Saudi producer Mona Khashoggi on her new musical, a tribute to Umm Kulthum

Saudi producer Mona Khashoggi on her new musical, a tribute to Umm Kulthum
The show will make its Middle East debut at Dubai Opera on May 3. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 April 2022

Saudi producer Mona Khashoggi on her new musical, a tribute to Umm Kulthum

Saudi producer Mona Khashoggi on her new musical, a tribute to Umm Kulthum
  • ‘Umm Kulthum & The Golden Era’ makes its regional debut next month

DUBAI: When it comes to musical theater, London’s West End is second only to Broadway in terms of significance. It’s a rare occasion, though, when an Arab-focused production finds its way into the ranks of globally renowned shows such as “The Lion King,” “Wicked” and “Les Misérables.”

But in 2020, just a couple of weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic forced theaters worldwide to close their doors, Saudi playwright, producer and arts patron Mona Khashoggi introduced Londoners to “Umm Kulthum & The Golden Era” — a show based around the life story and seminal songs of the late Egyptian singer, who died in 1975. The show will make its Middle East debut at Dubai Opera on May 3.

Khashoggi came up with the idea for the show when she arrived at the sad realization that musical theater had become a lost art in the region.

“I was sitting there thinking, ‘Why don’t we, Arabs, make something like “Mamma Mia”?’




Lubana Al-Quntar as Umm Kulthum in the musical 'Umm Kulthum & The Golden Era.' (Supplied)

There used to be so many musicals in the Arab world, but now — apart from some in Lebanon — it’s just concerts,” Khashoggi tells Arab News. “I wanted to do a musical in the West End, but with an Arab story.” 

That proved to be a hard sell. “I went to all of the Arab producers and nobody wanted to do it,” Khashoggi says. “They were all afraid to touch it, because Umm Kulthum is like a goddess.”

So the producer took matters into her own hands, writing her first international play. One that demonstrates the rise of Umm Kulthum from Qur’an orator to iconic diva. 

The story begins with Umm Kulthum’s humble childhood in the rural Egyptian Delta. Her supportive father, a sheikh, played a crucial role in her life, teaching her how to read Qura’nic verses aloud. That practice had a huge influence on her singing.




Mona Khashoggi is a Saudi playwright, producer and arts patron. (Supplied)

By the 1960s, Umm Kulthum — “The Star of the East” — was at the top of her game. She released her biggest hits, including “Alf Layla Wa Layla,” in her sixties and seventies and was revered by almost everyone in the Arab world, from all backgrounds. She had plenty of fans in the West too, including superstars like Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, and Robert Plant.

In 1967, her sold-out shows at the Olympia in Paris helped finance and rebuild the Egyptian army under the rule of her friend, Gamal Abdel Nasser. She became a symbol of national pride. “I think she was super clever,” Khashoggi says. “She was a fellaha (village girl), who became the greatest woman in the Arab world. . . She loved the soil that she stood on and was proud of who she was.”

Her death was international news. “When she died, the whole Arab world mourned her,” Khashoggi says. “Who gets that kind of treatment?”

For the producer, this was a deeply personal project. Her late father Mohammed was a good friend of Umm Kulthum and when the singer died it hit him hard.




Sanaa Nabil, Umm Kulthum's great-grandniece, will perform in the show. (Supplied)

“My dad locked himself in a room for three days. As a child, it was a very traumatizing experience,” she recalls. The musical’s exploration of Umm Kulthum’s important relationship with her own father is a nod to Khashoggi’s relationship with Mohammed, who introduced her to a whole world of culture during her childhood, which was spent in Lebanon and England. 

The musical has two actresses playing Umm Kulthum — Sara Masry plays the younger version and Syrian opera virtuoso Lubana Al-Quntar the older. There will also be a special guest performance by Sanaa Nabil, the great-grandniece of Umm Kulthum. While the song lyrics are in Arabic, the dialogue is in English, making it a bilingual show with the express purpose of attracting foreign and younger audiences. 

The million dollar questions remains: Why has Umm Kulthum’s global popularity endured to this very day? There are a number of factors to consider, including her singular voice, her iconic image, and the stirring lyrics and memorable melodies of her romantic and patriotic songs, which are still being revisited and reinterpreted by contemporary musicians.

“She commands her audience,” Khashoggi says. “The way she expresses herself is incredible; you don’t have to understand Arabic. One minute she’s angry and the next she’s tender. She’s a rollercoaster of emotions in one minute.” 


