US singer China Moses wows Riyadh audience with jazz fusion

US singer China Moses wows Riyadh audience with jazz fusion
The 46-year-old songstress captivated the Riyadh crowd with her vocals, original compositions, and heartfelt moments in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 February 2024
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US singer China Moses wows Riyadh audience with jazz fusion

US singer China Moses wows Riyadh audience with jazz fusion
  • Moses’ music tackles many subjects including life, love, social encounters, pain, loneliness, and even modern societal issues such as mass shootings

RIYADH: US singer China Moses wowed the audience when she took to the stage in Riyadh.

The musician’s performance was the third of cultural and creative hub Fenaa Alawwal’s Safar Nights concert series.

She was joined by band members Jerome Cornelis on guitar, bassist and musical director Lawrence Insula, Tom Lartigue on keyboards, and Ebow “Lox” Mensah on drums.

After the show Moses told Arab News: “The crowd was lovely and so warm and welcoming. You just never know how the music is going to connect, and I really felt at the end that it was a choir — we were a family at the end.

“That makes me very happy. I’m overjoyed actually right now,” she added.

The 46-year-old songstress captivated the Riyadh crowd with her vocals, original compositions, and heartfelt moments.

Raised in France, she sang several of her most popular tracks including “Etre la-bas” and had fans grooving to improvised tunes such as one she described as having a barbecue tempo.

Introducing “Disconnected,” she told the audience: “This song is about getting together just like we are and just feeling the vibe, just feeling alright. So, if your feet are moving, and if your head is grooving, then that means we’re doing our job.

“We want to take a moment to celebrate our roots. With this song we’re going to celebrate Tina Turner and Al Green,” she said, before performing a cover of “Let’s Stay Together.” 




The 46-year-old songstress captivated the Riyadh crowd with her vocals, original compositions, and heartfelt moments in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Supplied)

She also paid tribute to other Black musicians with renditions of Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You,” written by Prince, and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.

Moses’ music tackles many subjects including life, love, social encounters, pain, loneliness, and even modern societal issues such as mass shootings.

Quoting the late American singer Nina Simone, she said: “It is an artist’s duty to reflect the times.” She then sang “Sirens,” a song that she noted helped to purge the feelings of disbelief and pain after the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, and the Colorado Springs’ Club Q bar shootings in 2022.

A storyteller by nature, she uses her voice to platform both tribulations and celebrations of the African American experience.

The daughter of American jazz singer and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater, Moses blends several genres into her repertoire including blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and funk.

“There are so many different kinds of jazz, and so many different layers. Some of the stuff I did tonight was not planned. It’s a music of freedom. It is the music of my Black American heritage but, more importantly, a music that was a gift from such a horrible period in humanity,” Moses added. 




The 46-year-old songstress captivated the Riyadh crowd with her vocals, original compositions, and heartfelt moments in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Supplied)

She pointed out that she always aimed to send her audiences home with joy and hope in their hearts.

Jazz emerged in New Orleans, influenced by spirituals and the slave experience of the African Americans in the US, the sounds of which were also rooted in ragtime and blues incorporating improvisation and syncopated rhythms. It led to various subgenres such as bebop, cool jazz, and fusion.

Moses said: “Who separated the jazz and the blues? Because that’s the same people who made both, and all those people would go to church. And if you don’t explain it that way, you don’t understand Black American society.

“You can’t understand why Black American church is so important. You can’t understand why jazz can sound so warm and round and rugged and raw, like the blues. And you don’t understand why the blue sounds so simple.”

Saudi Arabia has recently hosted top artists including R and B and soul singer Alicia Keys, rapper Lauryn Hill in AlUla during Saudi Founding Day celebrations, and queen of funk Chaka Khan (a close friend of Moses’ mother) who performed at Riyadh’s first International Jazz Festival earlier this month.

“I’ve played in a lot of places in the world I never thought I would play because I do Black American music. I think that that’s a testament to the power and universality of it.

