- Title: Jordan's Al Balad festival celebrates Arab musicians
- Date: 30th July 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TUNISIAN ARTIST, MOUNIR TROUDI, SAYING: "Diversity is important with other cultures because the important thing about music is that it brings closer distances and overcomes borders and differences. The only thing that remains in the world is music which is the only language that is understood by all nations, despite their cultural differences. Without music, we would not have the honour to meet with the brothers from the occupied Golan."
- Embargoed: 13th August 2017 10:55
- Keywords: Al Balad music festival Jordan music scene arab music talent
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0056RWR0PH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Syrian band Hawa Dafi, kicked off an evening of music in Jordan as part of the city's Al Balad music festival.
The event brings together musicians from around the region to share their diverse musical talents with an Amman audience.
Hawa Dafi, a band based in the occupied Golan Heights, merge western and eastern musical styles to create their own unique sound.
They're among several performers who are taking to the stage as part of the festival's fifth edition.
Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Raed Asfour, the director of Al Balad theatre, which organised the event, said it's an opportunity for young performers to join together to create something new.
"It's very important to have this involvement in music and talent, because this is the aim of the festival, which also includes linking and bringing together talented people with each other, especially young people, so that they can create something new. The good things this year is that it took us four editions to achieve this, where young people were able to work together, so it is very important. Maybe this is one of our festival's advantages, to have a joint production from talented artists from all over the Arab world,'' he said.
Tunisia's Mounir Troudi, known for his jazz and sufi music also performed to festival goers at the historic Odeon Theatre.
He said it was an 'honour' to perform alongside Hawa Dafi.
"Diversity is important with other cultures because the important thing about music is that it brings closer distances and overcomes borders and differences. The only thing that remains in the world is music which is the only language that is understood by all nations, despite their cultural differences. Without music, we would not have the honour to meet with the brothers from the occupied Golan,'' he said.
Joining in song Hawa Dafi and Mounir Troudi performed ''Ounadikom'' (I'm Calling You) originally a poem written by Palestinian poet Tawfiq Ziad and composed by Lebanese singer and composer Ahmad Kaabour.
The eight-day festival ends on August 2. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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