MOROCCO: Country honours one of its most well-loved musicians Abdelwahab Doukkali with a star-studded tribute concert in Rabat

Record ID: 839920

  • Title: MOROCCO: Country honours one of its most well-loved musicians Abdelwahab Doukkali with a star-studded tribute concert in Rabat
  • Date: 14th May 2012
  • Summary: RABAT, MOROCCO (MAY 9, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MOHAMMED V NATIONAL THEATRE POSTER FOR THE TRIBUTE EVENT TO ABDELWAHAB DOUKKALI ABDELWAHAB DOUKKALI SINGING ON STAGE WITH THE ORCHESTRA BEHIND HIM AUDIENCE CLAPPING DOUKKALI SINGING HIS HIT FROM THE SIXTIES "I'M ONLY A HUMAN BEING" AUDIENCE CLAPPING DOUKKALI SINGING AUDIENCE CLAPPING AND SINGING ALONG DOUKKALI SIN
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Morocco
  • City:
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics: People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3SVFARKHQ489NDDEC8B9AGA41
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  • Story Text: Morocco honoured one of its most well-loved musicians on Wednesday (May 9) with a star-studded tribute concert at Rabat's Mohammed V National Theatre.
    Abdelwahab Doukkali, an internationally recognized singer, composer and musician, received an accolade from his own country just two weeks after being honoured in neighbouring Algeria.
    Doukkali, who started his singing career in the 1950s, was awarded by the Moroccan Bureau for Intellectual Property for his contribution to contemporary Moroccan music.
    The 71-year-old artist has over 400 songs under his belt, encompassing a wide range of themes and touching on topics including patriotism, romance and social issues.
    Doukkali's influence on contemporary music in Morocco was evident, as the packed audience clapped and sang along when he performed some of his most popular tunes such as the 60's hit, "I'm Only A Human Being".
    The audience cheered loudly as Doukkali was presented with an award for his achievements and contributions to the music world by the Moroccan Information Minister Mustapha Khalfi.
    Doukkali said the tribute paid to him was in fact a tribute to all of his fellow artists.
    "I am proud to be the first artist to be honoured by the new government. When I am honoured, I feel that it is recognition not for me only but for all my fellow artists. I love my fellow artists, and anything that happens to me happens also to my fellow artists," Doukkali told the audience.
    For more than half a century, Doukkali composed and sang hits that had transcended generations and frontiers.
    He has sung in nearly every Arab capital from Morocco to the Gulf and also performed in Europe and the Americas. He's considered one of the living legends of Moroccan music and has received numerous local and international awards Many of Doukkali's songs have been sung over the years by other famous Arab artists. Even today, many singers are re-mixing his songs and lyrics with more trendy sounds.
    Moroccan Information Minister Mustapha Khalfi praised Doukkali for both popularising and modernising Moroccan music.
    "Abdelwahab Doukkali is a master of Moroccan music that is closely attached to the problems of Moroccan society. He contributed to giving it a prominent place and to making it known at the local, Arab and international levels. He managed to give us an art closely linked to Moroccan society which expresses its aspirations and sufferings," said Khalfi.
    Doukkali's repertoire includes songs that touch on topics close to the hearts of many Moroccans.
    One of his songs about corruption was banned by the government in 1965. He also sang about oppression of the vulnerable and the gap between the rich and the poor.
    Abdelati Amenna, who conducted the Moroccan National Orchestra to accompany Doukkali, praised Doukkali for his contribution to the Arabic music.
    "This man gave a lot to Moroccan music. All his songs were successful. Every one of his songs was well accepted by the public," said Doukkali has recently finished his autobiography, which is due to be published in three parts under the title "Something from my Life".
    Fella Ababsa, a renowned Algerian singer who performed at the tribute concert, said she considered Doukkali a mentor and a brother.
    "I am honoured to have met Abdelwahab Doukkali. We met regularly at cultural events and with time, we built a friendship. He is more than a brother to me. I am fascinated with visual arts and he is an excellent painter. He has not only a beautiful voice, he has also shown us how to stand on stage and how to feel," said Ababsa.
    Doukkali is also an acclaimed oud player, and displayed his talent with the lute-like string instrument on Wednesday to the delight of the audience.
    Many well-known Moroccan artists took part in the tribute event in Rabat, including El Bachir Abdou and Latifa Ra'afat, and performed a selection of Doukkali's most famous hits for the thousands of spectators who filled the National Theatre.
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