Festivals: MENA, Nawafiz and Souk
MENA, Nawafiz & Souk
No one needs to be told we live in turbulent times, with the Middle East being one of the biggest hot spots. MENA is a new abbreviation for the region Middle East North Africa and the name of the festival in Groningen this month:
“In these uncertain times, MENA is here emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives, with art and culture contributing to connection, broadening horizons, and fostering deeper understanding.”
There are similar events in Amsterdam (Souk) and Utrecht (Nawafiz).
Arabicana
The three festivals offer a stage to a rich music culture, old and new – music that isn’t heard much in general Dutch media, but is definitely alive in the underground scene. The Dutch band NO Blues for example, who coined the phrase Arabicana for this new genre; a mix of the Arabic oud (lute) of Haytam Safia and the Americana guitar style of Ad van Meurs. There are all kinds of variations of related fusions, throughout all MENA countries. The Morrocan blues has Karima El Filali, Algeria has the elegant Algerian Music Hall or musette of Les Orientales and Sudan brings us the nimble arabic beat from singer Gamar Badawi.
Oum Kalthoum
The repertoire of Fairouz and Oum Kalthoum, the two most famous singers from the Middle East, also breathes a mix of different worlds of music. This time it’s big ensembles with oud, qanun (zither) and riqq (percussion) that are accompanied by a string orchestra. Kalthoum was already a legend in the Arabic world during her lifetime. She performed on Egyptian radio every first Thursday of the month from 1943 till 1973. According to her biographer Mohamed El-Fers: “When she gave her monthly performance, everybody in Northern Africa and the Middle East listened, all life would go on hold momentarily, causing slow traffic until even the next day.” And: “Three million people walked her to her final resting place, lead by the former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.”
Kalthoum’s death, 50 years ago, was commemorated recently with the performance by the Dutch National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam: Oum – A Son’s Quest for his Mother.
Dates and venues
MENA is here – 18/ 24 May, different venues (Groningen)
https://menaishere.nl/about-mena/
Nawafiz: 24 May – TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht)
https://www.tivolivredenburg.nl/agenda/28259329/nawafiz-2025-24-05-2025
Souk: 30 May – The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam)
Playlist Ritmundo
- NO Blues – The World Keeps Turning (NL) 3’40CD: Oh Yeah Habibi (CRS, 2015)
- Haytham Safia – Galilee Grooves (NL) 3’50
CD: Grooves From the Galilee (CRS Mem Records, 2010) - Karima Filali & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest – Araaka (NL) 6’55
CD: Ziel| Rough (2018) - Oum Kalthoum – Anta Oumri (EGYPT) 15’25
LP: Anta Oumri (Sono Cairo, 1971)
- Natacha Atlas & The Mazeeka Ensemble – Beny Ou Benak Eih (UK) 4’08
CD: Ana Hina (World Village, 2008)
- Jamal Porto – Gamar Badawi (SUDAN) 3’55
CD: Acoustic Arabia (Putumayo, 2008)
- Fairouz – Beirut Hal Zarafat (LIBANON) 6’30
CD: Beirut (Virgin, 1997) - Les Orientales – Alger, Alger (ALGERIA) 4’20
CD: Acoustic Arabia (Putumayo, 2008) - Amr Diab – Nour El Ain (EGYPT) 4’25
CD: North African Groove (Putumayo, 2005)
Technician: Dirk Winkel, compiled and presented by Stan Rijven