“Alicia Keys is a universal person. We have the same message, we just express it in different ways because we’re different people,” Moses added.

Starting her career at the age of 16, Moses said she had never imagined performing around the world, hosting two radio shows, and becoming a co-founder and artistic director to both the Tahiti Soul Jazz festival, and Paris Soul Fest.

On her advice to the rising talents on the Saudi music scene, Moses said: “Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to explain. The music is enough, of course. But don’t be afraid to talk to the audience.

“Whether you choose to express yourself through spoken word, sung word, or no words with your voice, you’re communicating. For me, the most important thing is to do the best with what you have. There’s beauty in all of us,” she added.


Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025
Updated 10 sec ago
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Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025
  • Visa-free travel scheme, improved flight links boost numbers of Saudis traveling to Britain
  • VisitBritain figures show rise in GCC tourists to UK likely to continue

LONDON: Increasing numbers of Saudi visitors are expected to spend an extra £200 million in the UK this year, thanks to improved visa-free travel and more flight routes.

Tourism authority VisitBritain has forecast 320,000 visits from Saudi Arabia in 2025 — a 12 percent increase on the 286,000 visits in 2023.

Saudi Arabia became one of seven Middle Eastern countries to be included in the UK’s electronic travel authorization scheme when the Kingdom was added in February 2024. 

Under the scheme, visitors to the UK can purchase a two-year permit allowing multiple journeys to the country. This replaces a more expensive, six-month electronic visa waiver.

The scheme is one of the reasons visitor numbers to the UK from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are set to increase again above pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, spending by tourists is growing at an even faster rate, according to the VisitBritain figures compiled with Oxford Economics and published on Tuesday.

Saudi tourists are expected to spend £942 million in 2025 — 34 percent more than in 2023.

“Saudi Arabia is a very important inbound visitor market for the UK, and it is fantastic to see the continued growth forecast,” a VisitBritain spokesperson told Arab News.

“With the growing airline connectivity to the UK through regional gateways alongside the electronic travel authorization scheme, travel to the UK is now easier and more accessible for Saudi nationals.”

For the GCC countries overall, there are expected to be 1.4 million visits to the UK this year, up 8 percent on the 2024 estimate.

GCC visitors are set to spend £3.5 billion on their trips, another substantial increase on previous years.

The expected growth in travel numbers comes as two airlines prepare to launch new routes between the UK and Saudi Arabia next month.

UK airline Virgin Atlantic will run daily flights between Riyadh and Heathrow, while budget carrier Wizz Air will connect Jeddah and Gatwick.

As the UK seeks to boost tourism from the Gulf to help its economy, Saudi Arabia has in recent years opened up to global tourism, welcoming visitors to important historical areas such as AlUla.

VisitBritain and the Saudi Tourism Authority signed an agreement in May setting out areas to develop and expand tourism.

VisitBritain recently rolled out a new campaign in Saudi Arabia called “Starring GREAT Britain” that uses famous locations from films and TV to attract visitors.

Overall, tourism to the UK is forecast to increase this year on 2024 levels with a record 43.4 million visits from all countries, spending £33.7 billion.


Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries
Updated 1 min 43 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will launch an iftar program in 61 countries during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, through religious attaches at the Kingdom’s embassies abroad, is implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Iftar (breaking of the fast) this year.

The program aims to provide iftar to more than 1 million people, the SPA reported.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of global aid and their efforts to serve Islam and Muslims, especially during Ramadan.

He added that the ministry, in coordination with religious attaches and cultural centers, has disbursed the necessary funds for the Ramadan iftar program.
 


Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh

Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh
Updated 17 min 49 sec ago
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Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh

Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Timothy Lenderking, senior bureau official at US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and his accompanying delegation, in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ali Al-Yousef received Dutch Ambassador to the Kingdom Hans Peter van der Woude in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meetings, all sides discussed various topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
 


Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026
Updated 19 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026
  • Becomes first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to hold the position

RIYADH: The General Council of the World Trade Organization unanimously appointed Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term on Wednesday.

