Majida El Roumi: Difference between revisions

Majida El Roumi
File:Majida.jpg Itazalt el Gharam (I Gave up Love) Album cover.
Background information
Years active	1970's–present

Magida El Roumi was born in Kfarshima, Lebanon on December 13 1956. She is a Lebanese singer who started her musical career in the early 1970s when she participated in the talent show, Studio el fan on Télé-Liban and won the gold medal for best female singer. Since her appearance on television at the tender age of 16, she has become one of the most successful and respected singers of the Arab world.

• Place of Birth: Kfarshima, Lebanon
• Father Name: Halim El Roumi
• Mother Name: Marie Loutfi
• Siblings: the late Maha, Mouna and Awad
• Children: Hala and Nour
• Place of Residence: Jounieh, Lebanon

Magida El Roumi was born to Halim El Roumi and Marie Loutfi who were a Greek Catholic couple from Tyre, a city in South Lebanon. Her grandfather owned business in Palestine where his family lived and built strong relations and friendships with the people of Haifa. After the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, Majida's grandfather lost all his business in Haifa and returned to his birthplace of Tyre. Her grandfather sent her father to Kfarshima, a small town southeast of Beirut, to pursue his musical education at the Conservatoire Libanais in Beirut.

Halim el Roumi became a renowned musician and continued to live in Kfarshima, which was home to many Lebanese singers, musicians, poets and writers, like the late Philemon Wehbi. The residence of Halim el Roumi in Kfarshima was a meeting place for many cultural figures. Growing up in such an artistic environment, Majida's interest in music started to show at an early age when she used to listen to the works of the prominent figures of that time, such as Fairuz, Umm Kulthoum, Abdel Wahab, and Asmahan. Her singing and beautiful voice attracted the attention of her family and neighbors. One of the early songs she used to sing (and which was actually saved on record) was a religious song called 'Your Birth' or Miladak in reference to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Raymond Safadi, Majida's cousin, was fascinated with her voice and thought that she could be very successful if she pursued singing as a profession. However, the big obstacle was her father who knew more than anyone else how difficult it was to work in the music industry. Although the father refused his daughter's participation in Télé-Liban's Studio el fan, Majida, with the help of her cousin, Raymond, entered the talent show, singing songs for Asmahan and Leila Mourad, like Ya Toyour, Ana Albi Dalili, and Layali El Ouns Fi Vienna The jury was impressed with her performance and her beautiful voice and awarded her the gold medal.

Halim El Roumi gave Majida his blessings to pursue singing as a profession as long as she continued her higher education. Desipte the war in Lebanon in 1975, Majida obtained her BA in Arabic Literature from the Lebanese University.

On September 17, 1977, Majida got engaged to a businessman from Byblos, Lebanon. Antoine Dfouni became not only her husband but also her manager. They were blessed with two daughters: Hala and Nour. Majida and Antoine divorced in 2000.

Since the very first beginnings, Majida has drawn a clear-cut line between her work and her personal life. Although she is very picky in her songs and very demanding in her work (both of which require much time and attention), Majida gives priority to her family. The family is the center of her life and singing is something she likes to do. In reply to all talks and reports about her personal life, Majida says "I share my happiness with everyone, but I like to keep my sorrows for myself"; she holds a firm position when it comes to her family.

That also explains Majida's deep sorrow and devastating reaction after the death of her sister, Maha. Shocked by the sudden illness of her sister, Majida did not what to do. She flew to her sister who was hospitalized in the United States and stayed near her for days. When she had to come back for a concert in Cairo, Majida dedicated a song for Maha, wishing a miracle would take place. Few days later, Majida made the hundreds gathered at a small church in Kfarshima to commemorate Maha, break into tears, with a heartbreaking poem that she wrote and recited. Months after Maha's death, Majida was still suffering the loss of her beloved sister. Not until she held several religious concerts and released a special song dedicated to Maha that Majida was able to 'come back'.

This clear separation between the public appearances and personal lies is probably the main reason why the general public has heard little, if anything about Majida; she tends to avoid the media and to reduce her public appearances in social and artistic gatherings, to an extent that some believe that Majida has a problem with the media and lacks friendships and social relations. As a matter of fact, Majida believes that when she has something new to say, she can come forward and say it through the media, but she does not like to repeat herself over and over again, as not to bore the public. For that, she is respected, and at the same time, sought among the media people.

During the hardest years of the war in Lebanon, Majida didn't flee away; like the other millions, she endured the horrible incidents and events that occurred, and survived. She loves her country and devoted many songs to Lebanon, singing for rebirth, sovereignty, independence, peace and hope, ideals she strongly believes in, highly treasured and painfully paid for. Wherever she goes, she sings Lebanon, not a part of it, not a group, not a fraction… a nation she dreams of and lusts after: "if it is not going to be realized during our days, then let us help make it become real for our children" (1994).

In her first song "I Dream of You, O'Lebanon" (3am I7lamak Ya 7ilm Ya Libnan), Majida was addressing a country which was under fire and destruction; she held her faith and love strong enough to dream of a Lebanon, the Phoenician bird which would be reborn. Through "Qana" (released in 1996 as a response on the Israeli massacre in South Lebanon), Majida presented to the whole world a clear Lebanese message: a message that was more firm than any other political or diplomatic letter. Majida affirmed that Lebanon would always be ready to fight for its rights and land and would never give in and accept any kind of humiliation and disregard. The song was so powerful in its meanings that Israeli Embassies in some Arab capitals had to protest and to request seizure of its broadcasting.

However, Majida's Lebanese identity and her commitment to her country have not blocked out or reduced, to any degree, her love and concern to all other Arab countries. Majida has a very special place in her heart for Tunisia and Jordan, the two countries that have warmly and touchingly welcomed her, several times, on stage or away, people as well as governments. And despite the unfair rumors of the early 1990s, Egypt has done her more than good especially when Majida was honored with the presence of the President himself if a couple of her concerts, or when the Symphonic Orchestra of Cairo Opera has started to accompany her in many of her concerts. As for Palestine, Majida stood in front of 40 thousands in Beirut's Sports City on April 15, 2002 and said: "what is going now in Palestine is a crime against humanity, and I am here to say a final and forever NO for the Israeli occupation. To the Palestinians inside Palestine, I say, our hearts are with you… our souls are with you… Justice is with you… and the lands will always be yours". Later that tear, Majida sang 'Hal Tasma'een' (Do You Hear?), a special song dedicated to Palestine; some says that Majida herself wrote the lyrics.

You never know what is next with Majida El Roumi; she is a burning flame promising of more light. She has big dreams, for her country, her family and herself; but she never dreams of replacing Fairouz. Many people have been trying to ruin Majida's image by accusing her of seeking to take over Fairouz's glory. Majida thinks that Fairouz is not just a singer; 'Fairouz is rather a nation and she can't be replaced or repeated'. However, one can't deny that Majida El Roumi has conquered a leading place in the Arabic song. To many, she has become a symbol and idol. For all these reasons and many more, in October 16, 2001, United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization choose Majida El Roumi as her honorable ambassadresses, to help in fighting hunger and stopping famine in the Arab World.

Whether a diva, or an ambassadresses and regardless if elected as the 'Voice of Love' or 'Singer of the Arab conscience', Majida remains a simple human, a caring mother and a true friend.

No wonder she refuses any proposed titles; "Majida El Roumi" is enough.

Bio by www.majidafans.com

External links

• www.majidafans.com, Majida El Roumi Fans
• Majida El Roumi Music Videos
• Majida El Roumi 3ArabiaPhoto.com : Bio, Pictures and Wallpapers