's grounds have hosted internationally renowned artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and James Brown, amongst others and the addition of Dina Hayek to the long list of artists does the theatre's reputation little harm.
    Speaking about this years festival, the manager of the event, Ragaa Farhaat, said such events are in fact most noble for they promote an important cause.
    "The most important cultural events in the world today on television, in the media and in communication are the events that are concerned with famine in Africa and the greater social issues facing the world- art has no greater or more noble a role," he said.
    Hayek, 25, studied music at the Kaslik University in Lebanon and began her career in 1999. In 2003 Hayek released her first album and since then has had a number of chart-topping hits in the Middle East. Hayek released a further 2 albums since in 2005 and 2006.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register