The story of the Yemeni singer who made headlines
Fouad Abd-Alwahed, first place winner of the Gulf singing contest
Fouad Abd-Alwahed is a young Yemeni singer, who at just 23, made headlines this month by winning first place in the “Najm Al-Khaleej”(Gulf Star) regional singing competition.
An imitation of American Idol, Najm Al-Khaleej program on Dubai Satellite Channel was a hit show for many Arabs keen on following the music industry.
On December 19, Abd-Alwahed was voted by viewers from around the world in the final episode of a 12 week heated competition in Beirut. In an exclusive interview with the Yemen Times Fouad talked about his past, present and his hopes for the future.
Interview by Raghda Gamal
YT Photo by Yazeed Kamaldien
Published: 30-12-2010
Tens of fans lined up at Sana’a International Airport after midnight on Tuesday last week. They had gathered with flowers and banners to welcome the hero of the day who had just put Yemen in the news for a positive reason.
“I was dumbfounded. It was awesome to see the huge crowd cheering with my name. During the competition we were not allowed to use the phone or the internet so that we do not persuade people to vote for us. So I really did not expect it but it was a delightful surprise,” said a grinning Fouad.
To him this is the most valuable award he could ever hope to get, “people’s love,” he said. And for this he would walk miles if needed, “losing people’s love is what I fear the most.”
The next day upon arriving to Yemen, he was also rushed to meet the president. He felt honored and humbled that the President knew about him and took his time to congratulate him.
He then promised that he would sing for Yemen and it’s heritage wherever he goes.
This he had already begun during the Najm Al-Khaleej competition where he rejuvenated the Yemeni style of singing. “This rich heritage of Yemeni music deserves to reach all Arab countries,” he explained.
However, his decision to stick to the Yemeni style of singing was more of a gamble in the beginning. He was afraid that by brining something new to the stage he could be rejected. Moreover, the program’s management advised him not to focus on the Yemeni style of singing. While he took on board this advise and diversified his singing techniques to include Gulf and Egyptian styles he still remained loyal to his own country’s music.
Eventually his gamble paid off and the audience loved it and they voted him the winner of the competition.
“Every time I sang a new Yemeni song, I was amazed to discover that my colleagues had learned my songs and started singing them too,” said Fouad with a smile.
In promoting Yemen’s singing heritage, however, he denounced another cultural habit: Qat chewing. Before he travelled to Beirut for the show Fouad used to chew occasionally. Now he knows better. “In order to protect my voice I am completely giving up qat, despite the many social pressures I know that I will face.”
His advised Yemeni youth to utilize their time fruitfully instead of wasting hours chewing qat. “Qat only gives a bad image of Yemen. Yemenis must think about their country and stop promoting this bad habit,” said Fouad with resolve.
The beginning
Since the first grade, Foaud know he wanted to sing. His Arabic teacher was the first to notice his beautiful voice. He remembers when she insisted that he sing the alphabet song for the class.
“I was very hungry that day and did not want to sing. When she insisted I hit her. She became angry and kicked me out of class,” said Fouad, fondly remembering his early years.
Perhaps he should have welcomed his Arabic teacher’s gestures because later he had difficulty convincing his family that he wanted to sing.
“I come from a traditional family who could not accept that a man would want to take up singing as a profession. It was awkward for me to visit my larger family in the village,” he said.
His friends helped him survive the criticism and get him through these hard times. They encouraged him to go forward and display his talent in several national and international competitions.
Yet in the end it took the president’s approval of him as a singer before his family relented and accepted his talent, even if partially.
“After I won the “Prize of the President of the Republic” and won first place at the “Singing to Beijing” Festival my family acknowledged that I have talent,” said Fouad referring to his first place in the 2007 national singing award and his first place in the 2008 international competition.
However, this acceptance came with a catch. Fouad was not to use his talent like many Yemeni singers to perform in weddings and parties. He was to only sing in festivals and official events.
His singing adventures affected the continuity of his university education which he had to put on hold for some time. He also changed his specialization from English literature to business administration and this lost him a year. Now he is a freshman in the College of Commerce at Taiz University.
A life changing experience
It was only when he won first place in the Najm Al-Khaleej competition that his family and larger tribe accepted and even took pride in his talent. Now his father praises him in family gatherings and shows off his talent.
“In fact, before this the sheikhs and elders of my hometown would look down on me and not have give me much attention. Now they all are calling me to congratulate me on this winning. After giving me a tough time about who I am, they now thing it is a great thing,” remembered Fouad rather bitterly.
He knows that this experience will open doors for him, perhaps even to a greater degree than already established singers in Yemen who have been around for years. Yet he does realize that while he is making headlines today, he could be old news tomorrow.
“Any artist should work to reinvent him or herself and always provide his audience with something new. Only this way will a performer maintain his fans, and this is what I intend to do,” said Fouad with confidence.
Fouad acknowledges that the competition was tough and that at times he wondered if he could make it. One of the challenges he faced was his choice of songs. He said that he owed it to the Najm Al-Khaleej singing coach Hussein Esiri who told him to love what he does and be passionate about it.
But even though he made headlines locally and regionally, Fouad sees himself at the end of the day as a university student. He does enjoy the limelight but his priority right now is to complete his bachelor’s degree.
Throughout his singing career, Fouad has encountered some views that regard singing and music as a forbidden act in Islam.
“These people do not realize that art can deliver strong messages. The issue is how to use this art to spread and promote the right causes,” said Fouad.
He acknowledged that there are some examples of music that are rather destructive or have no meaning.
“But it is important for all people to broaden their view and see art from a larger perspective, the way it deserves to be seen,” he iterated.
According to the rules of the Najm Al-Khaleej competition, Dubai TV facilitates Fouad’s singing career for at least three years and therefore any singing contracts will go through them.
His next step is to become a star across the Arab world beyond just the Gulf.
No matter which Arab country his work takes him to, Fouad insists that Yemen will always be his home.
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