Saudi Fashion Commission chief among international panelists at first-ever Egypt Fashion Week

Saudi Fashion Commission chief among international panelists at first-ever Egypt Fashion Week
Updated 25 March 2023

Saudi Fashion Commission chief among international panelists at first-ever Egypt Fashion Week

Saudi Fashion Commission chief among international panelists at first-ever Egypt Fashion Week
  • The event will kick off with an opening night on May 12 at the Egyptian Museum, featuring the “Best of Egyptian Designers” fashion show curated by US stylist Julie Matos, followed by a gala dinner

DUBAI: Saudi Fashion Commission CEO Burak Cakmak is set to speak at the first edition of Egypt Fashion Week, which will take place from May 12 to 15.

The event will also be attended by US fashion blogger Diane Pernet, Nigerian entrepreneur Omoyemi Akerele and co-founder of the Egyptian Fashion & Design Council Austrian Egyptian Susan Sabet.

Sabet said in a statement: “We are very proud and grateful to have won over so many distinguished speakers and major worldwide media partners and attendance to ensure that all eyes will be on Egyptian fashion.”

The second two days of the event will be held at the Museum of Agriculture. (Supplied)

The fashion week, which has been in the making for about four years, is titled “Past, Present & Future” and is set to celebrate Egypt’s rich heritage and civilization, inspired by its culture, and to show the world Egypt’s present.

“Inspired by the rising number of emerging designers and growth of the local fashion industry, we knew the time had come to show the world our pool of creative talents and local cotton and textile industry,” Sabet added.

“The EFW program goes far beyond fashion shows and exhibitions and aims to connect the local, African and Middle Eastern markets through design, craftsmanship, education, sustainability, production and retail.”

The fashion week is set to celebrate Egypt’s rich heritage and civilization. (Supplied)

The event will kick off with an opening night on May 12 at the Egyptian Museum, featuring the “Best of Egyptian Designers” fashion show curated by US stylist Julie Matos, followed by a gala dinner.

The following two days will be held at the Museum of Agriculture, one of the most important museums of its kind in the world, which will open its doors for the first time after five years of renovation for EFW.

The museum traces the history of agriculture and cotton in Egypt from prehistory to modernity, acknowledging agriculture as the basis on which Ancient Egyptians built a civilization.

The fashion week’s guests will discover designer exhibitions curated by the Saudi Fashion Commission, Lagos Fashion Week, Jordan Fashion Week and GTEX-ITC.

EFW will also host panel talks by local, regional and international industry leaders in the fields of design, education, craftsmanship, production, retail, sustainability, women’s empowerment and finance.

Launchmetrics, a partner of New York and Paris fashion weeks, is EFW’s logistics partner.


Ramadan Recipes: Flavorful lamb haleem for hearty iftar

Ramadan Recipes: Flavorful lamb haleem for hearty iftar
Updated 25 March 2023

Ramadan Recipes: Flavorful lamb haleem for hearty iftar

Ramadan Recipes: Flavorful lamb haleem for hearty iftar

DUBAI: Popular in the Middle East, and south and central Asia, lamb haleem, a type of stew, is a staple dish in Ramadan.

Although it varies from region to region, it optionally includes wheat or barley, meat, and lentils.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@prashantchipkar)

It is made by blending or mashing the meat in the curry and serving hot with flat breads or on its own.

Here, Prashant Chipkar Qureshi, the culinary head chef at Masti Cocktails and Cuisine, shares his lamb haleem recipe for a hearty iftar.

Lamb haleem is made by blending or mashing the meat in the curry. (Shutterstock)

Ingredients:

200 grams broken wheat

200 grams boneless lamb

2 grams red chili powder

50 grams yogurt

30ml ghee

5 grams mint

50 grams yellow moong dal

10 grams ginger garlic paste

2 grams turmeric

50-gram onion

50 grams haleem masala

20 grams coriander leaves

1-piece green chilies

Salt, to taste

Lemon wedges, 1 lemon

2 grams garam masala powder

1 gram peppercorns

1 cinnamon stick

50 grams cashew nuts

Method:

To prepare this popular delicacy, wash and soak the broken wheat for half an hour. Trim the lamb (boneless) of any excess fat. Add the lamb to a vassal with about one cup of water and put it over a medium flame. Fry the onion until golden brown and set aside.

To the lamb, add half a tablespoon of ginger and garlic paste, half a teaspoon of salt, red chilli powder and garam masala powder, along with a pinch of turmeric powder. Cook the mixture for eight to 10 minutes and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes. Shred and keep aside.

Boil the broken wheat along with the yellow moong dal with a tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, green chillies, and peppercorns in eight cups of water until it is cooked completely, and the water is absorbed. Blend this mix for a few seconds.

