CAIRO, 23 November 2006 — Egyptian folk singer Hakim will sing as part of an international group, which will perform on the occasion of the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo on Dec. 11, the daily Al-Watan reported.
“The selection of an Egyptian singer to participate in the function is a first. It’s an international recognition of Egyptian culture. People such as the late President Anwar Sadat, writer Naguib Mahfouz and scientists Ahmad Zoweil and Mohamed El-Berdaie had won the prestigious prize,” Hakim said in a statement.
He has started rehearsing for the performance, suspending all his other activities including the release of his latest album scheduled for early next year.
Hakim is the first Arab singer to be selected for the Nobel function.
Hakim rose to fame in Egypt with his first album in 1992. His popularity soared with his second release in 1994, the same year he was chosen to represent Egypt at a festival in France. He won the Best North African singer award in 2000.
