If you look into the Middle Eastern Arts, you will see that there are a great number of women who participate and who are influential. Women who become famous through their art form, usually use their positions to send influential messages to the public. One of the most influential women ever was Om Kalthoum. She paved the way for other women artits by turning art into a respectable occupation for women. She also spread ideas of nationalism through the music that she chose to sing. This greatly helped to spread the ideas of Arab unity. Fairuz also used her music to unite people in Lebanon’s civil war. When asked about her effect on her society Fairuz said, "When I sing patriotic songs like, for example: ‘I love you, Lebanon,’ I have seen Muslim and Christian militiamen, who days earlier were fighting with each other on the streets, standing up in the aisles with tears streaming down their cheeks, hugging each other and singing the words to the song along with me". Like Fairuz and Om Kalthoum, new women singers are also singing with a message. Najwa Karam, a Lebanese singer, usually chooses songs with lyrics that are empowering to women. When asked about that, Najwa Karam said that she hopes that she can give women the power to live their lives to the fullest and take their lives into their own hands. With songs like MaBismahlak (I won’t let you) and Alla Mahlak Ya Hawa (Go slowly for my love), her songs send a message to women to stay strong. These three artists are only a glimpse into the wide spectrum of women artists in the Middle East.
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Links to other female artists in the Middle East:
Faten Hamamah:
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