Heat the oil in another container and add whole spices including a cinnamon stick, cooked and shredded lamb, the remaining green chillies, haleem masala, and half a cup of fresh coriander, and saute for two to three minutes. Add curd and saute for another 10 to 15 minutes. Add three cups of water and bring to a boil.

To this, add the blended broken wheat and dal mixture and mix well while adding a little ghee as you go. Let it simmer and cook slowly for at least 30 minutes. Serve hot garnished with fried onions prepared in step one, mint leaves, cashew nuts, lemon wedges, and the remaining fresh coriander.


Georgina Rodriguez named ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses

Georgina Rodriguez named ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses
Updated 24 March 2023

Georgina Rodriguez named ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses

Georgina Rodriguez named ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses

DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez on Thursday was announced as the ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses, available in the Gulf region.

“I’m so happy to be the face of Amara Lenses and it’s been wonderful to work with you,” she said in a video shared on the brand’s Instagram page.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Amara Lenses (@amaralenses)

Amara Lenses has previously collaborated with regional influencers including Saudi makeup artist Shouq Artist, Kuwaiti fashion blogger Fouz Al-Fahad, Bahraini content creator Zainab Al-Alwan, Kuwaiti influencer Fatima Al-Momen, Egyptian actress Nour Ghandour and more.

However, the partnership with Rodriguez is the brand’s first with an international star.

The Arab brand sells lenses in various shades of grey, brown, green and blue. 


Christine Quinn stuns in a Nicolas Jebran gown in Los Angeles

Christine Quinn stuns in a Nicolas Jebran gown in Los Angeles
Updated 24 March 2023

Christine Quinn stuns in a Nicolas Jebran gown in Los Angeles

Christine Quinn stuns in a Nicolas Jebran gown in Los Angeles

DUBAI: “Selling Sunset” star Christine Quinn stunned this week wearing a silver gown by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran in Los Angeles. 

The reality TV star wore a strapless dress that gathered at one hip to the 2023 Fashion Trust Awards. 

Quinn, who is a real estate agent, paired the satin gown with colorful beaded boots that had 3D floral patterns in hues of burgundy, white and silver. 

Quinn paired the satin gown with colorful beaded boots. (AFP)

She was joined on the grey carpet by her partner Christian Richard, who is a retired tech entrepreneur. 

The event was also attended by Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Beckinsale and more. 

Fashion Trust US is a non-profit organization dedicated to “discovering, funding, and nurturing young design talent with the aim of helping them build their label into a thriving global brand.” 


Model Imaan Hammam stars in new H&M, Mugler campaign 

Model Imaan Hammam stars in new H&M, Mugler campaign 
Updated 24 March 2023

Model Imaan Hammam stars in new H&M, Mugler campaign 

Model Imaan Hammam stars in new H&M, Mugler campaign 

DUBAI: Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model Imaan Hammam has landed herself another campaign, this time for a collaboration collection between Swedish high-street retailer H&M and French fashion label Mugler.

In the short teaser video Hammam shared on her Instagram stories, three artists are singing in a recording studio until Hammam suddenly breaks down the wall and walks into the scene.

Rising singers Amaarae, Shygirl, Eartheater, and Arca star in the campaign video. They recorded their own take on Stardust’s 1998 dance hit “Music Sounds Better with You.”

Discussions for the collaboration began before founder Manfred Thierry Mugler’s passing in January 2022.

The capsule will be available online and in stores from May 11.

The collection is being crafted under the direction of Mugler’s creative director Casey Cadwallader and will encapsulate “the unique and vibrant spirit of the brand,” H&M said in a statement.

Casey Cadwallader and Ann-Sofie Johansson. (H&M)

The silhouette of the collection is the recognizable Mugler fit of today: Strong, big shoulders, a tight focus on the waist, an ode to the curves and lines of the body, and a tribute to confidence.

Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s creative adviser, said: “We are proud to celebrate the legacy of Manfred Thierry Mugler with this collection. We were all honored to get to know Manfred, and it feels very special that he was involved at the initial stages together with Casey and the house of Mugler.

“Casey has done such an incredible job at paying homage to history, and to the archive, while making the collection totally contemporary. Under him, Mugler has become one of the most innovative and exciting houses on today’s fashion landscape,” she added.

Cadwallader said: “It is truly an honor to collaborate with H&M. The collection is a celebration of everything that defines Mugler as a house and each piece is authentic Mugler, from the bodysuits, which have become a signature of ours, to the sharp tailoring and worked denims. It is a showcase of our icons.”