His appointment marks a milestone for the region, as he becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to hold the position, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The WTO General Council plays a role in overseeing the organization’s operations between its biennial ministerial conferences.

Under Al-Moqbel’s presidency, the council is expected to address a range of critical global trade issues, with preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, set to take place in Cameroon in March 2026, high on the agenda.

Other priorities will include advancing essential WTO reforms, particularly concerning its dispute settlement mechanism, and progressing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement.

Additionally, discussions will focus on key areas such as agriculture, food security and development concerns, while efforts will also be made to integrate multilateral agreements, including the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework, SPA added.

Commenting on his appointment, Al-Moqbel hailed the significance of Saudi Arabia’s leadership within the WTO, stating that it reflected the Kingdom’s growing role in the international economic landscape.

He emphasized that the Kingdom would leverage its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation and drive meaningful reforms within the WTO.


Saudi British Society honors cultural bridge-builders at London gala

Saudi British Society honors cultural bridge-builders at London gala
Updated 19 February 2025
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Saudi British Society honors cultural bridge-builders at London gala

Saudi British Society honors cultural bridge-builders at London gala
  • The Rawabi Holding Awards honor individuals who have fostered cultural exchange between the UK and Saudi Arabia
  • This year’s recipients include Dr. Idries Trevathan, Dr. Sarah Al-Saif, Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas

LONDON: The Saudi British Society honored four cultural bridge-builders at a gala ceremony in London on Tuesday.

The 2025 Rawabi Holding Awards were presented to Dr. Idries Trevathan, Dr. Sarah Al-Saif, Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas in recognition of their efforts to promote friendship, understanding and positive relations between the two nations.

“It’s a very special occasion … that has now developed over nearly 30 years and has become an award of national standing,” said Sir Alan Munro, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a founding member of the Saudi British Society.

In his opening remarks, Sir Alan, who is stepping down as vice chairman of the society, reflected on its growth from what he once described as a “society in the sand” to a flourishing platform for cultural and academic exchange. Most recently, the society has expanded its focus to recognize achievements in academia and scientific research, with two of this year’s awards going to individuals for outstanding contributions in these fields.

Established in 2007, the Rawabi Holding Awards, sponsored by Saudi energy and industrial conglomerate Rawabi Holding, celebrate Saudis and Britons who have strengthened cultural ties between the two countries. This year’s awards were presented by Rawabi Holding Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Turki in the presence of Simon Collis, former British ambassador to the Kingdom and current chairman of the Saudi British Society.

Dr. Idries Trevathan, a British-born Islamic art specialist and chief curator at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, in Dhahran, was recognized for his efforts in building collaborations between museums in the UK and Saudi Arabia.

A leading curator in Islamic art across Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Trevathan has worked to foster cultural exchange. His most recent project involved curating a retrospective on British photographer Peter Sanders, showcasing five decades of his work documenting the Muslim world.

“I’ve had the enormous benefit of being exposed to different faiths and cultures. And this exposure has ultimately allowed me a greater insight appreciation of different views and perspectives and cultures,” Trevathan said, describing his work as “building bridges of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between the Muslim world and the West.”

Al-Saif and Al-Qahtani were recognized for their contribution to science and academia. Al-Saif’s research focuses on eco-friendly, biologically synthesized nanomaterials derived from marine sources to help address the World Health Organization’s call to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Al-Qahtani specializes in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, with expertise in additive manufacturing, biomedical devices, bio-manufacturing, tissue engineering and stress analysis optimization.

Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas was also honored for his contribution to the media industry and cross-cultural dialogue. Having spent part of his professional career in the UK, Abbas recently published his book, “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile,” which he describes as “a tale of two Kingdoms,” reflecting on his experiences and the enduring relationship between Saudi Arabia and Britain.